Arizona Educational Research Organization: Providing Opportunities for Student Leadership Through Physical Activity Breaks in the Classroom

• In Event: The Consortium of State and Regional Educational Research Associations Distinguished Paper Session 2

Abstract

The school day holds promise in creating additional opportunities for students to engage in physical activity (PA). Whole-school PA models ask classroom teachers to integrate movement through academic integration and PA breaks between subjects. Grounded in social theories of healthy behavior change and knowledge acquisition, this mixed-methods study trained elementary students to lead PA breaks in the classroom. Data included weekly student leader surveys and small-group interviews. Seventy-one percent of students’ weekly logs indicated they led PA breaks 4-5 days per week. Interview data suggests student leaders were well received by peers and enjoyed their leadership opportunities. Training students to lead their peers was an effective way to integrate additional PA into the classroom without placing sole responsibility on teachers.

Author

• Shannon C. Mulhearn, University of Nebraska - Kearney