Let's Get Moving

From the desk of Leigh Ann . . .

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”  – John F. Kennedy

Sadly, we see it in classrooms every day.  Kids – waiting for an opportunity to leave their seats and get up and move.  They search for the opportunity to sharpen a pencil, get water, or grab a tissue.  Others sit, slumped lethargically in their seats, following the demand for silence.  They are passive, restless, and tuned out rather than active, focused, and engaged.  It is time to counteract seat work and lectures with opportunities for hands-on exploration and movement, so we can better meet the physical and cognitive needs of our students!

Movement has been shown to enhance performance, reduce stress, increase positive attitudes, and stimulate learning.  A growing number of studies support the positive effects of physical activity on cognition and brain function.  If our goal is to promote learning and cognitive development, then we need to get moving in our classrooms.

Traditionally our view of an “on task” class has been one with students seated, quietly working with paper and pencil on a given task.  It can be intimidating for teachers to experiment with movement related learning because of fear of losing control of this ideal, but students who are involved in their learning and find it meaningful are less likely to be disruptive and more likely to be successful.  Purposefully setting the expectations for movement inspired lessons is an important key for success.

Before you get your students moving think about the following:

• How can you incorporate movement into a lesson in a meaningful way?
• When and how will you transition into the activity?
• How long will it last?
• Can you keep a watchful eye over all students?
• How will you refocus students before, during, and after the activity?
• Do you have a signal that lets students know you need their immediate attention?  (Ring a bell, clap a rhythm, raise your hand)
• Do you have enough room in the class area for an activity?
• Will certain students need you close by or will they need to be strategically paired with team members?
• What technology or supplies will you need?  Will you play music or show a video clip?
• Do you have a back-up plan if the activity is not successful?

Now that you have reflected about setting expectations, you can explore some ways to get moving in your classroom:

• Sing songs that reinforce concepts and add movements.  (You can find many on www.youtube.com and on www.teachertube.com)  Sing or rap about 3-D shapes and create matching motions.  Dance and sing about the deceleration and acceleration of an object.
• Create, design, and experiment.  Visit www.pbskids.org/designsquad for some great ways to put thinking into action.
• Play games.  ( Run relays and answer questions, create scavenger hunts, play charades, etc.)
• Act out concepts.  Jump to the number of syllables you hear in a word.  Act out a math story problem.  Have students rotate and orbit to explain the concept of day and night or the seasons.
• Create artwork and projects that allow students to show what they know.  Paste pieces of paper under the tables and have students lie on their backs (like Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel) and create artwork that shows understanding of a social studies concept.
• Create “human” charts and graphs.  Label the room with answers such as true and false.  Ask questions and have students move to their answer.  Create a large Venn diagram on the floor and have students place themselves in it appropriately.
• Work in student groups to act out something that was read, solve problems, or demonstrate science concepts.
• Assign open-ended tasks that allow children to share what they know in a variety of ways.  (Sing, act, dance, or create artwork that shows their knowledge.)

Our students are unique learners who take in information differently.  Allowing them to move and explore concepts in a variety of ways can stimulate excitement about learning and may also provide ways to retain information with greater success.  Let’s face it – physically and mentally, human beings are not well suited for sitting perfectly still and focusing on a task for an extended period of time.  I know we cannot play our way through the entire school day, but even a good stretch can help us refocus and better attend to the task at hand.  Sitting for hours in a desk is not a very stimulating way to spend one’s day.  Maybe if we integrate some movement into the daily routine, we might improve academic achievement, classroom behavior, and the attitudes of our students.  We might also be able to plant the idea that being physically active is a lifestyle factor that can lead to increased physical and mental health throughout one’s life.