The Importance of Movement and Exercise During the School Day
When I was teaching 1st grade I learned a tip from a co-teacher. She said – children can only sit still for as long as the age that they are. Meaning that a 5-year-old can only sit still for 5 minutes, a 6-year-old for 6 minutes and so on and so forth. (Although, even that 5-year-old, must be really captivated to sit still for that long).
As a teacher I always thought that if I could get my students to sit still that they would be sponges for absorbing learning. Oh, how wrong I was! Sitting still is not a requirement for learning, and actually it is quite the opposite. It is movement that can help us actually learn better!
Studies have shown that physical activity improves cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. “Humans are designed to be on the move, to interact with their environment through movement: physical activity is a key contributing factor to healthy brain function.”[i] This article discusses the strong link between physical activity and cognitive function, emphasizing the importance of movement. Once I knew that movement and physical activity are the basic ways that children interact with the world, I started to make my lessons more movement based to serve their needs—instead of getting mad at my students to meet my need.
How to incorporate movement in your classroom?
There are a few ways that I learned to incorporate movement into my classroom. One of them was during any type of transition time, it is great to get the students up and moving. Whether they are working with a group, or heading to another space, it is important that they can move between activities physically. I started planning transition time into my lesson. For example, if we were getting into Chevruta—I would budget about 2 minutes of time to get there and then start the time for 10 or 15 minutes for them to complete a task—as opposed to not budgeting this time and then students only have 5 minutes to complete a task. It may be unrealistic for them to complete in such a short time and then they may think that they have failed.
Don’t punish by taking away recess!
For many children having that time of day for them to go outside and de-stress is their best part of their day. Recess provides a necessary break from academic tasks, allowing students to release energy, reduce stress, and return to class more focused and ready to learn. Removing this time can lead to restlessness, less concentration, and even behavioral issues.
In addition to a regular recess time, incorporate small breaks of movement and exercise throughout the school day. Integrating movement into the school day can also lead to better academic outcomes. Active students tend to have better grades, improved attendance, and higher levels of classroom participation. “A school in Naperville, IL, was mandated to participate in a daily physical activity program before school…[this school] became the best public school district in the world regarding science test scores and the best in the state for math and reading.[ii]
I hope this data inspires you to also support your students and their need to move. Hopefully you will see positive outcomes through more movement!
[i] “Physical Activity and Cognition: Inseparable in the Classroom,” published in Frontiers in Education Frontiers | Physical Activity and Cognition: Inseparable in the Classroom
[ii] The Power of Movement: Enhancing Learning and Focus in Students
By: Brandon Slade The Power of Movement: Enhancing Learning and Focus in Students – Untapped Learning