Learning Area: Health, Science, Social-Emotional Learning, Art

Time: 30-60 minutes

Grades: 4-6

Keeping active is important for physical and mental health. Neuroscience research shows that, when students move, they get more oxygen to the brain which increases alertness and focus. Students will discuss ways they can stay physically active throughout the day—both indoors and outdoors—as they create advocacy drawings to promote the benefits of exercise.

Materials

• Crayola Colored Pencils
• Crayola Colors of the World Colored Pencils
• Crayola Markers or Crayola Clicks Markers
• Paper
• Poster Board

Instructions

Discuss:

• Ask students to explore insights from neuroscience research on the benefits that physical activity has on learning, as well as physical and emotional health. Ask students to examine the science behind exercise and mental health. For example, increased oxygen saturation helps intellectual performance, and exercise lowers stress hormones and increases endorphins (a hormone associated with relieving pain and stress level).
• To add personal context, have a class discussion about the benefits students feel when they are active, including improved focus, better sleeping, stronger muscles, and other examples of feeling more mentally and physically fit.
• Have students brainstorm some of the types of physical activities they could engage in during class, as well as those they enjoy outdoors. Have them explore ways that physical activities could help them learn core subjects. For example, movement can be integrated into learning math and science concepts such as showing relative distances and spatial relationships, the Earth’s rotation, large measurements, etc.
• How can they use the information they have learned to advocate for more physical activity and opportunities to move indoors and outside?

Create:

• Ask students to create advocacy posters that focus on a physical activity they enjoy or spotlight ways to increase movement opportunities while in school. They could work individually or in small groups. They may want to add an advocacy message or fun facts about the benefits of physical activity to their posters.
• They could begin with simple sketches that help them map out their ideas, then explore details before they complete their work on a poster board.

Present:

• Ask students to present their work to the class and describe how they can use art to advocate for ideas they feel strongly about. Ask them to articulate how they feel when they engage in physical activity and share research-based evidence about how exercise improves health, increases learning, extends life expectancy, increases self-esteem, and so on.

Connect:

• Help students connect their daily schedules with opportunities for physical activity. Are they taking full advantage of the opportunities that exist? How can potential barriers to participation be reduced? How would they convince school decision-makers to expand opportunities for movement inside school, or to make more outdoor physical activities available?

Learn More

• In addition to physical activity, a balanced diet is important for learning and health. Ask students to explore what it means to have a balanced diet—one that contains the necessary nutrients, regardless of cuisine preferences. Have students plan a sample menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that includes important nutrients.
• Consider how fine-motor activities such as writing, drawing, and three-dimensional artmaking are related to the large-motor activities such as sports and dance. Have them explore how fine-motor activities enhance well-being, engagement, and learning, too.