Movement Matters!Easy ways to incorporate activity into learning and the day

• Benefits of movement

• How to overcome barriers to movement

• How to incorporate physical activity into learning?

• Resources

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Today’s Agenda

Question: In the State of Maine how many children in grades K-3 are getting at least 1 hour of physical activity per day?

• A. 34%

• B. 56%

• C. 68%

• D. 73%

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ANSWER: In the State of Maine how many children in grades K-3 are getting at least 1 hour of physical activity per day?

• A. 34%

• B. 56%

• C. 68%

• D. 73%

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Benefits of Movement

WHY Does Movement MatterRegular physical activity can:• Promotes lifelong health and well-being

• Prevents several health conditions (type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure,

obesity)

• Improve students’ moods and feelings

of self-efficacy

• Reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, and

depression

• Improve school grades, attendance,

and classroom behavior• Particularly beneficial for students with

ADHD, including an association with

reduced use of medications

Brief physical activity breaks can:• Improve concentration and ability to

stay on task*can specifically target kinesthetic learners who

learn through movement and physical experiences

• Reduce disruptive behavior, such as

fidgeting

• Improve motivation and engagement in the learning process

• Improve academic performance

(higher grades and test scores)

• Increase amount of daily physical

activity

Exercise GROWS brains cells!

Exercise GROWS brain cells!

Barriers to Movement

Overcoming Barriers to Incorporating Physical Activity

• Time

• Space

• Equipment

• Weather

• Personal comfort

• Lack of New Ideas

• Not enough time

• Others?

How to Incorporate Physical Activity into Program Time

• Use movement and games to assist in your

lessons

• “Stand Up If…”• “Ball Toss” for memory lessons

• Fitness “not fire” drills

• Movement Transitions from one subject to the next:

• Minute Masters (have a list of

exercises to choose from), stretching, music

• Change environments

• Change rooms, sprawl out on floor, take it outside

• Walking lessons/Nature based lesson

• Model and participate in the activities

- What you do makes a difference!

Research shows that kids learn by watching those around them.

- Fun is contagious!

• Use physical activity as a reward- Try to not take away physical

activity as a punishment

- Connect with community partners who can provide fitness instruction

and introduce kids to different forms

of physical activity (Videos and links provided on resources page)

- Use legos, block, or toys for math

problems

• Mountain Climbers

• Bear Crawls

• Star Jumps

• Push Ups

• Sit-ups

• Burpees

• Squats

• Lunges

• Leg Raises

• Planks

• Jumping Jacks

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• High Knees Running in Place

• Sun Salutations

• Frog Jumps

• Hop up and down on one foot

• Flap your arms like a bird

• Grapevine

• Karate Kicks

• Wiggle whole body

• Arm Circles

• Squat Jumps

• Reverse Table

Minute Masters

Quick Brain Breaks help students refocus so they can return to their work feeling centered and ready to learn!

• The Junk Bag: Have a bag filled with various items and have student pick something and name 2 different ways it could be used

• The Squiggly Line: Draw a squiggly line of a piece of paper or poster and have your student use their non-dominant hand to draw and turn it into a picture

• Symbolic Alphabet: Sing the alphabet with objects (beginning with each letter) instead of the letters

• Opposite Sides: Have student snap right hand while blinking left eye then switch. Add on by lifting one foot off the ground!

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Brain Breaks

Movement Break!

• Double click on picture to play

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• GoNoodle- www.gonoodle.com

Action for Healthier Kids• https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/healt

hy-activities-to-do-at-home/• Boks Kids

- https://www.bokskids.org/news-resources/#resources

• Colorado Initiative Physical Activity Ideas- https://www.coloradoedinitiative.org/wp-

content/uploads/2014/08/CEI-Take-a-

Break-Teacher-Toolbox.pdfMarch Mind and Body Calendar

- https://www.shapeamerica.org/uploads/pdfs/2020/calendar/March-2020-Elementary-

Calendar-English.pdfMath in Movement

- https://mathandmovement.com/activities/

Cosmic Kids Yoga- https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKids

YogaThe Learning Station

- https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLearningStation

Dance Sweat Live- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC

2C841486EB885F1Move to Learn- https://www.youtube.com/user/MovetoLea

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Brain Breaks-Action Songs for Kids- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZeM18

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Resources

Questions? Email Jchalmers@midcoasthealth.com