By William Rowen Healthy Roar reporters | Nine fourth-grade reporters for the Healthy Roar said they participated in some sort of group activity, according to a recent survey.

Five of the nine students said they participated in a team sport and the others said they took part in a group that did something other than sports. For example, three students participated in an art club.

Students who are involved in non-sport activities said they prefer calm activities more than active ones. Reporters said they were surprised that the sports activities were either football or basketball. One reporter is a majorette in a marching band.

Being part of a group can give a person a sense of belonging and reduce stress, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic, a large healthcare organization. Reporters observed that six of the nine reporters said they would recommend the activity to their friends because being a part of a group is fun and they love the activity. Three reporters said they might recommend their activity.

The reporters said they are more likely to be a part of an activity if they are part of a group. They get to be with friends and they’re more motivated to show up.

In future surveys, students think it might be helpful to find out how many different types of group activities each student participates in. Many students participated in multiple group activities, and they wanted a chance to talk about all of them.

Illustration by Lydia, 7th grade, MaST, 2025-26.