Physical activity can be defined as any bodily movement that is produced by the skeletal

muscles that results in energy above resting level. The World Health Organization (WHO)
recommended that adults accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity
and at least 1 hour for children on preferably all days of the week (Physical activity, 2015).
The activities that are common and easiest to perform include walking, jogging and
cycling. These activities have scientifically been healthy to human beings.
In the hectic and on-the-run lifestyle, many of us do not get enough time to even think of
physical activity. Even children as young as the age of seven have a heap of burden to
carry on their shoulders: schoolwork, tuition, music classes, extra academic classes,
education programs and so on. This is the reason physical activity should be incorporated
in childrens life during school hours (they spend most of the time in educational
institutions) (Health cps: Physical activity, 2014). Firstly, schools have at least 20 minutes
of recess every day. Recess is a period when children are free to choose what they want
to do. Besides providing them with opportunities for social interaction, recess gives them
to take a break from the sedentary activities in class. The physical activities like running
and playing are a chance for children practise the skills developed in physical education
class.
Other than that, physical activity can also be incorporated in curriculum (during class). This
can be done in many ways based on grades and subject. Practical principles to
incorporate physical activity in class incorporates including physical activity to academic
content, prepare word movement collection (See Picture 1) and creating space for activity.
In case of lack of space, in-sit activities can be done.

( Adapted from (Erwin) )

The word movement collection can be utilized in many academic activities. The word cards
can be cut up and put inside a cup or hat. During each activity, pupils or teacher can draw
the card to determine which action to perform.
As an example, in a Science class on the topic human respiratory system, pupils are
randomly called in front to draw the human respiratory organs correctly. If they have
completed the task accurately, pupils perform a locomotor activity. if they failed, they
perform a non-locomotor activity. In this class, pupils do the physical activity either way.
Another example is in the English class. Activities like running dictation during reading
lesson and group tasks gets pupils on their feet and stretch muscles. Pupils indirectly
perform physical activity as they try to complete a task. This would be more engaging as
they are not bound to the chalk-and-talk method and become active in class.
Besides that, in my school, there is a culture of reading books in the morning before the
assembly starts. This program can be substituted with physical activity on particular days.
On the mornings of the activity, at least 10 minutes can be taken to have a short aerobics
session with the pupils. This would definitely help increase the brain activity, the on-task
behaviour in class as well as decrease risk of diseases.

References

Erwin, H. E. (n.d.). Implementing classroom-based physical activity. Retrieved February

27, 2015, from Pelinks4u web site: http://www.pelinks4u.org/articles/erwin0610.htm
Health cps: Physical activity. (2014, August 8). Retrieved February 23, 2015, from Chicago
public schools web site:
http://cps.edu/Programs/HealthyCPS/Pages/HealthyCPSPhysicalActivity.aspx
Physical activity. (2015). Retrieved February 20, 2015, from World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/topics/physical_activity/en/