Step counting week

Step counting week

About this activity

Suitable for all schools. Supports the Maths, PE and PSHE and Citizenship National Curriculum.

NB: We’re bringing together all the TfL education programmes, including STARS, under one exciting new umbrella programme called TfL Travel for Life. They will be the same great programmes, but with a new name and a new look, easier online process and dedicated support team. STARS for primary schools will be renamed TfL Explorers. STARS for secondary schools will be renamed TfL Pioneers.

Organise a step counting week in your school to raise your pupils' awareness of how much exercise they're getting each day.

Ask your pupils to count how many steps they take on their way to school and record the results on a wall chart each day. At the end of the week the pupil who’s taken the most steps receives a prize or certificate. You could do this across several classes competing for the most steps.

Throughout the week discuss with your class ways they can increase the number of steps they take. For example, they could get off the bus a stop or two early or ask their parents to drop them off a five or ten minute walk from school instead of at the gate (see the Park and stride activity card for ideas on how to set this up).

For younger pupils or those with SEND needs, you could adapt this activity to be based within the school grounds and map the distance wheeled or walked around the school each day.

Speak to your borough officer to see if any funding is available to purchase pedometers for your pupils or see the Other sources of funding activity card for ideas.

What you’ll need

  • Something for counting steps. This could be a mobile phone, a step counter or pupils can count their steps themselves!
  • A wall chart to record pupils’ steps each day
  • Prizes/certificates for the winners

How to evidence your activity

  • Involve your borough officer: Share your ideas, agree your targets and discuss any challenges you face
  • Record the feedback from your pupils
  • Add your story to the TfL Travel For Life website. Explain the activity, add photos and include pupils’ feedback. Also include any posters/letters/promotional materials you produced to promote the activity

Activity steps

1
Plan
Set up a team or work with your TfL Explorers Ambassadors /YTA and school travel working group to plan the week and decide how you will ask pupils to count and record their steps
2
Promote the week
Let pupils and parents/carers know about the week in the newsletter, on the website, in assemblies and on posters
3
Step up to the challenge!
Encourage students to count steps and record on the planner each morning and remind them to note interesting spots on route such as landmarks, transport, wildlife
4
Steps win prizes
At the end of the week calculate who has taken the most steps and celebrate their achievement. Reward bonus prizes to those who recorded the most interesting sight on their journey!
5
Check for Success
Ask your pupils how they found the activity. What key messages did they take away/made them think and what did they find useful/enjoy?
6
Tell your story
Sign in to TfL Travel For Life to add your story and include pupils’ feedback. Explain the activity and add photos. Feedback to your borough officer

Tags

  • Walking

This activity counts towards:

  • Travel activity

How it helps

  • Supports the Maths, PE and PSHE and Citizenship
  • Promotes exercise as part of the daily routine

Resources

Useful links, templates and case studies to support this activity