Sixth graders' letters on the importance of recess leads to response from Governor Hochul
Mrs. McCaffery, Mrs. Parlett and Mrs. Weston’s sixth-grade classes recently delved into a topic that all kids care deeply about: recess! What began as a simple lesson quickly grew into a project where the students learned about advocacy and making a difference. They were surprised to find out that only eight states in the country have mandatory recess laws. This really hit home, making them wonder how many kids miss out on essential playtime.
The students’ research quickly stacked up evidence for why recess matters so much:
• Health: Recess is often the only real chance kids get to move, run, and burn off energy, especially with so much screen time today.
• Learning: Breaks actually help students learn better. Their brains get a chance to reset, leading to improved focus and better recall in class.
• Behavior: When kids have an outlet for their energy, they are generally less restless and more engaged in the classroom.
• Concentration: A brief physical break can significantly enhance concentration, making students more alert and ready to learn.
The classes also looked beyond their own country and learned about schools that have ten-minute recesses after every class, or even recesses that involve climbing and playing in rugged terrain. As the students learned all of this new information, they heard about Governor Hochul's work on a new cell phone law for schools. It sparked an idea. What if a mandatory recess law could go hand-in-hand with the cell phone law? They reasoned that if kids had more opportunities for physical activity and social interaction during recess, they might be less focused on their phones during the school day. So, the classes decided to act. Every student wrote a letter to Governor Hochul, sharing their research and making a compelling case for why recess is crucial for all kids in America. They included all the health, learning, behavior, and concentration benefits they had uncovered. To their excitement, they all received letters in response from Governor Hochul to their own letters. It was incredibly validating to know that their voices were heard an
d that the Governor took the time to respond to their messages.
The project proved to be a powerful lesson for the classes, showing them that even as students, they have the ability to research, advocate, and contribute to meaningful conversations.
