Step Count Challenge: Comparing Activities with Pedometers

In pairs, students use a phone pedometer to measure how many steps they take in 4 minutes of different activities and compare the results with daily recommendations. Students practice using technology responsibly to track activity and plan active habits.

How to play

1. Setup (3 min): pairs with a phone in a pocket and the step counter on; a sheet listing five activities with a box to record steps.
2. Measuring (4 min per activity): normal walking, brisk walking, easy jogging, a moving passing game around the blacktop, and going up and down stairs or a bench; record the steps after each one.
3. Between activities, 1 minute to record and reset the counter.
4. Math (3 min): each pair works out how many minutes of each activity they'd need to reach about 8,000 steps a day.
5. Plan (2 min): each student writes two realistic changes to add daily steps, like getting off the bus one stop early.

Rules

• Safety: the phone stays in a zipped pocket or armband, never in your hand.
• Phones are only for the step counter and the sheet.
• The passing game has no contact and no stealing.
• Nobody has to share personal data if they don't want to.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: count wheel pushes or active time instead of steps.
• No personal phone: share a partner's or use a school pedometer.
• Lower fitness: replace jogging with brisk walking.

Learning goals

• Use a pedometer to track physical activity independently.
• Compare the load of different everyday activities.
• Plan realistic changes to increase daily activity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• smartphones: 13
• worksheets: 25
• cones: 8
• balls: 6

Teacher tip

Check ahead which students don't have a phone and have alternatives ready. Phone step counters miss steps if the phone is loose in a backpack: keep it close to the body.

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