Combining physical activity with classroom lessons improves academics

A new research has indicated that when schools cut physical education programmes students can spend more time in the classroom, they may be missing a golden opportunity to promote learning.

The study adds to growing evidence that exercise is good not only for the body but also the mind. It also shows that physical education and academic instruction need not be mutually exclusive.

Researchers Kathryn L. King and Carly J. Scahill, pediatric residents at the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital, led by William S. Randazzo, and James T. McElligott, sought to determine how implementing a daily physical activity programme that incorporated classroom lessons would affect student achievement.

First- through sixth-graders at an academically low-scoring elementary school in Charleston, S.C., took part in the programme 40 minutes a day, five days a week. Prior to initiation of the programme, students spent 40 minutes per week in physical education classes.

Results showed that the time spent out of a traditional classroom in order to increase physical education did not hurt students' academic achievement. In fact, student test scores improved.

Specifically, the percentage of students reaching their goal on the state tests increased from 55% before the programme was initiated to 68.5% after the programme was initiated.

"These data indicate that when carefully designed physical education programmes are put into place, children's academic achievement does not suffer," said King.

"More studies are needed," Scahill added, "but there is growing substantial evidence that this kind of physical activity may help improve academic behaviour, cognitive skills and attitudes."

The research has been presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Denver.