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Cognitive Benefits of Cognitive Benefits of Physical Education: Physical Education:
Making Connections with Making Connections with Brain ResearchBrain Research
Balance disturbances can impairbrain processing structures
involved w/ attention, memory, vision, auditory perception, reading, speech, movement,
spatial orientation, sequencing and complex mathematical
relationships.
Balance BoardsHoppity Hops
SpinningSwings
Brain Mats
Body TubesStilts
Gonge CupMerry-Go-Rounds
Skateboards/Skating
Why Exercise Works!!
• Blood pumping through our bodies,
enables our brain to function at it’s best.
• Physical activity builds and conditions
the brain.
• No more GYM Teacher…but,
BRAIN TRAINERS!!!
Results of INACTIVITYResults of INACTIVITY
Ratey
• 65% of adults and 1 in 3 children are overweight.
• Inactivity kills our brains---physically, shriveling them up through lack of use!!
• We treat the mind and the body as if they were separate…they are not!!!
• Our bodies need to work hard to keep our brains in peak performance
• Exercise cues the building blocks of learning in the brain.
Brain Rule #1 Exercise Boosts Brain Power
1995 began the avalanche of studies on the
effect of exercise and
the brain.
Can WE Change Can WE Change the Brains of our the Brains of our
Students’Students’??
Our experiences Our experiences at school at school will changewill change the the
brain in some way!brain in some way!
HOW DOES THE BRAIN CHANGE?HOW DOES THE BRAIN CHANGE?
Eric Jenson Eric Jenson How we grow new brain cellsHow we grow new brain cells
through physical activity!through physical activity!
BDNF=Miracle-Gro which Fosters Plasticity
• Brain plasticity refers to the capacity of the brain to modify its structure and function as a result of the interaction with the environment.
• CODE FOR LEARNING
• BDNF is really the brain's wonder drug.
• BDNF functions to translate activity into synaptic & cognitive connections.
Ratey
“As physical educators,
we create the brain cells.
It’s up to other teacher’s to fill them”Ratey
Research concludes…exercise is strongly correlated with increased brain mass, better cognition, mood regulation and
new cell production.
““The greatest fallacy in American education today is that The greatest fallacy in American education today is that dropping physical education will improve academic dropping physical education will improve academic
performance.” performance.”
Why is Rhythm Important? The foundation for language The foundation for language comes from hearing a beat comes from hearing a beat and copying the rhythmand copying the rhythm
Everything involves rhythmEverything involves rhythm
A child that can keep a rhythm…A child that can keep a rhythm… can learn to read! can learn to read!
CONNECTION #3
Rhythmic Rhythmic ActivitiesActivities
Cup Passing Game
Jump Rope Rhymes
Criss-Cross Clap
Alphabet Clap
I.I. Physical Education is positively related Physical Education is positively related to increased academic to increased academic performance. performance.
I.I. Physical Education does not influence Physical Education does not influence academic performance in a negative academic performance in a negative manner.manner.
II.II. Reducing time in physical education Reducing time in physical education does not guarantee improvement in does not guarantee improvement in academics.academics.
CONNECTION #4
I. Physical Education is positively I. Physical Education is positively related to increased academic related to increased academic
performance.performance.
CDE studies consistently show that students with higher fitness scores also have higher test scores.
In 2004, a panel of noted researchers supported the findings of the CDE study and added that physical activity has a positive influence on memory, concentration and classroom behavior.
1977 Trois-Rivieres study looked at the effect of PE on children as they moved from 1st – 6th grade where academic performance proved to be significantly higher in those exposed to daily PE.
II. Physical Education does not II. Physical Education does not influence academic performance influence academic performance
in a negative manner.in a negative manner.
Exercise improves cognition in school children. Aerobic exercise (as well as BMI) was related to achievement in reading and math (Castelli, D., 2007).
School Health, Academic Performance and Exercise study found the academic achievement did not differ for students that spent over four times longer in physical education and significantly less time in academic classes (Dwyer , et al, 1983).
III. Reducing time in physical III. Reducing time in physical education does not guarantee education does not guarantee improvement in academics.improvement in academics.
Increasing time in physical education does not negatively influence academic achievement & decreasing time in PE will not ensure that children perform any better in the classroom (Wilkens,Graham, et.
Al., 2003).
Sacrificing physical education for classroom time does not improve academic performance. (Shepard, Dwyer, Sallis, Ahamed, Coe…1996-2007)
Programs that support Programs that support active brains & active bodies:active brains & active bodies:
Naperville Central High School, Naperville, Ilfile://localhost/Users/debbies/Desktop/Pumpingup thebrain.html
Woodland Elementary School, Kansas City, MO.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Every student at Madison Junior High completes a computer-based fitness test. Students spend one day a week in the school's state-of-the-art fitness center.
Fittest School in the Nation???Fittest School in the Nation???Naperville, ILNaperville, IL
A revolutionary PE program has transformed the student body body into perhaps the fittest in A revolutionary PE program has transformed the student body body into perhaps the fittest in the nation with Zero hour PE.the nation with Zero hour PE.
Among one entire sophomore class, only 3% were overweight, Among one entire sophomore class, only 3% were overweight, versus the national average of 30%.versus the national average of 30%.
In 1999, Naperville District 203 scored #1 in science and #6 in math on TIMSS In 1999, Naperville District 203 scored #1 in science and #6 in math on TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study)
Ratey
Woodland Elementary Woodland Elementary SchoolSchool
Woodland Elementary School
2005 Fall PE one day per week /50 minutes.
2006 Jan - June PE4life Program
Five days a week /45 minutes.
Inner city school with 80% of kids on free lunch program.
PE4LIFE addedCardiac monitored watches,Dance Dance Revolution,A few exercise bicycles/fitness machines.
AND A NEW ATTITUDE!!Ratey
JJohannes Skolen ohannes Skolen Copenhagen, DenmarkCopenhagen, Denmark
• School PE was increased from once a week to 5 times a week for 250 students for three months.
• ABSENTEEISM decreased by 38%.
• CONCENTR ATION ABILITY was measured and it improved 33%.
• Teachers reported, “The increase in exercise had great effects on CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR.”
• Exercise had a major impact on GRADES; there was an average of 1.5 grade improvement across the board.
Ratey
The brain is involved The brain is involved in everything we do in everything we do
at school… to ignore at school… to ignore it is irresponsible!!!it is irresponsible!!!
Cognitive Benefits of Cognitive Benefits of Physical Education: Physical Education:
Making Connections with Making Connections with Brain ResearchBrain Research
Debbie Smith
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
Samantha Jackson
Ware Shoals Primary School
Ware Shoals, SC
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