STEAM Based Tennis Fitness in Schools for Physical Education

K-12 STEAM education

East LA South LA San Gabriel Valley West LA Central LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

We aim to address with the STEAM-Based Tennis Fitness program the lack of engaging, holistic education and physical activity opportunities in underserved schools. Many students in these communities face limited access to both quality PE programs and enriching academic experiences that connect learning to real-world applications. By combining STEAM learning with tennis-based fitness, we tackle educational inequity, rising childhood inactivity, and the need for innovative teaching methods that inspire curiosity, collaboration, and lifelong healthy habits. In LA, youth in underserved neighborhoods face growing barriers to physical activity and wellness. Fewer than 1 in 4 children meet the CDC’s recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise, and in LA County, over 35% of low-income youth are overweight or obese. LAUSD data shows persistent disparities in PE access. As youth spend more time online, few digital tools exist to encourage real-world activity, healthy habits, or social connection.

This grant will support the implementation of the STEAM-Based Tennis Fitness in Schools program, a dynamic curriculum that blends physical education with academic enrichment. The program delivers interactive lessons where students explore concepts like geometry through court movement, physics through ball trajectory, and health science through fitness tracking—while actively playing tennis. Instructors use pop-up tennis nets, chalk lines, foam balls, and low-compression balls to implement the program on any blacktop surface, making it accessible and adaptable for schools with limited facilities. While on "court" instructors are teach valuable science concepts such a gravity, force of impact, centrifugal force, body parts, kinetic chain, newtons law and so many more important concepts which students. learn in experience and through play rather than trying to memorize a textbook.

LA County will see a new generation of students who are more physically active, academically curious, and confident in their bodies & minds. Schools will have access to a scalable, low-cost model that merges education and movement in ways that foster healthier lifestyles, and improved academic performance. The program will help close equity gaps by ensuring that all students—regardless of zip code—have access to innovative, whole-child learning experiences that prepare them for future success. Short-Term Goals (October 2025 – October 2026):
Expand the program to at least 3 additional Title I schools within the same district.
Provide pro development & training for STEAM Sports instructors.
Develop a curriculum guide that integrates PE, STEAM, and social-emotional learning.
Conduct student and teacher surveys to measure engagement, learning outcomes, and program impact.
Establish a data collection framework to track physical activity levels, STEAM comprehension, and student confidence.