We are delighted to present new learning resources that give you some great ideas for bringing your Daily Mile into the classroom. As well offering a simple way to build physical activity into your pupils’ day and clear benefits to physical and emotional health, your Daily Mile offers a hook for building your pupils’ numeracy and research skills.

The Daily Mile initiative was officially launched in 2016 to encourage all schools to get outside and walk or run for 15 minutes a day. The idea began in 2012 when Elaine Wyllie, head of a Scottish primary school, was shocked that a class of pupils struggled to run a lap of their playing field. The children and teachers decided to start running around the field for 15 minutes a day to see if they could get better at it. Within 3 months, every class in the school was doing their Daily Mile and the children loved the freedom of running, jogging, skipping or walking with their friends in all weather.  Hundreds of schools have picked it up and it’s spreading to Europe and North America too!

How can Digimap for Schools help?

Have a look at our Daily Mile resource section for ideas. A few suggestions to get started:

Measuring your Daily Mile!

• Plot your route and check the distance with the line drawing and measurement tool
• Explore your area using a 1-mile buffer – where could children reach by running a mile in different directions? Extend this exercise by looking at aerial and historic maps of your area.
• Choose a famous route, such as Harian’s Wall or the West Highland Way. Find out the distance and calculate how many Daily Miles it would take your class to complete the route!
• Add Geograph photos to your maps to see what geographic features have been photographed in your area or find photos of famous landmarks.
• Research and plot a route, with distance and stopping points, to show tourists around your town.

We hope you enjoy exploring the resources and bringing your Daily Mile into the classroom! Remember, we would love to see photos of the maps you create or of you out and about on your Daily Mile – tweet them to us @digimap4schools.