From Cool in School, October 7, 2010 on KARE - 11 (Click here to see the video and read the whole story!)

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Teachers know when kids don't get recess, they grow restless, and concentration can go out the window. That's not a problem at Groveland Elementary in Minnetonka where students run, play, jump and climb before, during and after school.

"Fitness has become a big deal for us because we started a couple of years ago with this idea that fitness would increase student learning," said Principal David Parker.

Recent studies back that up.

This past spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention went on record saying physical activity, such as the kind found in physical education classes and recess, can improve academic performance. At Groveland, staff try to build in physical activity whenever possible.

"When we build math or reading goals in our classrooms, we integrate those in the gym," said Parker. "We also integrate it outside in our playgrounds and Kid Power."

Kid Power is an unusual playground that Parker likens to a video game come to life. Kids have different play stations that power up only by some sort of physical activity connected to it.