InPACT
Interrupting Prolonged Sitting with Activity
University of Michigan
Childhood Disparities Research Laboratory
Principal Investigators: Rebecca Hasson, Ph.D., FACSM (PI)
University of Michigan School of Kinesiology
Ulysses Sean Vance
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Collaborators: Darin Stockdill
Nancy Colabianchi
L. Beemer
A. Tiwaloluwa
M. O’Sullivan
M. Nagy
Arch. Student Collaborators:
Y Nhi Tran
Christopher Locke
Christopher Maj
Amanda Ai
Nicholas Watkins
Sulaymaan Suhrawdy
Inpact Videos Filming Days
The Interrupting Prolonged Sitting with Activity (the “InPACT” Project) is a novel classroom-based
physical activity intervention to improve the fitness of both teachers and students, while simultaneously
improving academic achievement. Led by the Department of Kinesiology, the goal is to provide
teachers with the necessary resources and instruction to lead their classes in 5, 4-minute activity breaks
throughout the school day. Architectural analysis and advisement through the InPACT project training
has been implemented in three elementary schools: Anderson Elementary (Trenton), Eastabrook
Elementary (Ypsilanti), and Columbia Elementary (Brooklyn), and is currently being implemented in
Munger Elementary-Middle School (Detroit).
Questions:
1. What are the space requirements during physical activity based on a compendium of activities selected for in-class instructional use?
2. What are the optimal arrangements of furnishings based on the number of students and furniture type that facilitate ubiquitous movement to support physiological, behavioral, and cognitive goals for young persons?
3. How can the furniture arrangements be conveyed in a manual to advise teachers in annual training activities on best practices for self-initiated classroom modifications?
Methods:
1. Understanding and evaluating current conditions in participating schools.
2. Rigorous analysis of the prototypical classroom environments.
3. Development of training videos that facilitate in-class activity breaks.
4. Dissemination of activity videos and Classroom layout in printed and online material.