Can Kinesthetic Classrooms Possibly Be the Key to Healthier, Smarter Students?
Research shows moving more can boost health, focus, and test scores.
American children are seeing the figures on their scales climb at alarming rates, and their academic performance is being weighed down as well.
The United States now ranks among the highest globally for childhood obesity, with a third of kids carrying excess pounds. Disturbingly, this obesity crisis has paralleled a decades-long plunge in reading and math scores across the nation.
Are the two related? The answer appears to be yes.
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But what if there was a way to kill two birds with one stone? A solution that could tackle the escalating childhood obesity rates and declining academic performance simultaneously? Remarkably, the answer may lie in a seemingly simple strategy: more physical activity.
Active Bodies, Active Brains
To combat the dual crises of rising obesity and declining academics, increasing physical activity during classroom hours—distinct from dedicated gym classes—is imperative.While movement is crucial for development, the current U.S. education system often demands students remain seated and silent.
Kinesthetic Learning
It is widely believed that children learn best when actively engaged in hands-on activities that allow movement during lessons. However, it's crucial to note that this doesn't mean permitting disruptive behavior. Instead, movement should be purposeful and directly related to the learning task at hand.Story continues below advertisement
Furthermore, incorporating movement into learning activities can improve phonemic awareness and the recognition of letter–sound relationships.
Standing Desks in Schools
Another potential solution to address childhood obesity and declining academic performance involves standing desks in classrooms.Story continues below advertisement
The study involved 374 elementary students from College Station, Texas, divided into a control group using traditional desks and a standing-desk group. Both groups wore biometric monitors tracking measurements like heart rate, movement intensity, and caloric burn.
Unsurprisingly, the standing desk students burned more calories. More importantly, they exhibited higher engagement levels during activity-based learning than their seated counterparts. Overweight and obese children demonstrated even greater improvements in attention than their normal-weight peers.
Students needn't stand all day; the school day can alternate standing and sitting periods. More importantly, as the literature shows, classroom time should include more opportunities for movement overall.
Active vs. Passive Learning
Physical movement boosts children's cognitive abilities, preparing them to absorb new knowledge.Engaging in physical activities promotes an "active learning" environment, which is far more engaging than passive, traditional learning styles. Additionally, exercise can stimulate brain regions involved in mathematical thinking.
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The math–basketball group, whose tasks involved counting successful baskets from various distances and calculating the total, showed an over 6 percent improvement in math skills, a 16 percent increase in intrinsic motivation, and an over 14 percent enhancement in perceived autonomy compared to their peers, who only learned math in the classroom.
This reflects the "embodied cognition" concept: The brain influences the body, but the body also affects the brain. A more holistic, physically active approach could help children become happier, healthier, and more successful learners.
