Bridging an Understanding of Concepts Through Movement A Cross-Disciplinary Approach Prof. Michael Gosset Physical Education

Objectives of Workshop: be aware of need for physical activity- integrated lessons for classroom teachers Provide strategies for integration

Sedentary Learning: Issues Teachers are limiting student comprehension through a single dimensional learning style Obesity crisis in America…accumulating any additional physical activity during the day is a positive THEREFORE………….

2 MAJOR VENUES Cardiovascular exercise improves academics. Learning THROUGH movement. THIS SESSION FOR LEARNING THROUGH MOVEMENT.

INTEGRATE Teachers should integrate physical activity into their lessons!!! Definition: bridging or merging of content from academic areas to assist students in seeing the interrelated of knowledge (Kovar, et al. 2012)

BENEFITS OF MOVEMENT/INTEGRATION Neuroscience has shown that the brain “learns better” when the body is moving. A decrease in neural connections in the brain can occur in as little as 20 minutes of sedentary activity, minimizing attention spans (Kinoshita, 1997). Students have shown better on-task behavior during academic instruction through the incorporation of physical activity breaks (Barros et al. 2009).

MORE BENEFITS Movement facilitates cognition. As much as 85% of (school age) students are predominantly kinesthetic learners. Crossing the midline integrates the brain to organize itself. Movement activates vestibular systems for reading, math, and language. Movement prepares the brain for optimal learning.

Areas/ideas for integration MATH: “Math-Bo”: assign each math function as an activity. SOCIAL STUDIES: “Capital Direction”: post a picture of the US and students perform a movement while traveling to a location SCIENCE: “How does it matter??: Knots to untangle while demonstrating states of matter.

Additional ideas Geometry: Yoga: poses (body positions) with angles. Science: Solar system Writing: Cross-lateral activities (scarf juggling, alternate hand dribbling): creative writing

THANK YOU