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Playground Markings Enhance Physical Activity & Learning



As educators, it’s imperative to recognize the critical role physical activity plays in enhancing the academic performance and overall well-being of our students. Across the United States, our students face significant challenges in math and science, putting our nation’s competitiveness at risk. However, simply hiring more teachers or reducing class sizes hasn’t proven effective in improving graduation rates.

Physical Activity Benefits Cognitive Development

One often overlooked solution lies in incorporating more movement into our classrooms. Research consistently demonstrates the benefits of physical activity on cognitive function and academic achievement. Alarmingly, a large percentage of American children fail to meet daily physical activity recommendations, leading to a host of health issues including obesity, depression, and sleep disturbances. According to recent required Physical Fitness Tests, only 1 in 5 American school children are considered in good physical shape.

Many traditional classroom settings often require students to remain sedentary for extended periods, hindering their ability to engage fully with the material.



Kinesthetic learning, which involves active participation through physical movement and sensations, offers a promising alternative. [1] By encouraging students to learn through hands-on experiences and exploration, we can foster a deeper understanding of concepts and improve retention rates.

Studies have shown that integrating movement into learning activities not only enhances academic performance but also boosts motivation and autonomy among students.[2] For example, incorporating gestures or physical actions into language learning significantly improves vocabulary retention.

“When students explore new words through movement, they understand them better, retain them longer, and feel more empowered to use them.” Edutopia Newsletter.

Similarly, pairing activities like basketball with math lessons has been shown to lead to measurable improvements in subject proficiency and intrinsic motivation.



Furthermore, the concept of embodied cognition highlights the interconnectedness of body and mind. Engaging in low-intensity movement helps students regulate their alertness levels and enhances creativity. By leveraging this understanding, educators can create dynamic learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of students.

Simple strategies such as incorporating hand gestures or allowing students to draw their lessons can significantly enhance learning outcomes. Research indicates that combining cognitive and physiological activities leads to deeper encoding of information, making learning more meaningful and memorable for students.

Infusing Movement into Academic Classrooms

A list of research-backed, teacher-approved activities that can help early math learners engage physically with abstract math concepts. One example is finger counting. Contrary to conventional wisdom, finger counting isn’t a crutch, and it doesn’t appear to hold kids back: One compelling piece of research shows that finger counting actually boots math learning, helping students to better understand numbers and acting as a “bridge between other (verbal, symbolic, and no symbolic) representations of numbers.” [1]



For older students: Example exercises include asking students to count how many times they can sink a basket from three meters away vs. a one-meter distance, and subsequently adding up the numbers—or multiplying or dividing the numbers. According to one researcher who spoke to Science Daily, the practice works because it “endows children with a sense of ownership of their calculations and helps them clarify and concretize abstract concepts, which in turn increases their motivation to learn mathematics.”

Ultimately, the goal is to make learning a more interactive and enjoyable experience for students.

By embracing movement-based approaches in education, we not only improve academic performance but also promote positive classroom behavior. As educators, it’s our responsibility to reimagine traditional classroom structures to better align with the needs of our students. To engage students, we need to make learning enjoyable and our ability to prioritize physical activity and kinesthetic learning in the education system may make a difference in what children learn and how they feel about learning.

THE RECESS PROGRAM THAT WORKS! 



Transform Your Recess into a Thriving, Engaging Playground Experience!

Are you ready to revolutionize recess at your school? Introducing the Peaceful Playgrounds Recess Program - the ultimate solution for creating a dynamic, inclusive, and joyful playground environment for students!

With our innovative program, you can:

✨ Foster Positive Social Interactions: Say goodbye to conflicts and boredom! Our structured activities promote teamwork, communication, and cooperation among students, fostering a culture of inclusivity and friendship.

✨ Maximize Physical Activity: Encourage active play with our diverse range of games and activities designed to keep kids moving and engaged. From classic favorites to exciting new challenges, there's something for everyone!

✨ Enhance Safety and Supervision: Keep students safe and supervised with our easy-to-implement strategies and resources for playground management. Say hello to stress-free supervision and goodbye to playground chaos!

✨ Promote Learning Through Play: Turn recess into a valuable learning opportunity with our educational games and activities that reinforce key academic concepts in a fun and interactive way.

✨ Empower Your School Community: Equip your teachers, staff, and volunteers with the tools and training they need to support a positive recess experience for all students. Together, we can create a playground where every child feels included, empowered, and excited to play!

Don't miss out on the chance to transform your recess into a vibrant hub of activity, learning, and fun! Join the Peaceful Playgrounds Recess Program today and watch your playground come to life like never before.



Learn more and get started now

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Play Nice! Equipment Fun Pack Contest

Enter your school today in the Play Nice! Equipment Fun Pack Contest.

Share a picture of you doing something fun on your playground with the hashtag, #playnicefunpack and #peacefulplaygrounds for an extra entry.

This Equipment pack includes 42 pieces of equipment. This equipment pack can be used at recess for each grade level, in Physical Education class, before/after school programs.

which includes 6 of each:

• junior footballs,
• junior basketballs,
• soccer balls,
• official volleyballs
• playground balls,
• along with assorted color cones
• and mesh bags

This package is appropriate for elementary schools.

April Winner

Andrew DiCerbo - George L Cook Elementary Monticello, NY

Please contact the office to collect your prize T:951.245.6970 or officestaff@peacefulplaygrounds.com

This is the last month of our Equipment Pack Contest.

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