The Impact of Movement Breaks on Student Behavior

Lucy K. Moloney
Ms. Melody Jennings, Faculty Mentor

Elementary students are expected to remain seated for long periods of time, despite research showing that movement helps attention and overall brain function. Teachers frequently observe off-task and disruptive behaviors and question how to improve student attention and engagement. Researchers from the fields of education and psychology have examined whether movement breaks in the classroom may serve as an effective solution. Studies show that physical activity improves blood flow to areas of the brain that support attention and cognitive flexibility, which are essential for self-regulation and learning. Research also indicates that active breaks improve on-task behavior and decrease classroom disruptions. While these findings support the benefits of movement in theory, it is also important to examine how movement breaks are implemented in real classroom settings and how those implementation choices influence student engagement, focus, and classroom management. This interdisciplinary research review evaluates the impact of movement breaks in elementary classrooms.

Keywords: Elementary Students, Movement Breaks, Physical Activity, Physical Education, Education, Behavior, Attention Span, Focus

Topic(s):Education
Exercise Science
Psychology

Presentation Type: Oral Presentation

Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA