Physical Activity & Exercise
Overview
Physical activity and exercise refer to any activities that allow students to engage in movement, physical play, or fitness, promoting physical and mental well-being. Physical activity and exercise can provide social, physical, and mental benefits to learners of all ages, increasing blood flow to the brain and body and improving overall well-being. In addition to improving learners' Physical Well-being, they can also support many aspects of cognitive functioning, including executive functions such as sustained Attention, Self-Regulation, and memory , as well as emotional regulation. Targeted exercise and movement also supports students who struggle with Sensory Integration, especially in regard to regulation of proprioception. Adolescents who engage in more physical activity typically experience less anxiety and depression, and tend to report higher self-esteem and self-image.
Example: Use This Strategy in the Classroom
Watch how one school incorporates physical activity and exercise throughout their school day:
Design It into Your Product
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Multisensory Supports Strategies
Communication boards are displays of graphics (e.g., pictures, symbols, illustrations) and/or words where learners can gesture or point to the displays to extend their expressive language potential.
Creating visual representations such as drawings, diagrams, graphs, and concept maps, whether student or teacher-generated, can help students process abstract concepts, enhancing understanding and retention of information.
Using motions to explain new concepts or ideas supports the ability to process new information and to convey thinking and conceptual understanding.
Music and dance supports learners in a myriad of ways, including supporting their engagement and motivation, connecting with cultural background, and offering structure during play.
