supportREALteachers.org
  • ​Welcome
    • About Us
    • Join the Coalition for Quality Physical Education
    • For Parents and Administrators
    • Search and Sitemap
  • Service
    • Current Projects >
      • Active Equipment Library Program
      • PETE Doctoral Program DIrectory
      • Zambia Project
    • Completed Projects >
      • Paradise U Project​
      • SPARTAN Races
      • Teacher Appreciation
      • Other Projects
  • Advocacy
    • Importance of Physical Education
    • What is Quality Physical Education?
    • "No Excuses!" Documentary
    • Advocacy Guidelines and Resources
    • Research on the Benefits of Physical Activity for Schools
    • Importance of Recess, Play, and Active Classrooms
  • Pedagogy
    • Physical Education Pedagogy >
      • General Strategies
      • Adapted Physical Education
      • English Language Learners
      • Cross Disciplinary Examples
      • Facilitating Discussions and Debriefs
      • Miscellaneous Articles and Videos
    • Physical Education Pedagogy Continued >
      • Social and Emotional Learning
      • Social Justice and Diversity
      • Growth Mindset
      • Engaging Families
      • Advice for New Teachers
    • Assessment >
      • Assessment in Physical Education
      • Rubrics for Assessment
      • Grading in Physical Education
      • Fitnessgram Guidelines and Resources
    • Class Management >
      • Class Management Overview
      • Class Management Videos
      • Tools for Assessing Behavior
      • Techniques for Forming Groups
    • Planning >
      • Planning Physical Education Units
      • Domains of Learning
      • Teaching Styles in Physical Education
      • Instructional Models in Physical Education
  • Resources
    • Physical Education >
      • Activities and Lessons
      • Physical Education Related Organizations
      • Physical Education DIY and Hacks
      • National Observances Related to Physical Education
      • Safety Related Resources
    • Fitness >
      • Activity Promotion and Adherence
      • Creative Fitness Activities
      • Stress Management Techniques
      • Health, Fitness, and Nutrition Resources
    • Instructional Videos >
      • Icebreakers, Teambuilding, and Conflict Resolution Videos
      • Instructional Dance Videos
      • Dance Resources
    • Professional Development >
      • Information and Resources for Professional Development
      • Social Media Resources
      • Teaching Evaluation Forms
    • Technology >
      • Technology in Physical Education
      • Online Resources
      • Mobile Apps
      • Projector Uses in Physical Education
      • AI Uses in Physical Education
      • 360 Degrees, AR, and VR >
        • 360 Degree Photos/Videos in Physical Education
        • Augmented Reality in Physical Education
        • Virtual Reality in Physical Education
  • ​Welcome
    • About Us
    • Join the Coalition for Quality Physical Education
    • For Parents and Administrators
    • Search and Sitemap
  • Service
    • Current Projects >
      • Active Equipment Library Program
      • PETE Doctoral Program DIrectory
      • Zambia Project
    • Completed Projects >
      • Paradise U Project​
      • SPARTAN Races
      • Teacher Appreciation
      • Other Projects
  • Advocacy
    • Importance of Physical Education
    • What is Quality Physical Education?
    • "No Excuses!" Documentary
    • Advocacy Guidelines and Resources
    • Research on the Benefits of Physical Activity for Schools
    • Importance of Recess, Play, and Active Classrooms
  • Pedagogy
    • Physical Education Pedagogy >
      • General Strategies
      • Adapted Physical Education
      • English Language Learners
      • Cross Disciplinary Examples
      • Facilitating Discussions and Debriefs
      • Miscellaneous Articles and Videos
    • Physical Education Pedagogy Continued >
      • Social and Emotional Learning
      • Social Justice and Diversity
      • Growth Mindset
      • Engaging Families
      • Advice for New Teachers
    • Assessment >
      • Assessment in Physical Education
      • Rubrics for Assessment
      • Grading in Physical Education
      • Fitnessgram Guidelines and Resources
    • Class Management >
      • Class Management Overview
      • Class Management Videos
      • Tools for Assessing Behavior
      • Techniques for Forming Groups
    • Planning >
      • Planning Physical Education Units
      • Domains of Learning
      • Teaching Styles in Physical Education
      • Instructional Models in Physical Education
  • Resources
    • Physical Education >
      • Activities and Lessons
      • Physical Education Related Organizations
      • Physical Education DIY and Hacks
      • National Observances Related to Physical Education
      • Safety Related Resources
    • Fitness >
      • Activity Promotion and Adherence
      • Creative Fitness Activities
      • Stress Management Techniques
      • Health, Fitness, and Nutrition Resources
    • Instructional Videos >
      • Icebreakers, Teambuilding, and Conflict Resolution Videos
      • Instructional Dance Videos
      • Dance Resources
    • Professional Development >
      • Information and Resources for Professional Development
      • Social Media Resources
      • Teaching Evaluation Forms
    • Technology >
      • Technology in Physical Education
      • Online Resources
      • Mobile Apps
      • Projector Uses in Physical Education
      • AI Uses in Physical Education
      • 360 Degrees, AR, and VR >
        • 360 Degree Photos/Videos in Physical Education
        • Augmented Reality in Physical Education
        • Virtual Reality in Physical Education
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Importance of Recess, Play, and Active Classrooms


Research has shown that physical activity opportunities throughout the school day can improve: attendance, student motivation, classroom behaviors, social and emotional learning, and cognitive performance. Not only does time spent being active not hinder student learning, it enhances it. You can even incorporate physical activity into various content areas!​
our other webpages for Classroom Teachers
  • Class Management: Our main page on class management. We also have Tools for Assessing Behavior and Techniques for Forming Groups.

  • Domains of Learning: Example verbs and learning objectives for a variety of learning domain taxonomies. 

  • English Language Learners: Information on how to teach ELL students, regardless of the content area.​

  • ​Examples of How to Make Learning Active: Examples of combining other content areas with physical activity.

  • Games and Activities: Compilation of websites that provide resources on physical education activities.

  • Icebreakers and Teambuilding Videos: Name games, icebreakers, teambuilding, and conflict resolution activities. Directions are also available via PDF.

  • ​​Stress Management Techniques: Information and resources on easy stress management techniques for students.

Current inactivity pandemic
​Cost of Physical Inactivity
  • Health and Economic Value of Eliminating Socioeconomic Disparities in US Youth Physical Activity​
  • ​​Modeling The Economic And Health Impact Of Increasing Children’s Physical Activity In The United States
  • The Cost of Physical Inactivity: Moving Into the 21st Century
  • The Economic Burden of Physical Inactivity: A Global Analysis of Major Non-Communicable Diseases
  • Who Highlights High Cost of Physical Inactivity in First-Ever Global Report
  • Why Should People be Active? (CDC)​

​Student Obesity and Physical Activity Levels
  • ​​Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity: Data, Trends, and Maps (CDC)
  • Obesity Rates & Trends (TheStateOfObesity)
  • 2024 - National Level and State Level Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Children, Adolescents, and Adults in the USA, 1990–2021, and Forecasts Up to 2050
  • 2024 - Children & Youth Report Card (ParticipAction)
  • 2024 - United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth (Physical Activity Alliance)
  • ​2023 - Game Changer: A Plan to Transform Young Lives Through Sport (Centre for Social Justice)
  • 2023 - International Olympic Committee Trends in Youth Sport
  • ​2022 - Global Status Report on Physical Activity (WHO)​
  • 2022 - Worldwide Physical Activity Trends Since COVID-19 Onset
  • ​2021 - State of Play 2021 (Aspen Institute)
  • 2020 - Longitudinal Trends in BMI Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Persons Aged 2–19 Years (CDC)
  • ​​2020 - Overview Report on US Participation (Physical Activity Council)
  • 2019 - Global Trends in Insufficient Physical Activity Among Adolescents (WHO)
  • ​​2018 - United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth (National Physical Activity Plan)​

School Policies
  • Physical Education and Physical Activity Policies in School
  • 2024 - Quality Physical Education Policies and Practice the Global State of Play (UNESCO)
  • ​2023 - State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America
  • ​2023 - The International Framework for School Health Promotion: Supporting Young People Through and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • 2022 - School Health Profiles Questions: United States (CDC)
  • ​​2021 - Quality Physical Education Policy Project (UNESCO)
  • ​2019 - Status of State-Level PE Accountability Policy and Systems (ActiveSchools)
  • 2019 - The Movement Disparity: Parent and Principal Perspectives on Physical Activity in Schools (ActiveSchools)
  • ​2016 - School Health Policies and Practices Study 2016 (CDC)
  • ​2016 - Shape of the Nation Report (SHAPE America)​
  • 2012 - Physical Education Profiles (CDC)

Trouble with Military Recruitment
  • 2022 - Mission Readiness (StrongNation)
  • 2019 - Unfit to Serve (CDC)
  • 2018 - Unhealthy and Unprepared: National Security 2018 (StrongNation)

Benefits of Physical Activity for Schools​​
See our page Research on the Benefits of Physical Activity for Schools​ for downloadable PDFs on various topics related to education ​(attendance, behavior, mental health, sleep, etc.).

The Brain-Changing Benefits of Exercise

Run, Jump, Learn! How Exercise Can Transform...


​SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
: "A groundbreaking exploration of the connection between exercise and the brain’s performance that shows how even moderate exercise will supercharge mental circuits to beat stress, sharpen thinking, enhance memory, and much more."

Spark Learning and Creativity


The Neuroscience of Movement with Dr. John Ratey


CAMPAIGNS TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Picture
​Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP): "Schools play a vital role in ensuring children and adolescents get the nationally recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day...A CSPAP is a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. A CSPAP reflects strong coordination and synergy across all of the components: physical education as the foundation; physical activity before, during, and after school; staff involvement; and family and community engagement."

Guidelines and Toolkits
  • Active Equipment Library Program (supportREALteachers)
  • Active Schools Guiding Framework (Active Schools)
  • Active Schools Evaluation Handbook (Active Schools)
  • Importance of Physical Education (supportREALteachers)
  • Physical Education and Physical Activity (CDC)
  • Promoting Physical Activity Through Schools - Toolkit (WHO)
  • Promoting Physical Activity Through Schools - Policy Brief (WHO)

​Online Campaigns
  • Active Schools: Join a network of parents, schools, and partner organizations who are changing the way we prioritize physical activity in schools. It means making connections.

  • Coalition for Quality Physical Education: Our program that invites individuals, private industry, and non-profit groups to join us in our mission

  • ​Every Kid Sports Pass: Provides youth sports grants to kids from income-restricted families.

  • Voice for Healthy Kids: Supports advocacy campaigns, creates visibility for issues that affect children's health, mobilizes communities, helps to advance science and research via communications and messaging expertise, and fosters partnerships.
IMPORTANCE OF RECESS
Is Recess Important For Kids Or A Waste Of Time?

"No Recess" The Movie

Editorials
  • American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement - ​​The Crucial Role of Recess in School
  • ​​Recess is Good for Kids. So Why Are Some Schools Still Taking It Away as a Punishment?
  • Recess for High School Students​
  • The Importance of Recess Research and Advocacy​

​Research
  • Additional Research on Recess
  • ​​​A Research-Based Case for Recess​
  • ​​Effect of Recess on Fifth Grade Students’ Time On-task in an Elementary Classroom
  • Is There a Relationship Between Primary School Children's Enjoyment of Recess Physical Activities and Health-Related Quality of Life
  • Playing Fair: The Contribution of High-Functioning Recess to Overall School Climate in Low-Income Elementary Schools
  • ​​The Role of Recess in Children's Cognitive Performance and School Adjustment​​

GUIDELINES FOR RECESS
  • Do not use physical activity as punishment.

  • Recess should not be taken away for punitive reasons.

  • Scheduling recess before lunch helps ensure students do not rush eating (more info).

  • Scheduling recess breaks directly before or after academic lessons positively affects student on-task behaviors.

  • Schools should provide all students in grades K-12 with at least one daily period of recess of at least 20 minutes in length, especially post pandemic.

  • Use the outdoors as much as possible but also take weather into account.

Picture
Strategies for ​​Recess in Schools

Additional Resources
  • Action for Healthy Kids
  • ​CDC
  • Peaceful Playgrounds
  • PHE Canada​​​
  • Playworks
  • ​RecessLab.org
  • SHAPE America
  • ​​​The Buddy Bunch​

RESOURCES FOR RECESS
Activities
  • OPEN​
  • Playworks
  • ​Your School Games

Articles
  • #ReimagineRecess: Fostering Healthy Relationships
  • #ReimagineRecess: Managing Conflict at Recess
  • #ReimagineRecess: 3 Tips for Building Empathy Skills
  • ​10 Ways to Discipline Students Without Taking Away Recess
  • ​How to Organize Recess Equipment – Recess Bags​
  • ​​Recess Duty: Are you Qualified?​
  • Recess Is a Time of Conflict for Children: Six School Design Tips to Keep the Peace​
  • Recess: Lessons From the Playground
  • Rescuing Recess: Helping Recess Thrive In A Global Pandemic
  • ​​Rethinking Recess: 7 Steps to Foster Engagement and Inclusion
  • Right to Recess Campaign Toolkit
  • School Playgrounds Are Getting Squeezed: Here Are 8 Ways to Keep Students Active in Small Spaces
  • ​Stop! Pay Attention! You’re on Recess Duty!
  • ​​The Recess Equipment Dilemma: Part 1
  • ​The Recess Equipment Dilemma: Part 2​​
  • Trading Your Yard (Recess) Duty for a Club
IMPORTANCE OF PLAY
Brains at Play


The Importance of Play w/Dr. Peter Gray


  • 6 Benefits of Play
  • ​9 Types of Play and Why They Matter
  • ​​Benefits of Play
  • Children’s Right to Play and the Environment
  • Improving Children’s Health through Play: Exploring Issues and Recommendations
  • Play is Crucial for Middle Schoolers, Too
  • ​​The Critical Place of Play in Education
  • The Decline of Play and Rise in Children's Mental Disorders
  • ​The Important Role of Unstructured Play for Adolescent Athletes
  • ​The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young Children
  • What Does Play Look Like? - 16 Play Types
  • ​​​When Children Play, They Feel Better​​​​​

RESOURCES FOR PLAYGROUNDS
  • Cheap (Yet Valuable) Learning Space Redesign​
  • Kaboom! - Build a Playground Toolkit
  • Kaboom! - Enhancement Projects​​ (DIY)
  • ​​Kaboom! - Play Everywhere Playbook
  • ​​Safe Kids - Playground Safety Tips

RESOURCES FOR RUNNING AND WALKING CLUBS
Websites
  • 100 Mile Club
  • Achilles International (APE)
  • ​​Girls on the Run
  • Marathon Kids​​
  • Mileage Club
  • PHIT America
  • The Daily Mile​

​Articles
  • ​Adding Morning Fitness Clubs in Your School
  • How to Create a Before-School Fitness and Running Club
  • How to Lead an Accessible Sensory Walk
  • How to Start an After-School Running Club for Kids
  • Implementing Successful School Run Clubs: Lessons Learned from a District-level Initiative in Boston Public Schools

Traveling to and from school
  • Active School Travel Toolkit
  • ​Auditing the Pedestrian Environment: A Brief Tool for Practitioners and Community Members
  • ​Safe Routes to School
  • ​Walk and Bike to School
  • Walking School Bus​​
Importance of active classrooms
Active Classroom Initiative

Why Sitting is Bad for You

Websites
  • Classroom Physical Activity (CDC)
  • Moving Minds
  • Outdoor Lesson Ideas​​
  • ​​​School Health Guidelines​ (CDC)​
  • Springboard to Active Schools
  • The Walking Classroom

​Articles
  • 4 Easy Ways for Health and PE Professionals to Support Classroom Physical Activity
  • ​​Boost Your Physical Education Program with Classroom Movement
  • ​​​Integrate Classroom Physical Activity in Schools
  • ​​My Classroom is the Loud One – and the Students are Thriving
  • ​​Strategies for Classroom Physical Activity in Schools
  • ​​​The Kinesthetic Movement
  • ​​Using Brain Breaks to Restore Students’ Focus
  • Why Crossing the Midline Helped this Child Listen to his Teacher​​​

RESEARCH ON ACTIVE CLASSROOMS
  • ​​A Citizen Science Study of Short Physical Activity Breaks at School: Improvements in Cognition and Wellbeing with Self-Paced Activity
  • ​Acute Effects of Classroom Exercise Breaks on Executive Function and Math Performance
  • Breaking Up Classroom Sitting Time With Cognitively Engaging Physical Activity: Behavioural and Brain Responses
  • Classroom Activity Breaks Improve On-Task Behavior and Physical Activity Levels Regardless of Time of Day
  • Classroom-Based High-Intensity Interval Activity Improves Off-Task Behaviour in Primary School Students
  • Classroom Based Physical Activity and On-Task Behavior​
  • ​Classroom Seating for Children with ADHD: Therapy Balls Vs Chairs​​
  • Decreasing Sedentary Time During Lessons Reduces Obesity in Primary School Children the Active Movement Study
  • Do You Want to Increase Physical Activity in Adolescents? A School-Based Physical Activity Program Could Be an Efficient Way.
  • Effect of Classroom-Based Physical Activity Interventions on Academic and Physical Activity Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  • ​Effects of a Classroom-Based Program on Physical Activity and On-Task Behavior
  • Effects of a Classroom Walking Program on Physical Activity Accrual and On-Task Behavior
  • Effects of Classroom-Based Physical Activities on Off-Task Behaviors and Attention: Kindergarten Case Study
  • Evaluation of Feasibility, Effectiveness, and Sustainability of School-based Physical Activity “Active Break” Interventions in Pre-Adolescent and Adolescent Students
  • Impact of 3 Years of Classroom Physical Activity Bouts on Time-on-Task Behavior
  • Implementing Classroom Physical Activity Breaks: Associations With Student Physical Activity and Classroom Behavior
  • On-Task Behavior of Elementary Students During Movement Integration
  • Physically Active Lessons in Schools and their Impact on Physical Activity, Educational, Health and Cognition Outcomes
  • Research on the Effect of Different Aerobic Activity on Physical Fitness and Executive Function in Primary School Students
  • Sweat So You Don’t Forget: Exercise Breaks During a University Lecture Increase On-Task Attention and Learning​
  • The Effect of an Active Breaks Program on Primary School Students’ Executive Functions and Emotional Intelligence
  • The Effects of Physical Activity on Learning Behaviors in Elementary School Children: a Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Using Anticedent Physical Activity to Increase On Task Behavior in Young Children​​

  • Additional Research List: Classrooms in Motion

BRAIN BREAKS (BOOSTS) RESOURCES
Classroom Physical Activity: An Implementation Guide for Elementary Schools

​Videos
  • Adventure2Learning
  • Brain Breaks w/Mallory
  • ​BSD BrainBoost
  • Daily Physical Activity Toolkit
  • FitBoost
  • GoNoodle
  • ​Kids in Motion (PBS)
  • Kid Power
  • Kong Academy​​​​​​

​Print
  • ​​​Apple Schools Energizers
  • Daily Physical Activity Toolkit
  • In School Activity Breaks​​
  • ​​Mind & Body Activities for Elementary​
  • ​Moving Minutes
  • ​​​N.C. Healthy Schools Energizers
  • ​Online Physical Education Network (OPEN)
  • ​​Springboard to Active Schools​​​

Brain Breaks (Playlist)
 

​Physical Snacks (Playlist)
 

RESOURCES FOR ACTIVE COMMUNITIES
Organizations
  • ​​Afterschool Alliance​​
  • ​​​Change Lab Solutions Healthy Neighborhoods​
  • ​Kaboom!
  • National AfterSchool Association

Resources in the Community
  • All Trails​
  • Building a Little Free Sports Library
  • ​​Every Kid in a Park (4th Graders)
  • ​Find your Park​
  • ​​​Park Rx America
  • ​​Recreation.gov
  • StoryWalks


using LIBRARIES to lend Active equipment
Check out our Active Equipment Library Program page for information and resources for creating an active lending program at your local library.


Promoting Quality Physical Education through Advocacy ​​​and Free Access to Information and Resources