Physical activity in lessons improves students' attainment

Posted on October 19, 2019

Researchers have found that students who take part in exercises like star jumps or running on the spot during school lessons do better in tests than peers who stick to sedentary learning. This study aims to assess the benefits of incorporating physical activities in academic lessons.

Some schools have been seeking methods that increases a student’s activity level without reducing academic teaching time. This study concluded that incorporating physical activity had a large, significant effect on educational outcomes during the lesson, assessed through tests or by observing pupils’ attention to a given task, and a smaller effect on overall educational outcomes, as well as increasing the students’ overall levels of physical activity.

Studies have shown that physically active lessons are a useful addition to the curriculum. This may create memorable learning experiences which may help children to learn more effectively. The improvements in physical activity levels and educational outcomes are the result of basic physical exercises. Teachers can incorporate these physical active lessons to improve the learning experience of students.

A study of students in the Netherlands, primary school children who took part in physically active lessons 3 times a week over two years made significantly better progress in spelling and mathematics than their peers – equating to four months of extra learning gains.


Category(s):Child Development

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