Eastside Elementary

At the beginning of every PE class, our students spend their first five minutes participating in Leadership in Motion — Eastside’s PE Leadership & Fitness Warm-Up.

Students rotate through 4 of 14 stations. At each station, they:

READ IT — Read a leadership trait and its kid-friendly definition.

DISCUSS IT — Talk with classmates about what that trait looks like at school, at home, on a team, and in everyday life.

DO IT — Complete a one-minute fitness challenge.

MOVE ON — Rotate to the next station and do it again!

The 14 stations are built around the traditional U.S. Marine Corps leadership traits: Justice, Judgment, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, and Endurance.

What we especially love about this routine is the fitness literacy our students are developing along the way.

They aren’t simply doing squats, push-ups, curl-ups, planks, high knees, wall sits, lunges, and other exercises. They are learning why those movements matter and developing vocabulary connected to cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, core strength, and total-body fitness.

And while their bodies are moving, their minds are working too.

What does integrity look like when nobody is watching?

How does dependability affect a team?

What does it mean to show courage when something is difficult?

How can we demonstrate unselfishness toward classmates?

Why does endurance matter both physically and mentally?

That is what makes Leadership in Motion much more than a warm-up.

In just a few purposeful minutes, our Eagles are practicing physical fitness, building fitness literacy, discussing character, strengthening leadership vocabulary, and preparing their bodies to learn and move during PE.

We are proud of this work.

Strong bodies. Strong minds. Strong character.

READ IT ➜ DISCUSS IT ➜ DO IT ➜ MOVE ON

Parents, try asking your Eagle tonight: “Which leadership trait did you practice in PE today?”