The Walking Classroom was developed in 2011 by Laura Fenn, M.S. Ed, for her fifth grade classroom as a response to the lack of opportunities for physical activity for students during the school day. Fenn, an educator for over 15 years, noticed a direct correlation between her students’ academic performance and the amount of physical activity they regularly had. She came up with a way for her students to get the exercise they desperately needed without sacrificing instructional time.
The Walk, Listen, and Learn program was an instant success in her classroom. Her students’ attitudes about exercise improved, as did their end-of-grade achievement scores—with her struggling students making the most noticeable gains. Soon, Fenn dedicated herself to writing and producing age-appropriate, national standards–aligned podcasts. Today, The Walking Classroom is used by thousands of students nationwide.
The Walking Classroom Mission
The mission of The Walking Classroom is to help strengthen the physical, mental, and academic health of children. The program teaches children to establish and maintain healthy lifestyle habits, while also building their health literacy and core content knowledge. Students walk, listen, and learn.