Fourth graders testify to create a state exercise.

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Intro:	Fourth graders traveled to Jefferson City Thursday to speak in front of a legislative panel about jumping jacks.
RunTime:	0:43
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Students from St. Joseph testified to make the jumping jack the official state exercise.

The fourth graders took inspiration from their school's namesake, World War I General John J. Pershing, who invented jumping jacks.

Mason Murphy is one of the fourth graders.

Actuality:	MMURPHY.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "He was an early civil rights leader. He taught children that were African-American and he broke the law, just because he wanted them to have equal rights."

Teacher Kristy Lorenz says the project teaches students about history and government.

Sponsor of the bill Representative Pat Conway says he expects the House Tourism Committee to vote on the bill within a few weeks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Paige Hornor.

Intro:	Fourth grade students testified in front of the House Tourism Committee to create a official state exercise Thursday.
RunTime:	0:39
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: John J. Pershing Elementary School students want to make jumping jacks the state exercise.

The project started in 2009 after a class field trip to the Pershing Museum, where they learned that Pershing invented the exercise.

Fourth Grader Jared Livingston says the bill might reduce high obesity rates.

Actuality:	JLIVING.WAV
Run Time:	00:06
Description: "Having the jumping jack as our exercise could balance out the state of Missouri ice cream with the state exercise, the jumping jack."

Lorenz says the project is a great way to teach students about the House and Senate.

Sponsor of the bill Representative Pat Conway says he expects the House Tourism Committee to vote on the bill within the next few weeks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Paige Hornor.

Intro:	Students spoke to the House Tourism Committee Thursday in hopes of revealing Missouri's history through the state exercise.
RunTime:	0:39
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: John J. Pershing Elementary School students testified to a House Committee to make jumping jacks the official Missouri exercise.

Jumping jacks were invented by General Pershing to train soldiers at West Point.

Teacher Kristy Lorenz started the project in 2009.

Actuality:	CLORENZ.WAV
Run Time:	00:08
Description: "Our goal is really to get his name out there, across the state, then further then that as well, but we are starting here then working our way up."

Students wrote letters to representatives and passed out brouchures at the Capitol.

Sponsor of the bill Representative Pat Conway says he expects the House Tourism Committee to be vote on the bill within a few weeks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Paige Hornor.