Department of Kinesiology

Engagement in Kinesiology

Mission
Engagement

Mission: The Department of Kinesiology promotes health and well-being through discovery, learning, and engagement in the study of physical activity. In particular we make these contributions through out two main areas: behavioral and biological bases of physical activity. We seek to improve the lives of citizens of Iowa. the U.S., and the world by the creation and dissemination of knowledge about physical activity and its relationship to health and well-being. Essential aspects of these efforts are the preparation of scholars and pforfessionals in the study of physical activity at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition we educate the public and the University community in the scientific aspects of physical activity. Especially exercise, sport, and the movements of daily life.

Specifically by:
Developing cooperative ventures related to physical activity, dance, and health with the citizens, schools, businesses, and industries of Iowa (in particular) but more generally to the U.S. and world communities.

Engagement Activities in Kinesiology

TEAM Nutrition

Team Nutrition is an initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to support the Child Nutrition Programs through training and technical assistance for foodservice, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity. Team Nutrition's Goal is to improve children's lifelong eating and physical activity habits by using the principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid.

The Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Child Nutrition Programs and Transportation, has been funded by the USDA for Team Nutrition since 1998. Dr. Katherine Thomas Thomas, Department of Kinesiology, has served as Social Scientist (TN Demonstration Project), Core Team Member, Curriculum Writer (Preschool Grants) and Physical Activity Consultant to the numerous grants. The work of Team Nutrition through the IDE and ISU is consistent with our land grant mission. We provide free technical assistance, training and materials to schools and communities across Iowa.

The Physical Activity and Healthy Snack Cards, along with the policy and lesson plan cards are available at these websites:

Iowa Partners for Healthy Kids: Action for Healthy Kids State Team

A public-private partnership of more than 50 national organizations and government agencies representing education, health, fitness and nutrition, Action for Healthy Kids addresses the epidemic of overweight, sedentary, and undernourished youth by focusing on changes in schools. The Iowa team, founded in 2002, reflects the national partnership. Katherine Thomas Thomas (Department of Kinesiology) served as co-chair of the state team from September of 2003 through September of 2005. Ruth Litchfield (Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition) will be co-chair for two years beginning in September of 2005. Both Thomas and Litchfield serve on the core committees for Iowa AFHK and Team Nutrition. The goal of Action for Healthy Kids is to ensure a healthy future for the children of Iowa and beyond through collaboration and service.

The Iowa Team selected three action goals from the Commitment to Change (AFHK) and Call to Action (HHS, 2001):

Homeschool Physical Education
Children enrolled in the enrichment program for homeschool children in the ACSD have the opportunity to participate in multi-age physical education and recreation during the school year. The homeschool teachers and parents work cooperatively with ISU faculty and students to provide 1 hour of physical education and 1 hour of recreation each week in the Forker Building. College students enrolled in elementary education and/or physical education teaching work under the supervision of university faculty to deliver instruction. Homeschool teachers work with parents to provide recreation opportunities coordinated with the physical education instruction.

Willson-Beardshear Physical Education
Willson-Beardshear Early Childhood Learning Center is a fully integrated preschool for at-risk and children with disabilities in Ames and the surrounding communities. Each year physical education teaching undergraduate students provide physical education for children at Willson-Beardshear. The ISU students go to Willson-Beardshear one day each week so the children have 1-2 days of instruction each week. The experienced and dedicated teaching staff at Willson-Beardshear provide excellent role models and hands-on instruction for the ISU students. In addition, faculty or graduate assistants and peer mentors work with the undergraduate teachers.

Palmer Kindergarten Physical Education
The ACSD has a kindergarten class on ISU's campus in the Palmer Building. Physical education instruction is provided by ACSD specialist teachers. At least once each week the class is held in the Forker Building Gym (202). The teacher has access to state of the art physical education equipment and a large facility appropriate for instruction.

The oldest student organization in the Department of Kinesiology is the HHP Club. Most of the members are preparing to teach physical education. Each year, in connection with the Adapted Physical Education Class, the HHP Club organizes and runs the State Special Olympics Volleyball Tournament. This service-learning project speaks to the mission of our department and university. For more information: http://www.soiowa.org/ or http://www.stuorg.iastate.edu/hhp/aahperd.html

Summer Minority Secondary School Recruitment Program

The Department of HHP has worked cooperatively with college and university programs (such as Exploring Education, Science Bound , College Bound, Early Outreach Program , and Educational Talent Search) to recruit minority students at the junior high and high school levels. During these sessions, students rotate through three to four different hands-on experiences in which they are exposed to such activities and discussions as: oxygen consumption and exercise; measuring blood pressure in different body positions; tracking physical activity with pedometers; ballroom dancing; disease transmission; use of biofeedback and exercise; nutrition; measurement of reaction time; measurement of fine motor coordination; and career options in health and human performance. The goal of these sessions are to expose them to concepts in our field and to pique their interests.

Summer Youth Fitness Camp

This camp, running during June and July, is for elementary age children . The staff are ISU students. Dr. Richard Engelhorn directs the program. For more information go to: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~richarde/ISUSYF.htm

The following examples of engagement are from the Iowa State Dance Program, our guiding thoughts about outreach are:
All shoes are dancing shoes.
All clothes are dancing clothes.
All bodies are dancing bodies.
We invite you to join the dance.
Take a chance learn to dance.

Tuesday's Creations
This 6 week dance program for elementary age children is offered fall and spring in the Betty Toman Dance Theatre in the Forker Building. There is no cost for enrolling in the program.

Department of Cultural Affairs at the Iowa Historical Building

Iowa State Dance with students from the Dance Place, a Des Moines based dance school, were part of the opening ceremonies for the unveiling of the permanent exhibit of the Wooly Mammoth. At this event the Wooly Mammoth March was debuted. Following this event, Assistant Professor Janice Baker was asked to facilitate Mammoth Mondays. Here elementary students spend the day at the Historical Building visiting the exhibits as well as participating in a 30-minute dance/movement class facilitated by Iowa State Dance students. Affectionately referred to as "the attack of the 200 3rd graders," the groups are arranged into 10 people tribes to solve a series of dance "problems."

Des Moines Art Center

Assistant Professor Janice Baker facilitates the Creative Day for the D.M. Art Center yearly. This full day event brings 1st and 2nd grades to the facility for a half day where they tour the gallery, produce a hands on art project and create movement responses to a chosen art work. Responding to an assortment of music and props the students paint the artwork in space. The authentic movement responses of the students are amazingly articulate and expressive. Iowa State Dance students are encouraged to attend and help facilitate the 6 classes.

VSA of Iowa and The New Visions Dance Project.

The New Visions Dance Project is asked to dance at a variety of events. It was our delight to be part of the celebration of the anniversary of the Americans Disability Act. We perform approximately once a month for civic functions. Classes are held in Des Moines at the Dance Place in the spring, summer and fall.
We perform annually for the Governors Very Special Arts Festival at the Iowa State Fair.

Iowa State Fair

Assistant Professor Janice Baker judges for the Riley Talent Competition each year. This is a televised event that carries a $5000.00 cash prize. Dancers from Iowa State and the Dance Place also perform on the stages at the Iowa State Fair.

Iowa Council for International Understanding

We have provided dance for their yearly banquet as well as performed for the open-air event at the Blank Park Zoo.

Iowa Dance Theatre

Assistant Professor Janice Baker is the project director for the annual production of "Dracula, A Comedy Noir." Performed in Des Moines this 2 act ballet tours to the Iowa State Campus. Assistant Professor Baker also teaches master classes, choreographs and occasionally dances with this group.

Iowa State Dance Tour Company

This chamber-sized group provides lecture demonstrations on and off campus.

The Nutcracker at CY Stephens

Each year approximately 250 students audition for this classic ballet. Assistant Professor Baker is the ballet mistress for the Party and Fight Scene.

Des Moines Art Festival

We provide dance/movement activities for Iowa State Extension's tent during this 3 day event. Creative activities with the crowd are highly celebrated at this historically hot event. We also have performed at the Art Festival at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Iowa State's Speakers Bureau

We volunteer to provide movement/dance classes to groups who are touring Iowa State. We average around 3-5 per semester. Usually we present "Images from Seven Continents, How dance is consumed of around the world." Or "Pears, a nutritional look at how dance feeds cultures by being Physical, Entertaining, Artful, Reverent, and Social."

Seven Generation Multi-Cultural Powwow
Jester Park, Iowa. We are invited to perform for this event yearly.

Valerie Williams Kids Co Motion Theatre (artist-in-residence)
Yearly summer workshop and performance

Iowa State Dance Summer Workshop
Once a 3-4 day event now we are doing Super Saturdays in Des Moines in cooperation with Iowa Dance Theatre.

Service in Kinesiology
1995-2005

Dean F. Anderson
Jim Bloedel
Tim Derrick
Joe Eisenmann
Paddy Ekkekakis
Rich Engelhorn
Warren Franke
Jason Gillette
Doug King
Marian Kohut
Rich Sharp
Ann Smiley-Oyen
Jerry Thomas
Katherine Thomas Thomas
Greg Welk