Physical Activity Benefits in the Classroom

Within education, students sitting for extended periods of time has become too much of the norm. This leaves students in a position where they do not learn as well sitting all day. The education system is setting up our students for failure by continuing to neglect that having students sit for entire classes is not the best way of teaching. Many sources have started to look at ways to get students out of desks while still learning (Harvey, 2018). This leaves the question in what ways do teachers incorporate physical activity in the classroom and the effects it has on student’s learning ability? This literature review, applying Asher and Price (1967) Total Physical Response framework will address that research question by diving into how physical activity helps students become more engaged in the classroom, increase students’ academic achievement, and what this looks like in a mathematics classroom specifically. There are some barriers that come into play with incorporating physically activity in the classroom that will be mentioned, however, even just being able to do a short brain break that is possible in any classroom can have positive effects on students.