Educational Media Reviews Online

This fine introduction to the basics of physical fitness and the importance of a fitness routine speaks to teens through its visuals and choice of narrators. Teachers will appreciate its organized format, covering the elements of physical fitness, while the target audience will relate to the young people who are featured in the film.

After a short introduction and an explanation of what physical fitness is and is not, the bulk of the film covers the elements of cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, flexibility, balance/coordination, and body composition. A combination of animation and film with live actors is used. The animation consists of simple graphics: color blocks, words, and figures – all visually pleasing and easy to understand. The live-action film features four teens and one adult who is a fitness expert. They talk to the audience about their experiences, sometimes directly and sometimes voicing over film of workouts and other fitness activities.

A wide variety of activities, including running, weightlifting, sports, dance, stretching, and wall climbing, drives home the point that teens must find their own favorites and that any movement is good. In addition to exercise, nutrition also takes center stage in one section on calories.

The sound and visuals are engaging, with enough variety for even short attention spans. Coverage of the topic is as detailed as can be possible in 18 minutes, with the emphasis on the fact that physical fitness is important for many body systems. The diversity in the teen narrators and the variety of activities they describe should provide at least one speaker that each audience member could relate to, if not more.

Included on the DVD are four very short extras: explanations of the Cooper Test (heart recovery after exercise), the plank exercise (to strengthen the core), Body Mass Index (what it means and how to figure), and nutrition (teens talk about foods). In addition, a teacher resource book accompanies the DVD in a print version and is also available electronically on the disk. The resources within include a pretest/post test, self-assessment activities, worksheets, a food diary, fact sheets, and more.

As the title suggests, this DVD would be most appropriate for 13-19 year-olds, to be used in physical education classes. Public libraries may also consider for motivated teens to use on their own or for homeschooling parents to use with their children. Presenting very important information for its target audience, this film would be an excellent addition to the Media Resources Library of most high schools.

Recommended.