Physical Education teachers in the Fall River Schools were asked to come up with an idea for involving children in a physical challenge over the course of the 18-week Greater Fall River Fitness Challenge. Teresa Mahjoory, who teaches physical education at the Frank M. Silvia Elementary School, worked with the staff and children and came up with the idea of having children learn a safe and controllable method of planking in their classrooms or that they can practice at home. Planking is a popular exercise with both adults and children who want to strengthen their core muscles, such as those in their stomach, back, legs and neck. Since January, Ms. Mahjoory taught children throughout the school how to plank on classroom chairs and had practiced over 70 hours of the exercise by the first of May. "It's an easy exercise to do in the classroom, isn't noisy or disruptive, and increases body strength in just a few minutes a day," commented Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard. Click here to see a four-minute video of the exercise in two classrooms. For more information about the program, contact School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard at 508-675-8227.
 

(Top row) Second grade students in Ms. Sowersby's class at the Silvia Elementary School demonstrate a planking exercise session. (Middle row) Physical Education Teacher Teresa Mahjoory directs the students to get into a plank positon on their chairs and asks them to hold it for over a minute. (Bottom row) Ms. Mahjoory helps the children keep their heads up and legs straight to get the maximum benefit from the exercise.

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