Students Learn to Stay Fit Through Track and Field Sports - 04/24/12

San Diego State students partner to teach students

This summer, the world's greatest athletes will gather in London for the 2012 Olympics. Among the most popular events at the games are the track and field events. Sprints, hurdles, long jump, shot put and high jump to name a few. In a unique partnership with San Diego State University (SDSU), students from Hilltop High have the opportunity to practice some of these sports and learn about fitness in the process.

HTM_PE1.jpg
Students from SDSU teaching Hilltop High students the proper form for the shot put.

SDSU students in the Education and Nutritional Services course have partnered with the Sweetwater Union High School District to develop a means of teaching students eight different track and field events. The purpose is to engage students and keep them physically active during their physical education class.

After a brief warm up, students work in small groups of eight to 10 and divide up around the track to practice different sports. The SDSU students also branch off and show students the basic techniques of sprinting, hurdling, shot put, the javelin, long jump, relay running, high jump and discus toss. Each student takes turns at the event and after a few minutes, moves on to the next activity with their group. The class is nonstop and students are having fun and exercising at a high level.

HTM_PE2.jpg
Hilltop High students running relay races.

"Keeping our students physically active is very important to all of us," said Board President Pearl Quiñones. "Having our students work with the SDSU class is a great idea and we hope to see it around the entire district soon."

HTM_PE3.jpg
Students from Hilltop High run the hurdles.

In 2009, the Sweetwater Union High School District was awarded a Carol M. White Physical Education Program Grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Since then, physical education has undergone a significant positive transformation in the district that has included increased partnerships and gains in student physical fitness scores.