Purposeful Movement: The Integration of Physical Activity into a Mathematics Unit

Classroom physical activity (PA) has been linked to a multitude of health andacademic benefits. However, due to barriers such as lack of time and resourcesmany teachers are not implementing classroom PA to the degree they would liketo. One innovative solution is to integrate classroom PA into academic concepts.Based on self-determination theory, this pilot study evaluated the effectivenessof a teacher-developed purposeful movement teaching strategy on PA, on-taskbehavior and academic achievement. Two third grade classrooms participated inthis pilot study, one acting as the comparison and the other working with theschool Physical Education teacher to develop the active lessons. The evaluationconsisted of accelerometers, direct observation, academic assessments and awrite and draw activity to assess student perceptions. Significant improvementswere found in steps achieved during math and on-task behavior. Findings revealutilizing PA driven lessons is an effective teaching strateg