Dance Dance Revolution to Promote Active Living and Fight Obesity

I'm thinking about bringing Dance Dance Revolutionsome Physical Education classes are using Dance
into my Intermediate classroom.Dance Revolution to get Grade 7 students
Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is a video gamemoving.
by Konami that was released in the arcades of* A projected 1,500 schools in West Virgina are
Japan in 1998 and is now available across severalexpected to be using the game by the end of
home entertainment systems, includingthe decade.
Playstation, Wii, and Xbox.* "At least 10 states" in the US are using DDR as
Players stand on a dance platform with arrowsa "regular part of their physical education
pointing up, down, left, and right. By listening tocurriculum" to fight obesity.
the music and watching a computer screen,* DDR appeals to school boards and educators as
players need to tap the corresponding arrows ona non-competitive form of movement (compared
the beat.to traditional sports.)
There are different levels of difficulty, so gameYou could use DDR as an extra-curriculuar club, to
play can range from simple to challenging. On themeet daily physical activity (DPA) requirements,
Nintendo Wii, Dance Dance Revolution Hottestor as part of a phys-ed program.
Party includes the use of the wii remote. Up to 4* Most students will be watching the screen and
players have to move both their hands and feetpracticing moving to the beat while they wait for
to the beat.their turn on the mats.
Overall, DDR is a high-interest, low-skill activity* Depending on how much you're willing to spend,
that appeals to the video-game generation, and asyou could have up to 4 people actually playing on
a teacher who continually looks for innovativethe videogame system.
ways to achieve curriculum expectations through* You can set the difficulty level for each player
technology, DDR is in my sights.independently, which means that an expert and a
In April 2007, the NY Times reported on howbeginner could be playing at the same time.