Students Trading Basketballs for Dancing Shoes

Across the country, schools are using the popular video game Dance Dance Revolution as a regular part of their physical education curriculum. The energetic, calorie-burning video game is the latest weapon in the nation’s battle against the childhood obesity epidemic.

Schools are shifting the focus of physical education by incorporating Dance Dance Revolution into P.E. classes.

Chad Fenwick, who oversees physical education for the Los Angeles Unified School District, says "Traditionally, physical education was about team sports and was very skills oriented. What you’re seeing is a move toward activities where you don’t need to be so great at catching and throwing and things like that, so we can appeal to a wider range of kids.”

Kids playing Dance Dance Revolution tend to burn a lot of calories as they jump around a dance mat, following colored arrows on a screen. Some people have claimed to have lost a few pounds playing the game, as well as picked up a few new dance moves.

_{Source: Seth, Schiesel, P.E. Classes Turn to Video Game That Works Legs. The New York Times, 30 Apr 2007.}