When schools cut physical education programs so students can spend more time in the classroom, not only are they missing a chance to prevent obesity, they may also be missing an a golden opportunity to promote learning, according to a recent study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Denver on May 1, 2011.
Researchers sought to determine how implementing a daily physical activity program that incorporated classroom lessons would affect student achievement. First- through sixth-graders at an academically low-scoring elementary school in Charleston, S.C., took part in the program 40 minutes a day, five days a week. Prior to initiation of the program, students spent only 40 minutes per week in physical education classes.
The program involved using several classrooms, which were revamped into two gyms that housed equipment for an All Minds Exercise (AMX) room for older students and an Action Based Learning (ABL) lab for the younger children.
Younger students moved through stations in the ABL lab, learning developmentally appropriate movement skills while basic academic skills were reinforced. For example, children hopped through ladders while naming colors on each rung. Older students had access to exercise equipment with TV monitors. For instance, a treadmill had a monitor that played geography lessons as the student ran through the scene.
Researchers compared state standardized reading test scores for the year before and the year after initiation of the program. Results showed that the time spent out of a traditional classroom in order to increase physical education improved student test scores. The percentage of students reaching their goal on the state tests increased from 55 percent before the program was initiated to 68.5 percent after the program was initiated.
This study adds to growing evidence that exercise is good not only for the body but also the mind. It also shows that physical education and academic instruction need not be mutually exclusive.
There has been much discussion about cutting out recess and P.E. classes so children can have more time in the classroom for instruction. It’s hard to imagine kids sitting still for eight hours a day and maintaining a high level of concentration. Aside from the issue of concentration, another recent study in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise also found that individuals who sit for most of the day are 54 percent more likely to die of heart attacks.
Much blame has been placed on fast food, school lunch, soda intake and video games. Perhaps the answer also lies in this common sense approach to learning that includes movement. Providing activity in a safe school environment makes sense for both weight control and better school performance.
