Obesity among Americans is increasing at epidemic rates (Blair & Bouchard, 1999; Mokdad, 1999; Must et al., 1999). Childhood obesity in particular is of concern. Data indicate that over the last forty years the prevalence of obesity among children has increased by 54 percent (Gortmaker, Dietz, Sobol, & Wehler, 1987; Ross & Pate, 1987). Although not all obese children become obese adults, there is greater likelihood that when obesity begins in childhood it will persist throughout the lifespan (Epstein, Wing, Koeske, & Valoski, 1987). 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 that is currently overlooked as an opportunity to help them discover enjoyable physical activities and increase their motivation to engage in more movement; thus forming habitual physical activity patterns that potentially reduce obesity. The purpose of this study was to thoroughly describe elementary school children’s recess behavior as the first phase of a larger project designed to establish the connection between how children use their free time and obesity levels among youth. Children wearing numeric identifiers, in grades K-5, were observed during recess at two different elementary schools. Recess periods were video taped for three days per week across a two-week period of time. Video taped recess periods were content analyzed and the nature of recess was described according to the following variables: gender, grade, ethnicity, size of child (large, average, small), type of activity (e.g., individual v. group), intensity of activity (e.g., vigorous, moderate-vigorous, sedentary), duration of activity, and frequency of activity as measured by step counters. Descriptive analysis consisted of frequency counts, means and standard deviation calculations for all variables. Results revealed that the type, intensity, duration and frequency of activity varied by gender, grade, ethnicity, size of child, and school. These findings set the foundation for future investigations focused on children’s activity choices during free time at school. Results from this study may also serve as an important guide for the implementation of intervention programs that enhance children’s motivation to be physically active during recess, and thereby help reduce the steadily rising childhood obesity trend.Keyword(s): physical activity, play, wellness/disease prevention