Classroom physical activity is an important approach to safely and effectively mitigate the risk of being increasingly sedentary for long periods of time during learning. Here are some ideas that can be quickly incorporated into daily routines and do not require multimedia. These activities can have an academic focus by leading into the next lesson or reinforce a lesson that was completed. The key is incorporating movement into the classroom routine.
1. Crazy 8’s: Choose four different exercises and ask students to do each eight times. Examples of exercises:
• 8 jumping jacks
• 8 silly shakes (just shake as silly as you can)
• 8 high knees
• 8 punches
• 8 lunges
Tip: include both upper and lower body movements
• 8 jumping jacks
• 8 silly shakes (just shake as silly as you can)
• 8 high knees
• 8 punches
• 8 lunges
Tip: include both upper and lower body movements
2. Getting to Know You:
Ask students to stand up.
One by one, each student introduces themselves with their name and favorite physical activity, acting out the activity. The class says hello to the student in response, and also acts out the physical activity.
Variation: Ask students to stand up and do some kind of movement if something applies to them (e.g., Stand up and do arm circles if your birthday is in the month of December).
Ask students to stand up.
One by one, each student introduces themselves with their name and favorite physical activity, acting out the activity. The class says hello to the student in response, and also acts out the physical activity.
Variation: Ask students to stand up and do some kind of movement if something applies to them (e.g., Stand up and do arm circles if your birthday is in the month of December).
3. Stretch Session
Ask students to either stand up by their chair/desk or sit up straight in their chair and lead a short stretch break.
Hold each stretch for about 30 seconds.
Examples of stretches:
• Hold head to right shoulder, and then head to left shoulder
• Shoulder shrugs/rolls in each direction
• Reach for toes, reach left arm to right foot, reach right arm to left foot, bend over and hold elbows (can sway hips)
• Arms up and wiggle fingers, wiggle toes
• Rotate both wrists in each direction
Tip: Play calming music in the background while students stretch.
Ask students to either stand up by their chair/desk or sit up straight in their chair and lead a short stretch break.
Hold each stretch for about 30 seconds.
Examples of stretches:
• Hold head to right shoulder, and then head to left shoulder
• Shoulder shrugs/rolls in each direction
• Reach for toes, reach left arm to right foot, reach right arm to left foot, bend over and hold elbows (can sway hips)
• Arms up and wiggle fingers, wiggle toes
• Rotate both wrists in each direction
Tip: Play calming music in the background while students stretch.
4. Touch Blue
Ask students to touch something with a certain attribute (e.g., "touch blue" - and students touch something blue in their setting).
Other ideas: "touch something cold," or "touch something that makes you happy." Students can move around their space and off screen, but they should be able to hear the next instruction. Wait 10 seconds between instructions so the game moves quickly. If a participant cannot find an item during any of the rounds, provide them with an alternative physical activity (e.g., march in place, stretch, high knees, etc.).
Tip: Tie in concepts from lessons being taught (e.g., science – touch something recyclable). Then, have students debrief what they touched.
Ask students to touch something with a certain attribute (e.g., "touch blue" - and students touch something blue in their setting).
Other ideas: "touch something cold," or "touch something that makes you happy." Students can move around their space and off screen, but they should be able to hear the next instruction. Wait 10 seconds between instructions so the game moves quickly. If a participant cannot find an item during any of the rounds, provide them with an alternative physical activity (e.g., march in place, stretch, high knees, etc.).
Tip: Tie in concepts from lessons being taught (e.g., science – touch something recyclable). Then, have students debrief what they touched.
5. 4 Walls
Choose 4 different movements. Facing one wall of a room, prompt students to do a movement for 30 seconds. Then, ask them to face another wall and prompt another movement. Repeat until all 4 walls are covered.
Movement examples:
• Side shuffle
• Vertical jumps
• Arm circles (forward/backwards)
• Jump side-to-side
• Run in place
• Squat jump
Tip: For one of the walls, let students choose their own movement or prompt them “act out your favorite activity.”
Choose 4 different movements. Facing one wall of a room, prompt students to do a movement for 30 seconds. Then, ask them to face another wall and prompt another movement. Repeat until all 4 walls are covered.
Movement examples:
• Side shuffle
• Vertical jumps
• Arm circles (forward/backwards)
• Jump side-to-side
• Run in place
• Squat jump
Tip: For one of the walls, let students choose their own movement or prompt them “act out your favorite activity.”
6. Up, Down, Stop, Go (Opposites)
• “Up” — Students squat down. Play music, and when the music stops, students freeze.
• “Down” — Students jump, or stretch up as high as possible
• “Stop” — Students do a specific movement in the same spot (e.g., running, hopping, etc. in place)
• “Go” — Players freeze. Call out the commands “up,” “down,” “stop,” or “go” one at a time. Practice a few rounds
before starting to model the activities as you call them out.
Tips: Ask a student to be the caller of the commands. Add other commands (e.g., “fast” – players move slowly; “forward” – players face backward).
• “Up” — Students squat down. Play music, and when the music stops, students freeze.
• “Down” — Students jump, or stretch up as high as possible
• “Stop” — Students do a specific movement in the same spot (e.g., running, hopping, etc. in place)
• “Go” — Players freeze. Call out the commands “up,” “down,” “stop,” or “go” one at a time. Practice a few rounds
before starting to model the activities as you call them out.
Tips: Ask a student to be the caller of the commands. Add other commands (e.g., “fast” – players move slowly; “forward” – players face backward).
7. Freeze Dance Party
Play music, and when the music stops, students freeze.
Can allow students to lead movement or each student can choose their own movement.
Play music, and when the music stops, students freeze.
Can allow students to lead movement or each student can choose their own movement.
8. Rock, Paper, Scissors, Jump
Ask students multiple choice questions and have students respond by jumping into the correct position:
• Choice A — feet together
• Choice B — feet apart in a straddle position
• Choice C — one foot in front of the other
Students jump three times and on the fourth jump they should land in the position that corresponds to the correct answer choice.
Ask students multiple choice questions and have students respond by jumping into the correct position:
• Choice A — feet together
• Choice B — feet apart in a straddle position
• Choice C — one foot in front of the other
Students jump three times and on the fourth jump they should land in the position that corresponds to the correct answer choice.
9. Vote with Your Feet
Post around the classroom signs that say: yes, no, true, false, agree, and disagree. Depending on the day’s lesson, ask students to answer questions by going to stand by the sign that best reflects their answer. If applicable, ask students to elaborate on their answers.
Tip: If there is space in the classroom, ask students to actively move (e.g., hop, skip, etc.) to their answer choice.
Post around the classroom signs that say: yes, no, true, false, agree, and disagree. Depending on the day’s lesson, ask students to answer questions by going to stand by the sign that best reflects their answer. If applicable, ask students to elaborate on their answers.
Tip: If there is space in the classroom, ask students to actively move (e.g., hop, skip, etc.) to their answer choice.
10. Scavenger Hunt
Give students a list of items to find and a time limit to retrieve them so they move as quickly as possible (e.g., 10 items in 5 minutes). Ideas might include something red, something you write on, something that brings you joy, etc. After time is up, go down the list and ask students show what they found.
Tip: You can tie in a few items for the next part of your lesson (e.g., math — something that measures volume; geography — an object that tells a story about a place; literature — a book by a favorite author).
Give students a list of items to find and a time limit to retrieve them so they move as quickly as possible (e.g., 10 items in 5 minutes). Ideas might include something red, something you write on, something that brings you joy, etc. After time is up, go down the list and ask students show what they found.
Tip: You can tie in a few items for the next part of your lesson (e.g., math — something that measures volume; geography — an object that tells a story about a place; literature — a book by a favorite author).