Have you ever tried doing jumping jacks for a minute straight?

(Get up; Give it a try. I'll wait.)

Are you winded?

Hastings mom Caludia Heitler—a former producer for 'The Today Show' who now writes a website that provides news for kids—presents current events (in an age-appropriate manner, of course) to second and third-graders at Hillside Elementary once a month. And this is not just kiddy-news, she says. In the past, they've discussed the elections in Congo and the Obama administration...

"During the summer, I was leafing through National Geographic Kids and found an article on First Lady Michelle Obama's idea to have as many kids worldwide doing jumping jacks on the same day," Heitler said. "I thought, 'What a great idea! We should get Hastings involved.'"

A den leader for Hastings Cub Scouts, Heitler teamed up with local girl scout leaders and Hillside Principal Laura Sullivan to organize the event. In the end, 533 Hillside students participated in October—helping to pave the way for Ms. Obama's world record made official today, Dec. 12, 2011!

Since her husband took office, Ms. Obama has made it her mission to encourage Americans to lead healthier, more active lives—especially kids.

"I definitely think activities like this contribute to making kids healthier and stronger," Heitler said. "It raises awareness and lets them be part of something greater than themselves."

As a side note, Heitler said she tried to do jumping jacks for a full minute before even beginning to convince the school to go along with the idea. "It's not easy!," she said.

In the weeks leading up to Oct. 12—the day on which more than 300,000 people worldwide would bounce and flail in unison—Hillside PE teachers had kids practice during gym classes, working them up to the full 60 seconds.

"PE teacher Dennis Kieley even made a jumping jacks soundtrack," Heitler said. "There were lots of those little touches."

To be included in the record-breaking feat, groups had to comply with a number of rules: kids had to be in certain formations and there had to be witnesses and timers who weren't involved at all with the event.

"That meant no parents, no teachers or anyone really who would normally have been at the school," Heitler said.

When the forecast originally called for rain, Heitler ran door-to-door to local shops  asking business owners and patrons if they'd officiate. "I had 30 people lined up within an hour," she said.

"Everyone was so generous and receptive in Hastings. I even asked my dentist, who reminded me that my daughter was scheduled for an appointment the next day."

In the end, the weather held out and the event took place outdoors.

"The kids did their jumping jacks by grade," Heitler said. "So the best part was watching the older kids cheer on the younger students as they did their jumping jacks."

To break Guinness' previous record, more than 20,000 people (documented) needed to do one minute's worth of jumping jacks within one day.

Michelle Obama got 300,265.

Wow!

Listen to Michelle Obama's speech on the world record here.

Find Claudia Heitler's 'kids' news' website here