Effects of Physical Activity Breaks on Student Behavior

• In Event: Poster Session 17
  In Poster Session: Research in PK-12 Education: The Humanities and Other Content Areas

Abstract

This article documents the behavior patterns of three students in a first grade classroom whose behaviors changed after engaging in three dispersed sessions of physical activity during regular instructional periods. The first author, who was serving as a classroom aide at the time of the study, purposefully selected one boy and two girls to determine if three ten-minute movement breaks would result in improved behavior for children who previously exhibited a diverse array of behavior. The data consisted of written and videotaped observations and interviews with the children. The results show that the additional intermittent sessions of physical activity during instructional periods enhanced the effort, focus, and energy levels of the three children during instructional periods.

Authors

• Margaret Hershey-Mason, Davidson Elementary School

• Deborah A. Ceglowski, Ball State University

• Chiara D. Bacigalupa, Sonoma State University