As children at Bethune Elementary School in Atlanta scurried into P.E. class Wednesday, their biggest surprise was Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

Clad in brown wool pants and cashmere sweater, Blank was on deck to watch "Hopsports" in motion, a new video fitness program designed to get kids hooked into exercise and reverse obesity trends. The percentage of overweight children has tripled in the past three decades, putting them at risk for diabetes, heart disease and other health problems.

Joey Ivansco / AJC (ENLARGE)

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank works out with fourth graders on Wednesday at Bethune Elementary. The Atlanta Falcons provided grant money for a new workout program that incorporates music and popular sports.

Joey Ivansco / AJC (ENLARGE)

Bethune Elementary fourth-grader, Anthony Mitchell, shows that working out is not all fun and games.

RELATED • More health headlines

Within minutes of turning the program on, Blank grabs a blue resistance band, stretching his arms behind him.

"Like this?" Blank asks 10-year-old Adalis Ball.

"Yep, looks good," says Adalis, unaware she's sweating next to the man who runs a professional football franchise.

After a few repetitions, P.E. teacher Eric Johnson, pats Blank on the back and tells him, "Time to rotate."

"How is everyone feeling?" asks Johnson.

"H-A-P-P-Y!," chant the fourth graders.

"How is everyone feeling?" Johnson asks again, this time eyeing Mr. Blank.

Blank hesitates and then says, "Happy!"

The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation recently provided a $140,000 grant for the program, which helps pay associated costs at five Atlanta public schools.

Hopsports is used at hundreds of schools and YMCA's across the country. It uses screens and gymnasium walls with movie-sized images of celebrities and fitness experts. The program replaces old fashioned games such as Duck, Duck, Goose with a mix of music and popular sports — not to mention Freddie the Falcon.

Atlanta Public School officials hope to make the program available system wide, but no dates have been set for implementing throughout the district.

"The kids were just not in that good of shape," says P.E. teacher Eric Johnson about the initial group of students. "We would play a lot of games, but they weren't getting a great workout. This has a lot of cardio. And this can hold their attention."

He points to an exercise ball and pointed to the screen.

"They can actually practice swimming strokes," says

Johnson.

Blank does his best to keep up with the group, but falls behind.

Still, he's upbeat.

"This feels great, doesn't it?" he says to the kids.

"Sure does," says Adalis.

After gym class, the students returned to their room to work on fractions.

Blank returned to his office for back-to-back-meetings.

The kids did a good job, Johnson said. But Blank "needs more practice."