Route 66 Trek Guidelines For Russell Elementary School

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The primary purpose of this is not 'competition'. This is an "educational journey" toward a greater understanding of health, fitness, nutrition, personal development, as well as an opportunity to learn more about this home we call the United States of America. It is important for all to understand that this Route 66 Virtual Trek curriculum is designed solely to motivate and educate students. We, as organizers, will hold steadfast to our original position in developing this project - and that is to uniquely enhance the educational experience for all involved. The elementary years are one of discovery and this is a fun part of that process. While we agree that some competition in such curriculums is healthy (and it is one element that we use for motivating the kids), our 'main' emphasis is on individual development.

There will be time each week during P.E. class for the students to run/walk and acquire distance to add to their total trek mileage. This time may vary depending upon other scheduled P.E. activities.

All of the students in the 4th grade class are a team, and all of the students in the 5th grade are a team. The two grades will remain separate throughout the Route 66 Virtual Trek and cannot combine mileage in crossing the eight states. Although some competition can be healthy and motivating, it is not our focus to create a competitive environment for this curriculum. Each child has different abilities and skills, and if we focus on competition between the two classes we stand the risk of losing out on opportunities to effectively educate toward lifelong fitness habits and goals.

We encourage calisthenics and then stretching before walking or running. Calisthenics for 5 to 10 minutes should be done with proper form and non-exertion in order to slightly elevate heart rate and warm muscles. Stretching with gentle and easy movements increases flexibility and blood circulation. The students should begin with an easy stretch where they hold the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds. After that they can move onto stretches where they hold each position for 10 to 30 seconds longer than easy stretches. No bouncing or straining, and do not hold your breath while stretching.

Forward movement with consistent effort is required. The students may walk or run and must be constantly moving forward and doing the best that they can to add distance during the trek for their personal benefit as well as the benefit of their team.

If any student knowingly reports a false distance and/or does not honestly stay on the course, that student's distance for that day will not be added to the Route 66 trek.

We are sensitive to health matters such as asthma, illness, aching muscles and more and will not overexert any child who is running or walking in this trek.

Distances run/walked by other family members during the year will not count.

To successfully complete the 2,278-mile virtual trek across Route 66 within 7 months (by April 2008), each class will need to average 81 miles weekly. So, the 5th graders will need to run/walk a cumulative total distance of 81 miles per week and the 4th graders will need to do the same. However, the allowable running and walking time in P.E. class is limited to about 20 to 30 minutes each week, so each student will need to do his or her best weekly.
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The students may have opportunities to run/walk during one recess per week and the P.E. teacher will determine if this will occur ─ monitoring the distance run/walked by those participating at recess. The students will be told by the P.E. teacher if such recess opportunities will occur.

A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to each class upon the completion of each state. Also, a class celebration will be held to mark the completion of each state.

Throughout the school year the students will be encouraged to participate in running and/or walking events organized by community Parks and Recreation departments, charitable organizations, and more. Examples of these types of events are The Heart Walk; The Riverbank Run; and, The Buddy Walk. Any distance run/walked in such events by the students will be added to the Route 66 trek. Also, parents must sign a run/walk event slip stating how far their son or daughter ran/walked in the local event and it must be returned to the P.E. teacher.

The students' classroom teachers may take them out to run/walk during class time. The teachers must keep an accurate record of distance covered and report it to the P.E. teacher for adding to the trek distance.

It's most important that the students learn about proper nutrition and fitness while at the same time learning about the route they are running/walking. The P.E. teacher will teach to these areas and will provide students with worksheets to help in the education process. Part of that will involve the use of this web site and the array of information about Route 66 and the states it passes through. Students will use some class time and/or computer lab time to work on the educational worksheets, which will be turned into Mrs. Staso on a determined date.

. The Wind Chill is the temperature your body feels when the air temperature is combined with the wind speed. It is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the effects of wind and cold. As the speed of the wind increases, it can carry heat away from your body much more quickly, causing skin temperature to drop. When having children run or walk outside during the winter months, be sure to take wind chill into consideration. The Wind Chill chart provided below shows the difference between actual air temperature and perceived temperature, and amount of time until frostbite occurs.   Temperature (°F) -45 -40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 60 -98 -91 -84 -76 -69 -62 -55 -48 -40 -33 -26 -19 -11 -4 3 10 17 25 55 -97 -89 -82 -75 -68 -61 -54 -46 -39 -32 -25 -18 -11 -3 4 11 18 25 50 -95 -88 -81 -74 -67 -60 -52 -45 -38 -31 -24 -17 -10 -3 4 12 19 26 45 -93 -86 -79 -72 -65 -58 -51 -44 -37 -30 -23 -16 -9 -2 5 12 19 26 40 -91 -84 -78 -71 -64 -57 -50 -43 -36 -29 -22 -15 -8 -1 6 13 20 27 35 -89 -82 -76 -69 -62 -55 -48 -41 -34 -27 -21 -14 -7 0 7 14 21 28 30 -87 -80 -73 -67 -60 -53 -46 -39 -33 -26 -19 -12 -5 1 8 15 22 28 25 -84 -78 -71 -64 -58 -51 -44 -37 -31 -24 -17 -11 -4 3 9 16 23 29 20 -81 -74 -69 -61 -55 -48 -42 -35 -29 -22 -15 -9 -2 4 11 17 24 30 15 -77 -71 -64 -58 -51 -45 -39 -32 -26 -19 -13 -7 0 6 13 19 25 32 10 -72 -66 -59 -53 -47 -41 -35 -28 -22 -16 -10 -4 3 9 15 21 27 34 5 -63 -57 -52 -46 -40 -34 -28 -22 -16 -11 -5 1 7 13 19 25 31 36 Frostbite Times: 5 Minutes 10 Minutes 30 Minutes What is Frostbite? Frostbite is an injury to the body caused by freezing body tissue. The most susceptible parts of the body are the extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. Symptoms include a loss of feeling in the extremity and a white or pale appearance. Medical attention is needed immediately for frostbite. The area should be slowly re-warmed. What is Hypothermia? Hypothermia is abnormally low body temperature (below 95°F). Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. Medical attention is needed immediately. If it is not available, begin warming the body slowly. How should I dress during cold weather? Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Trapped air between the layers will insulate you. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and hooded. Wear a hat, because 40 percent of your body heat can be lost from your head. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves. Try to stay dry and out of the wind. ** Information Provided By The National Weather Service **