The increased prevalence in recent childhood obesity rates raise concern about youth health and the role that lack of physical activity plays in this trend. A focus on how children today choose to spend their free time is one approach that may yield ideas for how to reduce childhood obesity. Recess is a regularly occurring “free choice” time period that occurs in elementary school children's days. Recess is currently overlooked as an opportune time to help children discover enjoyable physical activities and increase their motivation to engage in more movement; thus forming habitual physical activity patterns that potentially reduces obesity. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether three different recess activities of the week (RAWs) would make a difference in children's free time physical activity levels. RAWs were designed to provide children with a new physical activity choice each week. Participants were children (N = 65) in grades 1st - 4th (n=30 boys, 35 girls), n = 20 with BMI equal to or above the 85th percentile = at risk for or overweight, n=45 with healthy BMI (< 85%) at one elementary school in the Midwest. Pedometer data for each 15 minute morning recess period for four weeks, grade level, height, weight and gender were collected from each child. Following one week of no RAW, each subsequent week a RAW was introduced: #1 - obstacle course; #2 – circuit course; and #3 – Frisbees. The mean number of steps during recess were calculated to represent physical activity for all children for each of the four weeks and compared according to gender, BMI, and elementary level. Findings revealed no significant interaction effects. However, main effects showed that children were significantly more active during the no RAW week and circuit course week than the Frisbee week. Male children were significantly more physically active than females during the obstacle course week. Older children were significantly more active during the Frisbee week than younger children. Children with a healthy BMI were significantly more physically active during the circuit course week than children with a BMI in the at-risk for or overweight category. Results imply that it is important for schools to consider factors such as age, gender and BMI in the creation of recess physical activity opportunities. Findings serve as a starting point for the examination of ways to increase free time physical activity levels while still maintaining children's autonomy. Keyword(s): elementary issues, exercise/fitness/physical activity, obesity issues