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June 2, 2006
For Immediate Release 

CLASSROOM-BASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HELPS KIDS STAY ON TASK
Dual Benefits Seen in Academic Instruction and In-School Physical Activity Levels

DENVER -  Physical activity in the classroom helps improve on-task behavior during academic instruction time and increases daily in-school physical activity levels among children, according to study results presented today at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) in Denver.  Results of this classroom-based program add to evidence that students benefit both physically and academically from time devoted during the school day to physical activity.

Researchers equipped 243 third- and fourth-grade students with pedometers to assess physical activity during school hours.  One group of students participated in a classroom-based physical activity program, called "Energizers".  Energizers activities last approximately 10 minutes, integrate grade-appropriate learning materials, involve no equipment, and require little teacher preparation. By allowing students to stand and move during academic instruction, these activities provide students with an opportunity to increase daily physical activity levels during the school day. (Energizers activities can be downloaded at no charge from the following Web address: www.ncpe4me.com/energizers.html .)

The remaining students served as the control group and did not participate in the Energizers activities.  The research team evaluated both sets of students on their on-task behavior during academic instruction time. On-task behavior includes verbal and motor behavior that follows the class rules and is appropriate to the learning situation. Off-task behavior includes any motor, noise, or other response that breaks the classroom rules or interrupts the learning situation.

The active students took significantly more in-school steps than the control-group students. Further, after the Energizers activities were systematically implemented into the classrooms, on-task behavior improved by eight percent.  Importantly, the students who were least on-task improved their behavior during academic instruction time by 20 percent after the Energizers activities.

"Unfortunately, few states require daily physical education programs, contributing to a missed opportunity for students to be active during the day," said Matthew T. Mahar, Ed.D.  "Adding physical activity to the classroom not only increases levels of physical activity during the school day, but also improves behaviors that are likely to lead to better learning."

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The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine. 

ACSM: Advancing health through science, education and medicine.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world.  More than 20,000 international, national, and regional members are dedicated to promoting and integrating scientific research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life.