DPA/Classroom Resources
Every day you find new ways to teach lessons, design dynamic programs, and find creative activities that appeal to your students. You create a learning environment that nurtures the whole child – including the child’s physical health. By doing this you make an invaluable contribution to children’s growth and development.
You understand that student achievement depends on more than traditional classroom work. It is maximized when students reach their academic, emotional, and physical potential. Research shows that daily physical activity improves concentration and academic achievement and can enhance math, reading, and writing test scores. Your guidance is essential to your students’ success.
With daily physical activity, you will make yet another impression on the lives of your students. Making activity a regular part of their day will show students the importance that you place on being healthy and active – a lesson that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Movement Break Activities
1. What’s Your Name: Using the sheet provided, spell out your name using the activities that correspond with those letters! Need more of a challenge? Use your WHOLE name… middle name included!
2. Handshake: create a unique and cool handshake with 3 classmates. You have 5 minutes to perfect and memorize all 3 handshakes. Remember that the handshakes MUST be different than each other.
3. Shake Down: Starting with the right hand, shake it 10 times, then the left hand, then the right foot, then the left foot. Next shake the right hand 9 times, then the left hand, then the right foot, then the left foot. Now 8 times… until you count down the whole way. Start slow and go more quickly as you count down.
4. Write Your Name: Using your index finger, write your name in GIANT letters. Repeat this using a 2 other body parts! Need a challenge? Use your non-dominant hand and foot!
5. Rock, Paper, Scissors, Squat: With a partner play rock, paper, scissors. The WINNER must go into a squat and continue to play the game. They would remain in a squat until they lose.
DPA School Handbook for Grades 1 to 9 (Alberta)
Daily physical activity refers to the planned and spontaneous physical activity that people do on a daily basis, for example, walking, sports, gardening, running or jogging, household chores, active games and play, and stretching. Being physically active on a daily basis is crucial to the health and wellness of all Canadians, especially children.
Canada’s Physical Activity Guides to Healthy Active Living for Children and Youth (Health Canada) recommend that, over several months, children and youth (aged 6–14 years) should build up at least 90 minutes of daily physical activity per day and reduce sedentary activities like playing video games and watching television by 90 minutes per day.
For healthy growth and development, children and youth need at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) and 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity (e.g., running, soccer) each day.