Creatures That Don't Move: Getting Students Mobile and Active

As adults, we rarely sit still for very long. We take breaks, stretch, even take short-walks for coffee throughout the day to help us stay awake. It is unreasonable to expect students to sit still for an hour and pay attention without any break or movement. Physical activity need not be recess, but it should include flexible seating, where students can stand at standing desks or sit at a variety of desks and tables. Let students be mobile as long as they are respectful and do not disturb the classroom flow. Creating a space that promotes activity and mobility sets the tones for personal empowerment and autonomy. In my classroom there are three sets of four standing desks, three round tables and 9 science tables. Students are welcome to move about during the classroom as long as they are quiet and on task.

Why is mobility so critical for academic engagement and physical health in the classroom?  Especially in a junior high school or high school students do not have recess. They have one class of physical education, maybe, but generally remain immobile for the rest of the day, cemented in seats during 45 minute-60 minute classes. Flexible seating arrangements and active learning environments help fight childhood obesity by promoting a more healthy lifestyle of active learning rather then sedentary technology use. Get students up and moving with brain breaks, nature walks, and simply stations and museum walks. The more they have opportunities to get up and move about the more active they will become as learners.

The Ohio Education Association reports that research by the Mayo Clinic and at the University of Minnesota indicates that, by allowing students to move and channel their energy during class students stay more alert and feel more energetic. standing desks may help accomplish this. Burning off energy by standing up and moving around may also reduce behavior problems. Other potential benefits associated with stand-up learning include improved behavior and learning for ADHD students. Standing desks will promote physical health which can roll over into community and athletics programs. Maintaining low-level physical activity—such as standing in the classroom—results in greater student attention. Increased blood circulation and oxygenation leads to alert students. “Standing actually improved attention, on-task behavior, alertness and classroom engagement.” (Mayo Clinic).

Students are creatures who unfortunately are not given many opportunities to be active outside of physical education classes. Teachers need to offer a variety of seating from standing desks to tables and bean bags. Flexible seating where students can move about to help stay focused and engaged. But offering a myriad of arrangements is not enough. Students need to be given active, authentic experiences where they are moving and interacting, walking around to learn from QR codes posted throughout the halls, nature and outdoor walks to observe and document their environment, and even brain breaks like zombie musical chairs, get down and boogie for 1 minute, even just simply stretch and jump in place. The more active the more increased blood circulation and the less sedentary lifestyle. As teachers we can help strengthen engagement, lower childhood obesity, and help our students find focus if we just let them wiggle, stretch and move.