Holding 2-foot-by-4-foot Masonite boards painted in the school's colors of red, black and white, 487 students, teachers and volunteers took their shot at breaking the world record for the largest and longest wobble board ensemble.

Lined up in rows, participants played the boards by holding the sides between their palms and bouncing them back and forth to the beat of "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport."

Because they have only one shot at the record, the group was allowed one practice round. "We want it perfect. This one is for real," organizers told the wobblers before setting the timer and starting the music.

This isn't the first time the junior high school has ventured into record breaking. The wobble ensemble is the school's eighth record-breaking attempt. With seven down in the books, the school holds the record for breaking the most world records.

"The kids get excited about something and it makes them have a sense of community," said Laurie Letz-Stout, music teacher and wobble board music director. "They can always say, 'Hey, we did that,' and that's really important for them."

On the school's world record list one will find the largest pan loaf of bread, tallest ice-cream cone, largest paper clip chain, fastest human conveyor belt and tallest tower of pencils.

Once all the wobbling was over, the group of 487 had clocked 5 minutes, 16 seconds. It surpassed the current record, in which 359 players clocked 5 minutes.

"First, look at them. I don't have to say anything. It's something they can truly get involved in," said Tom Sharpe, Eisenhower teacher and World Records coordinator, pointing at the hundreds of students dancing and wobbling around after the event. "It gives them school spirit. It gives them energy. It gives them focus."

The students were given a list of world record attempt options to choose from. Wobble board was the choice.

Students have been preparing for the attempt for about a year. "The whole idea of a world record is to get in the book," Sharpe said.

The paperwork, video and pictures will all be sent to the officials who will confirm whether every rule has been followed and the record was broken.

Three witnesses, two engineers and a music professional sign all the documentation, which is then notarized before being sent to Guinness World Records officials.

"[I feel] tired but happy," said Chris Thomas, a seventh-grader who participated in the event along with his sister.

Shenille Fiack, a fourth-grader, said the wobbling was fun "because it was my first one [world record], but my arm got really tired."

"It sounded so cool when everyone did it," she added.

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* ROXANA ORELLANA can be reached at rorellana@sltrib.com or 801-257-8693.