UNIT II-- Why Schools?
Question: Why should we worry about "movement in learning"? Two very important reasons: 1)The correlation between movement and achievement. 2)The correlation between movement and childhood obesity.
- Schools can play a critical role in reshaping social and physical environments and providing information, tools, and practical strategies to help students adopt healthy lifestyles.
- Results of cross-sectional studies indicate that children who are physically fit perform cognitive tasks more rapidly and patterns of neurophysiological activity indicative of greater mobilization of brain resources than do less fit children.
- Reversing the obesity epidemic requires a long-term, well-coordinated approach to reach young people where they live, learn, and play. Schools have a big part to play along with other public, voluntary, and private sector organizations.
- More than 95% of young people are enrolled in schools.
- Students have the opportunity to eat a large portion of their daily food intake and to be physically active at school.
- Schools are an ideal setting for teaching young people how to adopt and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Promotion of physical activity and healthy eating have long been a fundamental component of the American educational experience, so schools are not being asked to assume new responsibilities.
- Research has shown that well-designed, well-implemented school programs can effectively promote physical activity and healthy eating.
- Emerging research documents the connections between physical activity, good nutrition, physical education and nutrition programs, and academic performance.
LET'S BREAK THIS CYCLE
Question: How can I fit movement into my crowded agenda?
- Here are some sample lesson plans that will show you that you don't need more time but rather include it in your existing lessons/curriculum.
File:Rocket.pdf click back button to return
File:Museum.pdf click back button to return
File:Opposite.pdf click back button to return
- Here are some videos that may provoke some ways for you to use movement in your classroom.
- early elementary
Moving and Grooving[1] click back button to return Rock and Groove[2] click back button to return
- elementary and secondary
Questions for Reflection:
- How could we change the obesity cycle into a healthy cycle? What would that cycle look like?
- How has media and technology contributed to the childhood obesity rate?
- What are some ways you can include movement activities with curriculum content?
- How can you get your school involved in movement in the classroom?