Students at Moravia's Millard Fillmore Elementary School have been collectively taking a "walk across America" this year! At the beginning of this school year, students were encouraged to keep track of their distance walked during lunch recess, physical education class and class recess. The

distance is tallied and marked by small footstep stickers that start in Central New York and go westward on a huge United States map hung in the hallway outside the elementary gym. Mrs. Margy Burnett, one of Millard Fillmore Elementary school's physical education teachers states, "We want our students to see that walking is fun and it's a great way to achieve fitness, too!"

She goes on to say, "Walking is an excellent family activity and it's something that will help them establish healthy habits now, for a healthier future."

Students have also been encouraged to keep track of their distance walked at home. Walking the dog or going for a walk with family members adds to the progress across America.

Applied knowledge of geography and math has been integrated in this school-wide activity. As progress is charted from state to state, beginning with Moravia, the students have competed in weekly trivia contests about state capitals, rivers, mountains and even latitude and longitude.

They compete for tiny sneaker trinkets that dangle from sneaker laces or a book bag zipper. Currently, the school has reached Missouri and has walked almost 1,000 miles. Math skills are integrated in this activity. The distance around the tennis court or the school soccer field is multiplied times the number of laps and is converted weekly into miles walked in physical education class. Students each participate in the conversion and are able to contribute to the progress on the giant map.

The need for aerobic conditioning is becoming more and more urgent.

According to the National Institute of Health, at least one child in five is overweight and the number of overweight children continues to grow.

Over the last two decades, this number has increased by more than 50 percent, and the number of "extremely" overweight children has nearly doubled. Realistically, few students will pursue careers in sports or athletics. A healthy lifestyle is available to everyone, regardless of their career choices and can be an enjoyable way to improve adult quality of life.

Moravia is a great place to live and grow. It's also a very small place in a very big world. One of our school's goals is for our students to understand that big world and our place in it. Our "Walk Across America" is a great way for our students to accomplish that understanding and build good health habits too!

Pat Kinney is an elementary art teacher and coordinator for the gifted/talented programs