While her fifth-grade classmates finished writing letters to veterans, Angelica Smetana pedaled her way through "Bambi" on a stationary bike in the corner of the classroom, the classic book propped up in front of her.
"I can exercise and at the same time, I get to read," says Angelica, 10.
When students finish their work in D'Vonne Yonnick's room at Napoleon's Ezra Eby Elementary School, they are allowed to take a 10-minute tour on the bike while reading.
Through a $2,750 Jackson Community Foundation grant, the school purchased five recumbent bikes that are stationed in different locations.
In addition to the one in Yonnick's room, one is outside the office, two are in the media center and one is in a fourth-grade classroom, Yonnick said.
"It would be nice to have them in all of our classrooms," she said.
Students at Eby read books for a program called Accelerated Reader, in which they are tested on comprehension.
Yonnick said research shows that physical activity enhances learning for students. And sitting at a desk all day doesn't help.
The bikes have also been a good motivator to get work done on time, she said.
Yonnick said she brought in her old stationary bike last year and the students loved it. But it was noisy and distracting.
The new bikes, which hardly make a sound, were purchased at P & T Fitness in Jackson.
"It's fun riding a bike instead of sitting at my desk," said Brenden Rodgers, 10, who rides two to three times each week.
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