Presented by:

Jeff Mushkin, M.P.H.Project Specialist/Trainer

The SPARK Programs

ObjectivesAttendees will learn about:• The differences between PE and PA• The need for quality PE and ample PA• PE and PA’s relationship to academic

achievement• Maintaining support for programs by

showing the importance and relevance of PE:

• Strategies for linking PE, classroom, and PA

Last Month’s Webinar

Attendees learned:• Strategies to help students feel

more comfortable learning dance

• Alternative styles of teaching dance

• Several dances from SPARK that can be taught right away!

SPARK Resources

Why do we offer theFree Webinar Series?

SPARKBackground

• Originally funded in 1989 by Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of N.I.H.

• SPARK is the conduit that moves research to practice

• Over 40 publications proving SPARK programs work and last!

“Children are our most valuable natural resource.”Herbert Hoover

SPARK Programs

Today’s Topic!

What role does Physical Education (PE) and Physical Activity (PA) play in the academic success of students?

PE and Academics

PE vs. PAWhat is the difference?

Physical activity is:• A behavior • A voluntary movement of any type • Unstructured

Physical education is:

• A curricular area that teaches about PA

• Teaching skills to participate lifetime activities

• Specific, structured, and progressive

Recommended vs. Reality

NASPE Recommendations for PE• Elementary School: 150 minutes per

week• Middle school & High School:

225 minutes per week

RealityA recent CDC report found daily PE in

only:• 4% of elementary schools• 8% of middle schools• 2% percent of high schools

PE Dosage

PE is being Reduced and Eliminated

• No Child Left Behind• PE mandates have bark but rarely bite• Budget cuts• PE perceived as less important than other

subjects

*The 2006 CDC’s School Health Policies and Programs Study showed that only 4% of elementary children participated in daily PE down from 42% in 1991

PE Dosage

Effect on the Health of Children• 20% of children categorized as obese

(4x rate in 1970’s)

• 70-80% chance an obese child will become an obese adult

• $14 billion spent annually on child obesity-related health care costs

• Today’s American children may be the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents

Today’s Kids

Increasing the Opportunities for Physical Education

• Improve the quantity and quality of PE

• Data showing effects of PE on learning

• Integrate activity into academic lessons

Maintain support by showing the importance and relevance of PE:

Improving Quantity and Quality of PE

Improving Quantity and Quality of PE

• Space – Ensure facilities are accessible

• Time – Assess minutes then set goals to increase

• Movement – 50% of class time in MVPA

• Equipment – MSPAN study showed increasing

equipment increased PA time

• Supervision – MSPAN showed activity time

increased when supervision increased

Increase MVPA!

“Exercise itself doesn't make us smarter. Instead, exercise makes us more able to learn and focus and optimizes the brain for learning."

John Ratey, author of:

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the

Brain

Effects of PA on Learning

Children who are physically active may have:

• Improved attention span• Improved attendance• Improved behavior• Increased concentration• Reduced disruptive behaviors

Healthy Children are Better Learners

Effects of PA on Learning

What benefits have been researched?

Effects of PA on Learning

++ Psychological well-being– – Anxiety and depression++ Self-esteem – Overweight and obesity + HDL cholesterol – Blood Pressure++ Skeletal health + Musculoskeletal injuries

PA is Important!

Encourage Opportunities for PA

Effects of PA on Learning

• Before school• Recess• Lunch break• Classrooms• Physical education• After school

What Does the Data Show?

Most research addresses two questions:

• Does PE have a positive effect on academic performance?

• Does PE take away from academic time?

What Does the Data Show?

We’ll share a few studies:

California Study• Comparing academic & fitness scores of

students grades 5, 7 & 9

North Carolina Study• Effects of a Classroom-Based Program on PA

SPARK Study• Effects of PE program on PA and Fitness in

elementary students

CA Dept. of Ed StudyA California study compared academic and

fitness scores of students grades 5, 7 & 9.

Results:• Schools with more fit students experienced higher

gains

• Higher achievement was associated with higher levels of fitness at each of three grade levels measured

• Physical activity had beneficial results for academic progress in both low- and high-performing schools

CA Dept. of Ed StudyGradeGrade 5 SAT 9 and Physical Fitness5 SAT 9 and Physical Fitness

353,000 Students

2936

3240

36

4540

50 46

5855

71

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1 2 3 4 5 6

Reading Mathematics

SA

T 9

Pe

rce

nti

le

Number of Fitness Standards Achieved

Source: California Dept. of Education Study, December 10, 2002

North Carolina Study

Title: Effects of a Classroom-Based Program onPhysical Activity and On-Task Behavior

Purpose: to evaluate the effects in-school PA levels and on-task behavior during academic instruction.

Study: K-4th grade students participated in a classroom-based physical activity program called Energizers.

Matithew T. Mahar, et al. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 38, pp. 2086-2094, 2006.

North Carolina Study

Results found that:

Program was effective for increasing daily in-school PA• Intervention group took significantly more

steps throughout the day

Improved on-task behavior during academic instruction• Significant improvement especially in the

students who were the least on-task

SPARK Study Design

(McKenzie, Sallis, Lewis, Rosengard,et al, RQES, 1999)

Intervention schools received:• Curricula• Training• On-site follow up, phone/e-support• Equipment sets (also provided to control

schools)

Elementary schools randomized to 3 conditions:1. SPARK PE instructed by classroom teachers2. SPARK PE instructed by PE specialists3. Controls – usual PE

4 better, 1 worse, 3 no difference

Increasing PE from 32 to 98 or 109 min/week did not reduce academic

performance

3-Year Changes in Percentile RankEight comparisons on standardized MAT

tests:

SPARK Study Design

(McKenzie, Sallis, Lewis, Rosengard,et al, RQES, 1999)

Additional Studies

Other research studies that have shown a connection between PE/PA and academic achievement

Sample: CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (2003)•http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/health_and_academics/index.htm

Additional Studies

Canadian Study (Shephard, 1996)• 546 elementary students

Massachusetts Study (Tremarche, et al., 2007)• 311 4th graders

CDC Study (Carlson et al., 2008)• 5,316 K-5 students

Findings that achievement is positively affected by PE

Additional Studies

Australian Study, (Dwyer et al., 1983)• Sample size: 350 5th graders

Michigan Study (Coe et al., 2006) • Sample size: 214 5th graders

British Columbia Study (Ahamed et al., 2007)• 287 4th-5th students

Evidence that PE Does Not Hurt Academics

Summary of Research

• Key Findings

• Limitations

Source: Active Living Research

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Summary of Peer-Reviewed Research

Strategies to Integrate Activity into Academics

• Why?

• When?

• How?

Integrating Activity into Academics

Workout Buddies

Exercise Equations

Did We Reach Our Objectives?

Did you learn:• The differences between PE and PA• Why ample PA is critical to quality PE• PE and PA’s relationship to academic

achievement• Maintaining support for programs by

showing the importance and relevance of PE

• Strategies for linking PE, classroom, and PA

FREE SPARK RESOURCES FOR YOU!

The SPARK Family Website

Thanks for Joining US!

Check Out Our New Website!

Parents and FamilySample LessonsGrant Information

Much more! At www.sparkpe.org

Don’t Miss It!

February 17th @ 3:00 pm PST

Next time, bring a friend!

What questions

do you have?

More Information

Jeff Mushkin jmushkin@sparkpe.org

Contact SPARK:E-mail: spark@sparkpe.org

Phone: 1-800-sparkpe

Register for a SPARK Institute:www.sparkpe.org/institutes.jsp

Next Webinar: February 17th, 3 pm PST