Do you want to participate in Walk30 but are not sure how to involve your class? Naimah Asad, a Grade 4 teacher at Lord Kelvin School (New Westminster) and mother of 3, takes walking seriously. She has participated in 2018 and 2019, and her class won the Walk30 Challenge both years! In 2019, Naimah was pregnant so what better example to advocate for the health benefits of walking everyday!
We got a great opportunity to speak to her, about her motivation and tips to transfer this love for walking among her class. Read on and we’re sure that you’ll feel compelled to for your own team and register for the Challenge this year.
Naimah and her happy class on May 2019.
“When I teach them about the history of our local community, we do a big project in Social Studies where they create a miniature New Westminster city using recyclable materials. For our project, we walk to different neighbourhoods in New Westminster to see the landmarks and major streets so students can have a better understanding of the city. ”
BEST: How many students were on your team in the past Walk30 seasons?
Naimah: During the two years that my class participated, I had 30 students on my team. This year, I have 28 students.
BEST: Congratulations on winning the past edition. How do you go about motivating your class?
Naimah: Physical exercise including daily morning laps is a regular part of my day. I introduced the benefits of morning walks right from September. I tell them about the importance of staying fit and healthy. Also, I encourage them to develop a healthy lifestyle and to run/walk daily which will benefit them when they grow old. I like to throw small challenges at my students in which they learn that when they believe in themselves, they will be successful. We go out for our daily laps, rain or shine. Students are aware they are competing against other classes and that excites them too!
BEST: How did you track of your class’ walking minutes?
Naimah: We do it together as one team at the end of each day. Some days we walk in groups, and record the minutes on our classroom board. We add them all up at the end of the day. This also motivates students to set up a goal for the next day, and chase it down.
BEST: Does the class do this as a team always for the Challenge?
Naimah: We always walk together as a class. During the five weeks of the walking challenge, students arrive at school 30 minutes prior to the morning bell. Students walk for 30 minutes until the school bell rings. After the morning announcements, we go outside for another 30 minutes or so, depending on our daily schedule. I’ve noticed that instead of walking for 2 hours straight, it’s always easier to divide our walking minutes into small chunks so we don’t get burnt out. To top it all up, during those five weeks, I plan many walking field trips across the neighbourhood which of course helps keep the walks interesting.
BEST: What did you feel was the easiest part of the challenge?
Naimah: I like how I can integrate Walk30 with other subjects. When I teach them about the history of our local community, we do a big project in Social Studies where they create a miniature New Westminster city using recyclable materials. For our project, we walk to different neighbourhoods in New Westminster to see the landmarks and major streets so students can have a better understanding of the city. This way, we don’t have to worry about adding extra minutes to the challenge each day. Walk30 ties in well with our curriculum.
BEST: What constraints or difficulties did you face in the past seasons?
Naimah: The year I had no extra help in my classroom was the year I was faced with a lot of challenges. I had to make sure in order to leave the school premises I had enough adults. Another challenge is making sure students are prepared for the weather.
BEST: How are you planning to motivate your class this year?
“Daily morning laps are a huge part of my day and I start motivating them early on.”
Naimah: This ‘pandemic year’, students are already quite eager to go out for walks as they didn’t have any in-person field trips. Like I mentioned earlier, everyday morning laps are a huge part of our day and I start motivating them early on building up to the five week challenge period. By the time of the kick-off, students have already built stamina and are ready for it.
BEST: What do the kids love the most about Walk30?
“My students like to go out for long walks as they are paired up with a buddy.”
Naimah: They love walking as a group. They also like to learn from outside of the four walls of the classroom. Some students have a lot of screen-time at home, this challenge helps them get the much-needed outdoor time that they need.
BEST: Is there something else that you would like us to share with the Walk30 community?
“Students minds are more engaged and focused when they are outside.”
Naimah: I think it is very important to build an active lifestyle right from the very beginning. Of course, keeping the challenge interesting has been a key part to the success. I believe that learning does not only happen just by staying confined within the four walls of a classroom or electronically through the internet. The child’s mind is way more more engaged and focused when they are in the outdoors.
Walk30 Burnaby | New West 2021 Challenge is sponsored by:
