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    young student in classroom looking at camera, resting head and hands on an exercise ball, other students and teacher in background doing physical activity

    Physical Education

    Use Classroom Physical Activity to Increase Attention Span

    Research shows that getting students up and moving during the school day improves learning outcomes by improving focus and behavior. Scheduling movement breaks during the day is made easy with StartFIT Carts. Simply sharing them between classrooms, whether it’s Spanish or Math class, is a great way to help any educator integrate physical activity in the classroom.

    Here are a few of our favorite 10-minute StartFIT activities to get your elementary students moving inside the classroom:

    Spelling Stretch

    • 10 Minutes
    • Grouping: Small Groups
    • Focus: Core, Flexibility, Balance
    • Playing Area: Classroom
    • Activity Level: Low
    • Materials: None
    • Curriculum Connection: English Language Arts

    Activity Description

    Discuss as a class how to use the body to make letters (think of the song YMCA). Some letters are easier to make in uppercase and some lowercase. Once each letter of the alphabet has been discussed and decided upon, you are ready to begin the activity.

    Divide the class into small groups. The teacher will state a spelling or vocabulary word that relates to a current unit of study. Each group will work together to form the word by individually making the letters with their classmates.

    Variation

    A whole class variation has everyone making the letters and chanting them as a group.

    Group Wave Stretch

    • 10 Minutes
    • Grouping: Whole Class
    • Focus: Coordination
    • Playing Area: Classroom
    • Activity Level: Low to Moderate
    • Materials: None

    Activity Description

    Before conducting this activity, ensure students are familiar with various stretches. Have students stand in a circle, leaving an arm’s length between everyone. One student is chosen to be the leader. That student begins to stretch a body part. Then, the student to the leader’s left does the same stretch.

    The students continue going around the circle clockwise by completing the stretch, similar to “The Wave” at sports events. Students hold the stretch until it has gone around the circle. After the stretch comes back around to the beginning, a new leader can be chosen. That student then chooses a new stretch, and the wave begins again around the circle.

    The teacher can guide students to pick different body parts and should step in if a stretch is being done incorrectly.

    Sample Stretches

    • Touch Your Toes – Stick bottom out and reach down with hands in front of legs.
    • Bear Hug Stretch – Wrap arms around yourself and squeeze tight.
    • Seed to Flower Stretch – Student starts as a small seed in a ball, squatting low and hugging knees, then slowly sprouts and grows by standing and reaching arms high to the sun (ceiling).
    • Any yoga stretches would be excellent for this activity.

    Variation

    Instead of conducting it as “The Wave,” have all students do the stretches simultaneously.

    Mirror Image

    • 10 Minutes
    • Grouping: Partners
    • Focus: Coordination, Teamwork
    • Playing Area: Classroom
    • Activity Level: Low to Moderate
    • Materials: None

    Activity Description

    Have students partner up and choose one person to start as the “mirror.” The mirror imitates the actions of their partner. Have students make the movements slowly enough for the other person to copy them. Encourage students to be specific. Examples of things to do would be to pretend to brush your teeth, wash your face, stretch and yawn, and pretend to climb a ladder.

    Sample Movements

    • Brush your teeth
    • Wash your face
    • Stretch and yawn
    • Climb a ladder
    • Jump rope
    • Dance
    • Run in place
    • Ride a bike in place

    Get more ideas for physical activity in the classroom with the Teacher Resource Guide included in grades K-2 and 3-5 StartFIT classroom activity packages.

    Read More: 5 Accessibility Considerations for Inclusive PE

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