Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists March 2016 | Page 4

Physically Active Lessons and Academic Achievement

Pediatrics published research on the effects of a physically active academic intervention on the
academic achievement of children. The 499 second and third graders who participated were
randomly assigned to the intervention group (physically active lessons for 2 years, 22 weeks
per year, 3 times a week) or the control group (regular classroom lessons). Each student was
evaluated for academic achievement before the study and after each year. The assessments
included 2 mathematics tests (speed and general math skills) and 2 language tests (reading
and spelling).
The results indicated the following:
1. children in the intervention group had significantly greater gains in mathematics speed test,
general mathematics, and spelling scores.
2. no changes were seen in reading scores.
The authors concluded that “physically active lessons significantly improved mathematics and
spelling performance of elementary school children and are therefore a promising new way of
teaching.”
Reference: Marijke J. Mullender-Wijnsma, Esther Hartman, Johannes W. de Greeff, Simone
Doolaard, Roel J. Bosker, Chris Visscher. Physically Active Math and Language Lessons
Improve Academic Achievement: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatrics, Mar 2016

Get Up and Learn – How to Integrate Movement with Learning: electronic
book that includes over 35 activities to help combine movement with learning.
Find out more information here
http://www.yourtherapysource.com/getuplearn.html

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