We like to Move It Move It

There are plenty of studies showing the importance of physical activity to overall health, regardless of a person’s age. Teachers should consider adding a physical component to their everyday activities, if only for the sake of creating the habit of an active lifestyle. Newer research on the link between the mind and body has found connections between physical activity and brain function, giving teachers even more incentive to find simple, creative ways to include movement each day in school.

Physical activity can be more than a way to let students get their energy out and keep them busy. It can benefit their learning in the classroom, too. Getting your students up and moving can be an imperative step toward better concentration, better brain development and better learning. This week, I hope to give you a little sample of this research along with some ideas for increasing physical activity for you and your students. Whether you choose to dedicate a specific time of day for exercise and movement or you choose to implement specific physical activities that mesh with the topics you are teaching, PE Central and the Gateway will have something to help you!

In her column this week (linked below), Joann explains some interesting research on the connection between physical activity and learning. I found lots of interesting articles a well, and you can search for them online if you are interested. This short video was about a particular protein that is produced during exercise and it presented the concept of exercise and brain function in a fun way. I have heard of teachers replacing chairs with exercise balls, and walking lectures or discussions could be an interesting idea to try in the classroom, too. Phys Ed: Your Brain on Exercise explained the science behind the concept in more detail. You might also be interested in this MRI study of the size of a student’s hippocampus compared to their fitness level. Enough reading, let’s look at ways to fix the problem in the classroom!

Joann introduced some great PE resources in her Brain Gym post from 2010. The resources she highlighted creatively combined physical education with other subjects. Look there to find some inspiration for how to include a physical component with a topic you are teaching this year. If you are looking for a PE activity to go with a particular topic, be sure to search for that topic on the Gateway and narrow your search by choosing Physical Education in the “Filter By Subject” section on the right-hand side of the screen.

A more general approach to getting your students moving is to start some type of daily (or weekly) exercise program. One school in Colorado starts each day by having the students and teachers walk a mile together. I like the community building that this would bring, and I would also like to have that exercise built into my day. I introduced another idea of creating a mileage club where students would run or walk at school while logging their miles on a map, celebrating the virtual locations they reach. Read more about that idea in my post: Get out and RUN.
I hope you and your students find good ways to get moving this year. If you find some you like on the Gateway, be sure to log in and bookmark them so you will be able to find them when you need them. Don’t forget to check out and follow our Facebook and Twitter pages so you don’t miss any ideas!