FEATURE
throughout the school day has been shown to have particularly positive effects on academic achievement . Studies have shown that Instant Recess , for instance , can result in an 11 percent increase in the percentage of time students devoted to on-task behavior . The Energizers program yielded an eight percent rise in ontask behavior , but with a 20 percent improvement among students who have particular trouble focusing .
Here in New York , the Physical Activity Workgroup created several similar activities of our own . We began by asking teachers and practicing artists in physical activity areas ( e . g . circus arts , dance , theater ) for activities that teachers could adapt for their classrooms .
One example from circus was “ The ABC ’ s of Acrobatics ,” an activity created by Karen Gersch , a physical arts practitioner , long-time circus performer and master teacher . During the exercise , students learn a progression of standard positions required for tumbling , acrobatics , and human pyramids in a physical calland-response format : the instructor demonstrates , students copy the moves , and then the instructor calls out the moves by name in a random order . It ’ s great fun , the kids love it , and it gets them moving . Another example was my own “ The 7 Stages of
Laughter ,” a 7-minute , full-body activity that gets oxygen flowing through a child ’ s system quickly , thus improving their ability to focus . Imagine the fun and infectious laughter as students ( and teacher ) laugh long and hard .
For those of us in circus arts and circus arts education , the effect of these sorts of activities might seem obvious . But in Rockland the results have been dramatic . Rockland County is ranked 3rd healthiest county in New York State according to an annual report issued by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute ! This didn ' t happen by itself . The success of our Physical Activity Workgroup has also led to an annual event , “ March Forward ,” a regular , annual collaboration between schools to promote the connection between physical activity , academic achievement , and health .
As practitioners of circus arts in education , you may want to suggest to your local school administrators that they consider adding more physicality , including circus arts , in their classrooms . Feel free to pass on the information provided on the Rockland Steps website ( see side ). You could even create your own “ March Forward ” next year . What ’ s more , through such “ consultative selling ” you may find more work coming your way . Giving teachers the support they need to embed physical activity into their lesson plans , and giving students the gift of health and better brain development will keep you “ top of mind ” when it comes time to book a circus arts educator .
For more information about this program , you are welcome to call Carlo at 845-348-8740 or email him at carlo @ amazinggracecircus . org .
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES A full video with many statistics and resources about physical activity in the classroom and research about how it affects the brain and academic achievementcan be found on the Amazing Grace CIRCUS ! website . See www . amazinggracecircus . org and click on Physical Activity in the Classroom on the home page .
http :// www . rocklandsteps . org / index . php ? section = - march-forward
“ Do Short Physical Activity Brain Breaks in the Classroom Work ?” prepared by Active Living Research , Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Support Active Communities , February 2013
“ Exploring the Link between Physical Activity , Fitness and Cognitive Function ”, prepared for the Illinois Enhance Physical Education Task Force , March 2013
“ The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity , Including Physical Education , and Academic Performance ”, prepared by the U . S . Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , Division of Adolescent and School Health , www . cdc . gov / HealthyYouth , Revised Version — July 2010