Physical activity is a critical factor in a healthy lifestyle, and research indicates that it can improve student learning. Contemporary trends in neuroscience indicate that physical activity breaks or cognitive activity physical activity sessions (CAPAS) during the school day can enhance students' overall cognitive function by improving memory,…

Students at a K-8 magnet school drastically lacked opportunities for physical activity throughout their school day. The authors (physical education teacher and graduate advisors) describe how the physical education teacher advocated and made positive change in her school. The physical education teacher conducted a physical activity needs…

Physical activity stations are a simple approach to engage in physical activity breaks during the elementary school day. This article describes the procedures involved in creating physical activity stations that can be implemented in elementary schools nationwide.

The Institute of Medicine and SHAPE America, among other national and international organizations, are promoting comprehensive school physical activity programs or whole-of-school approaches to creating healthy and active schools. The purpose of this article is to briefly describe what a comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) is,…

This article introduces readers to the GoNoodle platform for incorporating physical activity throughout the school day, and describes how one of the features, Ultimate Champ Training, can be used to teach health concepts in the elementary school classroom.

Research suggests that a girl's career interests in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) declines between grades 6 and 8. Similarly, in middle school, there is a decrease in physical activity among girls. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island (URI) conducted a chemistry-based science camp that took place…

Obesity among children and teens continues to be a major public health concern in the United States. Approximately 16.9% of children and adolescents age 2-19 years are obese. To address this epidemic, schools have been encouraged to develop a coordinated school health program, which includes an interdisciplinary approach to nutrition education.…

The Health, Exercise, and Sport Science (HESS) faculty at Texas Tech University, along with many of its graduate and undergraduate students, have been working with overweight youth since the Fun & Fit program launched in 2004. The collaborative effort between Tech and the Lubbock Independent School District, funded by a Carol M. White Physical…

Childhood obesity and inactivity levels among young Americans have risen steadily over the last few decades, and has become a major concern. Participation in regular physical activity helps prevent excess adiposity in children and youth. Recess is a regularly occurring period of time in school children's days which is an opportunity to help them…

With pressure for student academic achievement throughout the educational environment, physical educators are being called upon to support student learning in a variety of academic areas. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education set guidelines which direct the physical education teacher toward motor, health, and fitness…