PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE CLASSROOM

Why do we need this change?

• Increases academic performance
• Increases oxygen flow to the brain
• Helps the brain in terms of memory, learning and higher thinking

what changes will we see?

• "Activity areas" in the classrooms
• 5 minute breaks in the middle of a class for physical activities
• Word charts on the wall with a selection of physical activities

Stakeholders:
Teachers
Administration
Parents
Students

Explanation for Addressing this Strategy with Stakeholders:

In order to ensure this vision is shared by school staff, administration and students, we need to educate everyone about the importance of physical activity in the classroom. We need to emphasize how physical activity improves academic performance and provides a break in the middle of class for students.

This initiative will be done in every class, every day and will be ongoing

This will be structured by setting times for meetings with staff and administration to become educated about the new initiative.



We will schedule meetings with teachers and administration to show them how to teach our students about the importance and positive effects of physical activity.

There will be constant assistance provided to teachers, students and staff throughout and after the change process.



We will continuously provide support to teachers and students with guidance and praise for this big change. We will also continue to have online resources and learning materials for teachers and students to learn more about physical activity.

We need to ensure sustainability of the physical activity in the classroom program.



In order to keep this change ongoing in our schools, we will make sure that our staff and students are properly educated about the short and long term benefits of physical activity and healthy living. We will continuously check in with everybody involved or affected by this change so that we can make changes as necessary.

The initiative will take place at the start of the next school year. Until then, weekly meetings will be held with teachers and administration to ensure they are properly educated about the physical activity in the classroom initiative. I will start by providing a change readiness survey and stages of concern surveys throughout this initiative to make sure that everybody is willing and ready for this change.

One theorist that supports physical activity is M.H. Becker. He created the Health Belief Model (HBM) that "is a psychological model that attempts to explain and predict health behaviors. This is done by focusing on the attitudes and beliefs of individuals" ("Health Belief Model," n.d.).

Some ideas to help and support the change: "Creating appropriate space in the classroom is an approach that can enhance movement experiences in the classroom. It is important for the teacher to consider safety of the students, and moving desks and tables to specific areas will provide more open space for students to move during activity breaks" ("PELINKS4U - Promoting Active & Healthy Lifestyles," n.d.).

5-minute physical activity breaks can be incorporated into any classroom. Some examples of activity breaks are:
-chair aerobics
-dance
-workout videos
-classroom workout circuits

References


Health Belief Model. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.utwente.nl/cw/theorieenoverzicht/Theory%20Clusters/Health%20Comm...
PELINKS4U - Promoting Active & Healthy Lifestyles. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pelinks4u.org/articles/erwin0610.htm