Dorm Life: Increased activity and exercise

What happens when you put 30 boys on a dorm and 240 across campus?  A lot of activity!!  That is precisely what happens when a student begins attending Woodward Academy.  This activity serves multiple purposes, but ultimately has a positive impact on a students life.  Over the past 20 years, obesity in U.S. teens has tripled to a staggering 18%.  This may happen for a variety of reasons that include poor dietary habits and too many video games, but can be regulated with a healthy lifestyle balance that includes exercise.

During the day, all students take a physical education class and eat 3 healthy meals a day.  Beyond that, many dorm activities in the early evening hours and on weekends consist of some type of organized activity.  Basketball, weight lifting, or just playing capture the flag get students moving, and over time some of the best shape they've been in for awhile.  It is not uncommon for a student to enter WA completely out of shape and lose 20-30 unneeded pounds over the course of a couple months.  They often feel better, look better, and respond better to the stressors in their life.  And when it comes down to it, they are boys and have energy to burn.

Water Bottle Blast Off!

Earlier this week, students in Sara White's physical science class launched their water bottle rockets as a part of a week long project where students built them around 2 liter bottles.  After accumulating pop bottles for several weeks, students built and designed the rockets in class with hopes that their rocket would fly the best.  The blast off was the conclusion to a unit that looked at Newton's Three Laws of Motion.  You know what they are, right?

As a quick science lesson, here are Newton's Three Laws of Motion along with an explanation from Shawn Hill, a student in the class.
1. An object in motion will stay in motion and an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an outside force.  This is the main law that applies to the water bottle rocket project.
2. Force equals mass times acceleration (F=MA).  Shawn Hill, a student in the class, simplified this law by explaining that "the motion of an object is determined by how big the object is and that will result in how fast it goes.
3. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  This is the law that says that no matter what an object does, the reaction will be able to cancel it out.

It was an enjoyable and unforgettable science class.  By using hands on instruction, the students will have a more likely chance of understanding and seeing Newton's Three Laws of Motion in daily life.

Ed Update: Summer school recycles

Woodward Academy is unlike most public schools in that we have school year round.  Summer school at WA is great for students as it allows them to gain credits toward graduation throughout the summer and keep them actively engaged in meaningful activities.  The classes are just as rigorous as during the traditional fall and spring semesters and encompass a wide range of core and elective courses.  Read more after the break to read about the Environmental Activism class.

Knights of Iron - Amazon.com

In April we reported on how the Woodward Academy documentary film Knights of Iron won Best Documentary at the Cedar Rapids Film Festival.  You can see the post by clicking here to get more information.  The film followed the 2011 powerlifting team as they travelled to Corpus Christi, Texas and competed in the USAPL High School Powerlifting National Championships.

If you have not seen the documentary, you can now purchase a DVD of the film or stream it online through Amazon.com by clicking here.