The Effects of Recess on

Student’s Behavior in Fourth Grade

Cletra PetersED 702.22Fall 2009

Table of Contents

Introduction

Statement of the ProblemTheorists

Pros & ConsReview of Related LiteratureStatement of the Hypothesis

Methods

Participants Instruments

Introduction Recess Defined

Suspension of business or procedure often for rest or relaxation (children playing at recess) Take a temporary break from work or activity

Statement of the Problem

Recess times are being shortened or eliminated altogether. Students do not have the opportunity to release their excess energy and in turn become a distraction in class and this affects their behavior.

Theorists

J. Lave- Situated Learning

• Learning requires social interaction and collaboration. – "Learning, both outside and inside

school, advances through collaborative social interaction and the social construction of knowledge."

Theorists

Lev Vygotsky • Full cognitive development

requires social interaction. “It is incorrect to conceive of play as

activity without purpose; play is purposeful activity for a child.” (Vygotsky 1933)

Theorists

• Anthony D. Pellegrini Professor at University of Minnesota, Dr.

Pellegrini has written many articles on recess and child’s play. He is an advocate for students having free time and developing their skills. Students in his lab are studying preschool children's social dominance, sex segregation, and children’s uses of objects in play and as tools.

Recess Cons

• Cons– Takes time away from academics

(less time to “prepare” for standardized tests)

– Injury ( Fights, bullying, school equipment injuries)

– Access for strangers – Cost of a school aide– Unhealthy Competition

Review of Literature

Concerns of the school time being misused. Recess time, transitions, lunch times and non academic activity considered time wastage. Leonard (2001)

Diet and physical activity patterns are set at an early age. School plays an important role in molding this behavior. Physical activity should begin in pre-school.

Simons-Morton, Parcel & O’Hara (1988)

Review of Literature

• Unhealthy Competition- elimination games, competitive games promote a “survival of the fittest” environment where children are kicked out of the game and required to stand by and watch. The students who are fastest and most skilled stay in the game and are usually praised by teachers. What behaviors do these games promote? Lambdin & McKenzie (2003)

Recess Pros

• Pros– Physical Activity – Helps decrease obesity– Social Interaction– Exploration – Communication

Review of Literature

• Physical education alone is not enough, students need more physical activity. Two gym periods a week does not cut it. Kahan, David (2008)

• The importance of play time for students in regard to the development of their emotional, social, cognitive and physical development. Chmelynski, Carol (2006)

Review of Literature

• 16% of our students are overweight due to poor eating habits and lack of physical activity. Parsad, B., and Lewis, L (2006)

• Schools ending their recess time and chalking it up to offering students a gym period. Schachter, R. (2005)

• Supervised recess vs. unsupervised recess Lewis, T. J., Colvin, G. & Sugai, G. (2000)

Review of Literature

• Students are more attentive and participate more when recess is given and is outdoors. Holmes, R. M., Pellegrini, A.D. & Schmidt, S.L (2006)

• Students relationships are formed during recess time. Leff, Stephen S & Lakin, R. (2005)

Review of Literature

• Students who have recess are given unstructured free time and choose to interact with their peers more than with adults. They are more sophisticated on specific social cognitive measures, are more popular with their peers and are overall higher achievers. Pellegrini, A. D. & Bohn, C.M. (2005)

Review of Literature• Students not usually given recess time

are more fidgety and have a shorter attention span than their counterparts who are given recess periods. Jarrett, O.S., Maxwell, D. M., Dickerson, C., Hoge, P., Davies, G. & Yetley, A. (1998)

• The effects of adequate recess time & indoors vs. outdoors Pellegrini, A.D, Davis Huberty, P. & Jones, I. (1995)

Review of Literature

• Childhood obesity is one of the nation’s most serious health problems. This number has tripled in the last three decades. Obesity patterns vary by race, gender and other social factors. Ethnic and low income children have significantly higher obesity rates than their white peers.

• Joe & Rowley (2009)

Review of Literature

• Recess and physical activity is great and needed during the academic year but what about during the summer period? Children should at least have 30 minutes of activity every day to lower their chance of becoming obese.

Christodoulos, Flouris & Tokmakidis (2006)

Review of Literature

• School play has an important role in setting the tone for the activity level in students, creating an active lifestyle and prevent unhealthy behaviors. Guerra, Duarte & Mota (2001)

• Government focus on physical activity in the school system? Is this a ploy? How long will this last? Waring, Warburton & Coy (2007)

Review of Literature

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) should be diagnosed by age 7. Scheduling of classes is important in the success of these students. Pellegrini & Horvat (1995)

• Neglected aspects of play. Children’s level of activity, rough & tumble play and age and gender trends. Pellegrini & Smith (1998)

Review of Literature

• Children’s playground games. Girls vs. Boys, segregation on the playground. Blatchford & Baines (2002)

• Play should not only happen in schools but also at home. Parents should encourage physical activity and also model this behavior. Play can help maintain strong parent-child bonds.

Ginsburg (2007)

Statement of Hypothesis

•HR1 Providing 25 students at P.S. Y with thirty minutes of recess time will have a positive effect on student’s behavior in the classroom.

Methods

• Participants– Total population of 50 students– P.S. Y 25 students (no outdoor recess,

only auditorium)– P.S. X 25 students (recess outdoors)– Playground/open space at both

schools.– School located in Brooklyn, NY.

Methods

• Instruments– Questionnaires/Surveys

• Parent• Student

– Consent Forms– Recess time outdoors & indoors

Student Survey» It’s All about Recess!!! Student Survey

Class __________________________ Date _____________________• Part A: Demographics• Directions: Fill out Part A of the survey. Place your response in the space provided on the right hand side. • 1). Gender 1). Female 2). Male 1. ____• 2). Age 1). 7 years 2). 8 years 3) 9 years 4) 10 + years 2. ____• 3). Racial Background (1) Caucasian (2). Hispanic (3) African American 3.____• (4) Asian (5) Other (6) Mixed Race• Part B: Recess • Directions: Use the key below to rate your answer. Place your response in the space provided on the right hand side. • 1. Do you play outside?

1.____• (1) Never (2) Rarely (3) Sometimes (4) Daily •• 2. When you are in school, where do you play? 2. ____•• (1) Outdoors (2) Indoor Gym (3) Auditorium (4) No Recess • 3. How many of these games do you play outdoors? 3. ____• (Tag, cops & robbers, house, jump rope, dance) •• (1) One game (2) Two games (3) Three games (4) Four games or more • 4) In the classroom, while the teacher is speaking do you? 4._____ • (1) Shake (2) Bounce (3) Doodle (4) Daydream (5) Sit Still• 5). After recess how do you feel in the classroom? 5. ____• (1) Energized (2) Tired (3) Same (4) Jittery (5) Sleepy

Consent FormFebruary, 2010 P.S YPrincipal Peters

Dear Parents,

Please allow your son or daughter to participate in a semester long study about recess. Student’s names, addresses, class or school name will not be used at any time. This study is for action reporting and improving our student’s time in school. There is an on going debate of the importance of recess and how it should be handled. In this study, I will be recording the amount of time students spend in recess, where they have recess and how it affects their behavior in the classroom. I will be more than happy to share my findings with you when this study is complete. Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,Ms. Peters---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Name of student _________________________ Date __________________

______ YES! My child can participate in this study______ NO! I do not want my child included in this study

The End

Those who think they have no time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.  ~Edward Stanley