1. Making Movement
Opportunities Outside of
P.E.
Scott Williams, Andrew Wymer
Meriwether Lewis Elementary School
Charlottesville, VA

2. Why movement in the classroom is
essential
 Readiness to learn
 Improved coordination
 Increased ability to focus
 Fewer discipline problems
 Opportunity to collaborate with classroom teacher
 Credibility for your PE program

3. What are activity breaks?
 Short fun breaks that can EASILY be used by classroom
teachers to help their students improve their readiness
to learn.
 The breaks can take many forms: exercise videos,
classroom dances (video or audio), active Power Points,
and partner or solo brain breaks.

4. How are the benefits achieved?
Dr. Curt Hinson
(paraphrased)explains:
• Exercise increases blood flow to the brain. Blood carries
oxygen. The more oxygen for the brain, the better
performance.
• Physical activity increases neural connections. The more
connections, the more efficient the brain.
• Physical activity increases the size and number of
capillaries to the brain. The more capillaries, the more
blood to the brain.

5. benefits achieved continued..
• Reduction of stress through production of cortisol.
Stress hurts performance, thus it is important for daily
exercise, which helps the body regulate the
production of cortisol.
• Physical activity stimulates the release of
neurotransmitters serotonin (mood stabilizer) and
dopamine (increases energy and alertness).

6. What do we as PE teachers want?
 EASY for classroom teachers to incorporate
 Kids moving more in the classroom
 Fun and short in duration
 Integrate PE into regular classroom
 Positive publicity for PE program
 Not disruptive as students will easily refocus
 Different choices=more likely for teacher to find
something they like

7. How can we get classroom
teachers to buy in?
 Participate in an activity break at faculty meetings
 Let them know what positive results to expect from students
 Short in duration and FUN!
 Let them choose music for exercise vids
 Competitions-Free PE/planning to class that uses most breaks
 Administrators love technology being used and creativity
 Cool-down built into videos, hook-ups for all other breaks if
needed in order to calm students and transition

8. Teachers buying in continued:
Teacher Testimonials
 The kids LOVE the activity breaks. I use them in the morning to
get their blood flowing and their mind ready for work. I also use
them throughout the day when I notice that the kids are getting
the wiggles (during our 1.5 hour Language Arts block and during
70minute math block daily). We also do them at the end of the
day to end with some exercise and with some positive energy. I
ALWAYS use them if it is raining outside as part of indoor recess.
In addition, I have incorporated music and movement into my
transitions and routines (tables to carpets, lining up, clean up,
pack up, etc.) to help the kids focus on what changes are
happening now and whattheyshould be doing at that
time.Thesebreaks provide visual and auditory cues for the kids
while engaging them in healthy exercise that helps maintain
focus and raises the affective filter. Thank you for all of your
hard work with the kids!
 ~Heidi (2nd grade)

9. Testimonials con’t
 Activity breaks have become a part of our daily classroom
schedule ‐ and they are by far one of the students' favorite
parts of the day! Every morning, students have an activity
break between their reading group period and another quiet,
seated work time; these breaks serve to give them a fun,
much‐needed time to move as well as get their bodies ready
for another quiet period of focus. Students also do activity
breaks in the afternoon when they've not had much
movement (during a non‐P day and/or a day of indoor
.E.
recesses). Since incorporating activity breaks into our daily
routine, I've noticed more sustained focus among even my
most focus challenged students!
 Bonnie (1st grade)

10. Testimonials con’t
 My kids LOVE activity breaks. As soon as I say, “Activity
Break!” they jump up ready for the first move. It is a
great way to begin a lesson, especially if the subject
matter will require lots of concentration. I use Activity
Breaks any time the kids need a mental boost.
Observing how the kids move during Activity Breaks also
provides me with additional anecdotal information
about each student’s learning style.
 Karla (3rd grade)

11. How can we help PE teachers?
Visit mlspe.blogspot.com for:
 Videos of limited space exercises
 Silly moves to lighten the mood
 Cool down activities/challenges
 Song suggestions (upbeat and appropriate)
 Lists and descriptions of solo and partner brain breaks
 Active Power Points

12. Strategies to make it easier on
you
 Video exercises in order of how you want break
arranged. This will save unbelievable amounts of time.
 Try to keep videos 2-3 minutes in length. Always end
with classical music, a brain teaser, then a hook up
 For every two exercises, do one silly move/brain to
lower intensity. Students can pace themselves in any
exercise though.
 If you don’t have time to do videos for entire school,
feature multiple classes in same video so they all have
ownership.
 Have students create videos/dances! High level thinking
and less work for you.

13. Movement opportunities at
Meriwether Lewis
 Daily Meriwether Morning Movers
 Daily Recess
 Activity Breaks
 Early Bird P.E.
 Lunchtime PE/Practice Sessions

17. Brain Break Exercises
see descriptions on
mlspe.blogspot.com
 Swimmers
 Thumb/Finger switch and other variations
 Conductors
 Foot and hand circle

18. Partner Brain Breaks
see descriptions at
mlspe.blogspot.com
 Partner T Jumps
 Double-Double This-This
 Tap and Switch
 Silly Flower

19. Feedback
We love hearing from you and always strive to do better!
Please email me at swilliams@albemarle.org with any
suggestions on how to improve, what you liked, or how
this may have helped you. Thank you for attending our
presentation!