Getting the Wiggles Out: Using Physical Activity in the Classroom to Increase Attention Span and Learning

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 is a great way to help any educator integrate movement into the classroom, whether it is Spanish or Math class.

Here are our favorite three 10-minute StartFIT activities to get your elementary-age 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: 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, while others are easier in 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 an entire group.

Group Wave Stretch

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

Activity Description

Prior to conducting this activity, be sure that students are familiar with a variety of 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 left of the leader does the same stretch. The students continue going around the circle in a clockwise motion by completing the stretch, similar to “The Wave” at sports games. Students hold the stretch until it has gone all the way 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 and 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 “the wave,” have all students do the stretches at the same time.

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 off being the mirror. The mirror imitates the actions of the other student. 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.