Creating a digital app to help teachers provide physical education for elementary students
Official title: Development, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Aim to Play, a User-Friendly Digital Application for Teacher Skills Training and Physical EducationActivities for 3-5 Grade Elementary Students
Funded at Saavsus, INC. · NIH-10917819 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new app called Aim to Play that helps teachers create fun and effective physical education activities for kids in 3rd to 5th grade, especially in areas where resources might be limited, so that more students can get active and enjoy moving around.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Saavsus, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eugene, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $981,512 |
| NIH project number | 2R44DP006743-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10917819 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include elementary school teachers and students in 3rd to 5th grades, particularly those from low-income or rural backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Students who are not in the 3rd to 5th grade or those attending schools with sufficient existing PE resources may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a user-friendly digital application called Aim to Play, designed to assist teachers in delivering effective physical education (PE) activities for 3rd to 5th grade students. The app aims to address barriers faced by educators, particularly those in low-income and rural areas, by providing easy access to standards-based PE lesson plans that can be used in various settings. By utilizing this app, teachers can tailor activities based on time, skill level, and available resources, ultimately promoting increased physical activity among students. The project will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the app among educators to ensure it meets their needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance physical activity levels among elementary students, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced health inequities.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using digital tools to enhance physical education, indicating that this approach has potential for positive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Saavsus, INC.
Eugene, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ricci, Jeanette — Saavsus, INC.
- Study coordinator: Ricci, Jeanette
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Aim to Play — a teacher app to get 3rd–5th graders moving
This project creates an easy-to-use app that helps teachers lead short, standards-based physical activities for 3rd–5th graders, especially in low-income and rural schools.
-
Aim to Play: a user-friendly PE app to support K-2 teachers and students
A digital app helps teachers deliver easy, standards-aligned physical education activities for kindergarten to 2nd grade kids.
-
Creating a training program to prevent bullying and abuse in elementary schools
This study is testing a fun training program called radKIDS 2.0 that helps elementary school kids learn how to stay safe and stand up against bullying and abuse, especially after the tough times during the pandemic.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.