Resources for School-Based Physical Activity Programs

During the 2010 Missouri FCCLA Fall Leadership Conference, Missouri members and advisors heard from a variety of experts on the topics of personal finance, careers, and physical fitness/nutrition. Brad Hall, from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, spoke to the groups about resources available to schools that could be used with FCCLA Student Body projects. We thought it would be a good idea to share those resources with you. Let us know if your schools utilizes these resources, or if you have additional resources to share.


Adult CDC BMI Calculator - This calculator provides BMI and the corresponding BMI weight status category. Use this calculator for adults, 20 years old and older.

Child and Teen BMI Percentile - This calculator provides BMI and the corresponding BMI-for-age percentile on a CDC BMI-for-age growth chart. Use this calculator for children and teens, aged 2 through 19 years old.

Ready Set Fit - Ready, Set, FIT! is a school-based educational program that teaches third and fourth graders about the importance of fitness. Through a partnership between the American Academy of Family Physicians’ fitness initiative, Americans In Motion - Healthy Interventions (AIM-HI) and Scholastic, Ready, Set, FIT! offers in-class lessons and take-home activities aimed at encouraging kids to be active, eat smart and feel good.

Fuel Up to Play 60 - Fuel Up to Play 60 uses the power of collaboration to help make everyone at the school healthier by fueling up with nutrient-rich foods and being active for 60 minutes or more a day. With Fuel Up to Play 60, adults and students work together to choose and implement school-improving changes that best meet the school's wellness goals. Along the way, students become empowered to make healthy decisions, take action for change and encourage their friends to do the same.Fuel Up to Play 60 was launched by National Dairy Council® (NDC) and the National Football League (NFL). The U.S. Department of Agriculture has joined the effort to provide youth with concrete opportunities to improve healthy eating and physical activity.

PE for Life - PE4life is a  regionally-focused non-profit organization with national reach and is dedicated to developing a country of active and healthy children and youth by increasing access to quality physical education.  PE4life promotes making physical activity fun and interactive to engage all students. PE4life partners with community, business, and school leaders to facilitate systemic change in the perception and delivery of physical education with the desire to improve the health and wellness of children through quality physical education. PE4life offers professional development and support to educators and administrators who desire to create positive change in their schools and communities.

CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health) is an evidence-based, coordinated school health program designed to promote physical activity and healthy food choices, and prevent tobacco use in children from preschool through grade 8. The program is currently being implemented in over 7,500 schools and after-school programs across the United States and Canada.

Spark PE - SPARK is a research-based, public health organization of San Diego State University Research Foundation (disseminated by School Specialty, Inc.) dedicated to creating, implementing, and evaluating programs that promote lifelong wellness.  SPARK strives to improve the health of children, adolescents, and adults by disseminating evidence-based Physical Education, After School, Early Childhood, and Coordinated School Health programs to teachers and recreation leaders serving Pre-K through 12th grade students.

Farm to School - Farm to School connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers.


ShowMe Smokefree and Smokebusters - Project Smokebusters is a three-year program dedicated to promoting healthy, tobacco-free environments by decreasing exposure to second hand smoke and reducing tobacco initiation and use among youth through policy change.  Smokebusters focuses on helping youth build skills in the areas of decision-making, problem solving, and advocacy. These skills are the foundation for developing self-esteem, which helps youth take responsibility for their own health and for the health of their communities.

Missouri Coordinated School Health Coalition - The Missouri Coordinated School Health Coalition (MCSHC) is a collaborative of organizations and individuals whose primary responsibility is to assist schools in their student health and wellness initiatives. The coalition does this by promoting the use of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) coordinated school health model. This model focuses on improving students’ health and their capacity to learn through families, schools, and communities working together. The model consists of eight interactive components that develop and emphasize health-related knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors. Schools work within the family and community structure to ensure optimal health and wellness for children.