Program
Girls on the Run® is a totally unique experience for girls. We are not a running program or basic after-school activity. Our curriculum is the core of our program.
We have two curricula: Girls on the Run is for third through fifth grade girls; Girls on Track is for six through eighth grade girls.


Curriculum
The curriculum is divided into three parts:
1. The first eight lessons are centered on the girls getting to know themselves.
Examining their values, their likes and dislikes, who they envision themselves to be.
As the girls get to know themselves, they are also sharing with each other. Lesson
topics and learning goals include “being a girl of your word”, “being emotional is healthy” and “values are valuable.”

2. The next eight lessons concentrate on team building, being supportive, learning to listen and cooperate, etc. Lesson topics and learning goals include “gossiping is a bad habit”, “standing up for myself” and “keys to making good decisions.”

3. The last eight lessons relate to the world at large. This includes making a contribution to your community and also the negative messages we often receive from the world (media awareness, negative peer pressure, etc.) Lesson topics and learning goals include: “community begins with me”, “media literacy” and the development and implementation of a group community project. The 24 lessons conclude with the opportunity to participate in a 5k event. This may be a community sponsored 5k or a Girls on the Run 5k organized to benefit the local Girls on the Run council.


Curriculum Structure
Each lesson is divided into activities with specific functions to enhance the learning process. A lesson begins with a "Getting on Board" activity, which brings the girls' focus to the topic of the day. The girls then do a "Warm-Up" activity, which again focuses on the day’s topic, but does so in a manner which actually serves to warm up their muscles, joints and cardiovascular system.

A "Processing" question and answer time follows the warm-up activity. The girls stretch while specific questions are asked to bring out the relevance of the "Warm-Up" activity to the topic. The goal of processing is to help the girls make connections and see how the lessons apply to their lives. Processing is the most important piece of each lesson. Processing relates the activities to the "real world" and requires good listening skills.

A "Workout" activity follows where the girls do a variety of running workouts that incorporate a game or a team goal that keep it fun.

The lesson concludes with the girls answering some final "Processing" questions related to the "Workout" Activity while they complete cool-down stretching.
Each session will “Wrap Up” with the coach expressing positive comments about individual and group behaviors.

Each session also finishes with energy awards that recognize positive individual and group behaviors (awards are invented and decided upon by the girls).

Lesson plans are clearly laid out with required materials listed at the beginning.


Click here to download a Sample Lesson.