Physical Activity

Be Active

Children should engage in physical activity every day. Research shows that physical activity can help youth improve their concentration, memory, and classroom behavior. The recommendation for children is at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity every day. This can be broken up into small segments of 5-10 minutes each. Activity-friendly environments also promote positive attitudes toward fitness and other health–enhancing behaviors and have been proven to improve student academic performance. Activity can be introduced into existing routines and transitions, into academic lessons, or introduced as an activity break.

• Plan physical activity breaks into the classroom schedule:  Brain Breaks
• Use movement as part of your instruction: Learning through Movement
• Plan for active indoor recess for bad weather: Indoor Recess
• Use alternative methods to withholding recess and physical activity as punishment: Using Physical Activity Positively
• Be active with your students (you’ll benefit from the movement too!): Play Yourself Fit
• Whether you are in a school or out of school setting, you can make your classroom a healthy and active classroom with the Healthy Kids Out of School Curriculum. Take steps to build a healthier classroom environment by taking the Healthy Kids Out of School Challenge.   
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Additional resources to implement physical activity policies and change in your site:  Additional Resources

School Wellness Policy Information

• Wellness Policies provide guidelines for schools to create environments that promote healthy behaviors. Learn more about FSNE’s role in school wellness.