The Walking Classroom

The Walking Classroom is a national award-winning education program that provides students and teachers with an innovative way to get exercise without sacrificing instructional time. Now a program of Alliance for a Healthier Generation, The Walking Classroom's “Walk, Listen, and Learn” methodology capitalizes on the favorable link between exercise and cognitive function. The program is simple: Students take brisk 20-minute walks, as a class, while listening to the same custom-written, kid-friendly podcast that comes pre-loaded on their "WalkKit" audio device. Each podcast begins with a brief health literacy message, and the lesson plans in the Teacher’s Guide help educators effectively discuss and review the podcast material. Awards: 2015: Winner: William J. Bennington Healthy Community Institute, BlueCross BlueShield Foundation of North Carolina (Nonprofit Excellence Award) 2015: Finalist: Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards (Nonprofit of the Year) 2014: National Finalist: Kate B Reynolds Charitable Trust (Innovations in Rural Health) 2013-14: Winner: eSchool News Readers' Choice Awards (Impactful Educational Tool) 2013: Winner: BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (Health Innovation Challenge) 2012: National Grand Prize Winner: Active Schools Acceleration Project (Educational Technology Innovation)