Celebrating the end of the Physical Activity Foundation's Active Kids Challenge, the students got up and moving, showing dance steps and yoga moves that put their teachers to shame.

Almost 22,000 students from 55 ACT primary schools participated in the 2016 challenge, an eight-week initiative designed to raise awareness of the importance of daily activity and provide schools and families with resources to support the idea once the challenge is completed.

In its ninth year, the program continues to grow. Chief executive officer Lucille Bailie said the 2016 participation rates were among the highest to date and she was pleased the program was reaching a good portion of ACT students.

"Research shows us that active kids have improved academic outcomes, increased self esteem and social skills which when combined with health benefits like avoiding overweight and obesity as a result of inactivity, it really provides a compelling case for all kids to be active every day," Ms Bailie said.

"We're particularly excited to see Black Mountain School participate in the challenge as we know that children with a disability and special needs can see long-term benefits from physical activity and in some cases transfer these to the activities of daily living."

Black Mountain School principal Frank Fogliati said the school saw the program as an investment in the children's futures.

"We need to look for innovative ways to make activity happen, things that are going to get our kids meaningfully engaged," he said.

"We need to look for things they'll go home and talk to mum and dad about, whether it be bike riding, or getting on the treadmill, or encouraging them to walk the family dog, it's important that we support that."

Mr Fogliati said bicycle riding was particularly popular among his students.

"Bike riding is very liberating for them, it's very mindful, you have to do the whole activity," he said.

"I think for a lot of our kids they love that vestibular kinesthetic action and really, who doesn't like the wind in their face."

Ms Bailie said the 2016 ACT Chief Health Officer's report found that just 19 per cent of ACT primary school children and 12 per cent of high school children were achieving 60 minutes of activity each day.

The suite of programs offered by the Physical Activity Foundation had been developed to directly influence behaviour change and to teach children and their carers the health and social benefits they could gain from improving their quality of life through physical activity and active play.