Ideas and Inspiration Hub
Whole School Innovative Physical Activity Ideas
These ideas could be suitable at your school to get lots of kids moving!
Fitness Clubs
Obstacle Courses
Lunchtime Physical Activity Leaders
Parade Stretching Routines
Active Exam Preparation
Research about the power of movement for learning
The following links to research, briefs, Ted Talks and graphics illustrate this powerful link.
Moving more at school - Increasing Physical Activity before, during and after school
Active Education: Growing evidence on physical activity and academic performance
Wendy Suzuki: The brain-changing benefits of exercise (13:04)
Wendy Suzuki: Exercise and the Brain (14:03)
Michael Kuczala: The Kinesthetic Classroom: Teaching and Learning through Movement (16:09)
Physical activity for children and young people
Lifetime benefits of physical activity – Girls make your move!
What are the health benefits of physical activity
The role of schools in promoting physical activity
Active lessons can boost children’s learning and health
The power of standing desks
Students’ physical, psychological and cognitive wellbeing - and potentially their social and personal wellbeing too - is challenged when they are sitting still for long periods of class time. We know that students spend approximately 64% of the whole day and 60% of the school day sitting. The Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children (5-12yr) and Young People (13-17yr) recommend that schools break up long periods of sitting as often as possible, as long periods of sitting can counteract the benefits of being physically active.
If schools want students to learn, then schools need to ensure classrooms and learning spaces are promoting wellbeing. Standing desks can help students move during learning which enhances their physical, psychological and cognitive engagement.
In terms of students’ long-term health, new evidence suggests that, no matter what the total sitting time is, regular interruptions from sitting (even as little as standing up) may help to reduce risk factors for developing coronary heart disease and diabetes. Blueprint for an Active Australia