With the primary focus on health sciences, the goals of project armies: anchoring reading and mathematics in exercise (health) sciences are designed to support the academic achievement of all students…

The Department of Defense Education Activity awarded a $1,650,000 Project Grant to Fort Leavenworth USD #207 through the Competitive Grants: Promoting K-12 Student Achievement at Military-Connected Schools program (CFDA 12.556). The grant funds the Project ARMIES initiative, which aims to support military students' academic achievement in mathematics and English language arts through establishing a district-wide health sciences program integrating exergame activities. Specifically, Project ARMIES will leverage best practices in health sciences and "exergaming," defined as hybrid exercise-technology activities requiring full-body movement, to enhance cognitive functioning and academic performance. By incorporating cross-lateral movements, sensory processing, and aerobic exercise into instruction through exergames, the program seeks to improve student achievement across all academic areas for military-connected students served by Fort Leavenworth USD #207. The four-year grant runs from September 30, 2021 through May 31, 2026.

With the primary focus on health sciences, the goals of project armies: anchoring reading and mathematics in exercise (health) sciences are designed to support the academic achievement of all students in the areas of mathematics and english language arts at fort leavenworth. Health sciences are an applied science that focuses on the study of human body's ability to improve, maintain, or restore health and well-being, and project armies applies research-based health sciences to everyday instruction to enhance academic and physical achievement. Research demonstrates that physical exercise enhances student cognitive function, peer support, and self-efficacy. As a research-based initiative, project armies leverages best practices in health sciences and exergaming which is defined as a hybrid activity combining exercise and technology to achieve academic success for military students. To accomplish our goals, we propose to establish a highly effective, district-wide health sciences program to improve student achievement in all areas of academia through the integration of exergame activities in which the particpants "move large muscles groups in the arms, legs, core, and neck in response to cues" (medical dictionary, 2009). These cues includes cross-lateral movements, sensory processing, and aerobic exercise while engagting cognitive functioning. As such, project armies aims to support military students achieving at the highest levels of academic excellence in tiers i, II, and III mathematics and english language arts.