Are you a school district where the children have recess directly before lunch?

Question

We have been "told" that our school (K-5 grades) will be implementing a new lunch/recess schedule next year. This is coming from our Health Dept. through our Wellness grant right to our superintendent. In all the years I have taught (32), the children eat lunch and go directly outside for recess. Next year we will have to switch that schedule - now they will go out to recess and come directly in to eat lunch. We were given alot of "literature" to read about it but I would like to hear directly from some school systems and/or parents. What advantages do you see from this schedule? Disadvantages? How did you set up your lunch schedule? We have 18 classes with one cafeteria suitable for holding 6 classes but that's really too many. Hoping to hear from schools in various parts of the country! I am also on the committee to set this up, so looking for suggestions. Thank you!

One thing that some of us are worried about is the long afternoon we would have. Right now the kindergartens eat at 10:30. Our principal seems to think they could go outside at 10:00 before lunch. That would leave us with a morning of about 2 hours and an afternoon of 4 hours. The lower grades are concerned about the quality teaching time being eliminated.

Answer 1

we have been doing it for about 10 years.
I love it...the kids eat more...no more rushing to get outside...
the built up energy after a morning of intense work is used before they enter to eat ... they eat more food and last longer in the afternoon because they are not hungry...the conflicts of recess are resolved before they re-enter the classroom so valuable class time is not spent sorting out the problems.
our k class starts recess at 10:40 and eats at 11 with each class following every five minutes and the last class finishes eating at 12:30...we have 20 min. of recess and 20 min. to eat.

Answer 2

in my school (colorado), we have always ate lunch right before recess. i think i would like our way more because you have time to digest your food and get all the energy out from it instead of going in to do work. also, if your going to have two breaks (sorta) in a row, you want the outside one last because you get fresh air right before your work. i think most schools have it that way because right after lunch kids are a little wild and squirmy from all the energy. i like it better the other way, but one good thing about it is that the kids dont come directly in from recess all wild, theyre going to be a little bit calmer, i think. i dont know, thats hard. good luck!

Answer 3

Um my 2 last year schools did have a recess before lunch. but now at this school i am going right now has a recess AFTER lunch. hope i helped!

~Smile cause God loves you~