Recess In The Classroom

In the elementary classroom today, physical activity is a tool teachers are using to engage students, improve students’ ability to retain information, and combat obesity. Teachers are able to incorporate physical activity into the classroom in various ways including daily routines, transitional activities, or in coordination with the current lesson plan. Recess, as unstructured playtime, also provides children with the chance to relax and release pent up energy without any limitations. The wonderful thing about physical activities is they can be tailored to children of all ages and all learning capabilities. Physical activity is increasingly becoming a devalued practice in schools today, but it’s actually one of the most important and beneficial

Many equate recess with physical education, when in fact they are different because gym class “is still considered instructional time, with very different goals from those of the unstructured downtime of recess” (Rochman, 2012). Today schools are doing away with recess and extracurricular classes more and more in order to focus on studies. This could very well be a huge mistake because withholding recess and outlets for children to release energy may only hinder the children in their studies. As I’ve discussed previously, physical activity has shown correlation with improved test scores. If teachers want to improve the education of their students, cutting out recess might be the worst possible solution. Teachers can make time in the day for recess by cutting short other lessons in the class by just a few minutes to produce enough time for even a short recess. Teachers can also cut lunch time a little short to add time to recess. Bottom line is, if a teacher can make the time, they really should. The benefits of recess are worth the strain on

I think the most important effect exercise has on children is that it “encourages your brain to work at optimum capacity by causing nerve cells to multiply, strengthening their interconnections and protecting them from damage” (Mercola, 2012). By getting children active at a young age, they are more likely to stay active; it creates “a love of movement that should develop into a lifetime desire for physical fitness” (Pica, pg. 3). It’s crucial that teachers find ways to incorporate some sort of physical activity into the day through lesson plans, daily routines, or transitions. If at all possible, teachers should make the time for recess because the children need to enjoy a break from work and be free of instructions. Also, teachers should always remember that even though a student may have a disability, they can and should participate through minor modifications and careful instruction. Everyone deserves to have the opportunity to maximize their learning capabilities, and physical activity is