Encouraging students to move and exercise during the school day is of extreme importance. In this blog post, I will share a few ways that I help my students move intentionally during the school day.
Why Is This Important?
Students need to move throughout the day in order to help keep them engaged in learning. Movement during the school day is also necessary to help focus on physical and mental health with exercise. Movement activities can be woven into the school day during lesson planning as well as done spontaneously. Either way, it’s another way for students to have fun.
Some Ways I Get My Students Moving
Move to Music
I give students some instructions to follow while moving to music. When the music is playing, students choose how to move and exercise. Some simply walk around the classroom, while others do repeated exercises such as Jumping Jacks or running on the spot. Others choose to dance! When the music stops however, they need to complete a task and then freeze. Here is a sample task: “When the music stops, use movement to create an A-B-B pattern. Repeat it three times, then freeze.” Some students may do “clap-snap-snap” three times to complete the task, then freeze on the spot. We continue this for 3 – 5 times.
I usually use the music feature at www.classdojo.com when we do “Move to Music” each day.
Relay Races Outdoors
Nothing gets my students going like having relay races on the field outside of our school! For those who are competitive, it’s a great way to engage them with something they enjoy. I put my class into two groups and form two lines. Two students at a time run to a designated location and back. Those waiting to run eagerly cheer on both students. Before all of this even starts, we discuss how this is a way we can exercise in a fun way outdoors. It is not about finding the fastest runner, or about winning. It’s about moving around and helping to stay healthy. For most, it’s just seen as having fun.
Go Noodle
Have you ever used the exercise videos and brain breaks at www.gonoodle.com? If you haven’t, please check it out! Teachers can sign up for a free account and have access to many videos that promote movement in the classroom. Exercises can be as short as 1 – 2 minutes or even 20 minutes. My students enjoy using several of these exercises throughout the day. I personally enjoy joining them, too.
Obstacle Challenges
Students love a challenge! Creating short and simple obstacles outdoors surely helps my class exercise and build their stamina. A sample obstacle course can include the following:
- Run to the tree (or designated spot).
- Use a Hula Hoop for ten seconds.
- Run to another designated spot.
- Toss a bean bag into a bucket.
- Return to the starting point.
Obstacle courses are great for my Grade 1 or 2 students because I can change the courses easily to help make challenges different and engaging.
Gym Equipment Bin
Each recess break, students can choose to take out an item from our gym equipment bin. Examples of what is kept in the bin are listed below:
- skipping ropes
- basketball
- soccer ball
- hula hoops
- scoop and ball
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Questions to Consider
- How do you keep your students moving during the school day?
- What particular movement activities do your students enjoy the most?
- Does your class prefer opportunities to exercise indoors or outdoors?
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