Abstract
BackgroundNovel strategies are required to increase school-based physical activity levels of children. Integrating physical activity in mathematics lessons may lead to improvements in students’ physical activity levels as well as enjoyment, engagement and learning. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a curriculum-based physical activity integration program known as EASY Minds (Encouraging Activity to Stimulate Young Minds) on children’s daily school time physical activity levels. Secondary aims include exploring the impact of EASY Minds on their engagement and ‘on task’ behaviour in mathematics.Methods/DesignGrade 5/6 classes from eight public schools in New South Wales, Australia will be randomly allocated to intervention (n = 4) or control (n = 4) groups. Teachers from the intervention group will receive one day of professional development, a resource pack and asked to adapt their lessons to embed movement-based learning in their daily mathematics program in at least three lessons per week over a six week period. Intervention support will be provided via a weekly email and three lesson observations. The primary outcomes will be children’s physical activity levels (accelerometry) across both the school day and during mathematics lessons (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time). Children’s ‘on-task’ behaviour, enjoyment of mathematics and mathematics attainment will be assessed as secondary outcomes. A detailed process evaluation will be undertaken.DiscussionEASY Minds is an innovative intervention that has the potential to improve key physical and academic outcomes for primary school aged children and help guide policy and practice regarding the teaching of mathematics.Trial registration noAustralian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12613000637741 13/05/2013.
Highlights
Introduction to the EASYMinds program and key measures.Practical Movement-based learning
EASY Minds is an innovative intervention that has the potential to improve key physical and academic outcomes for primary school aged children and help guide policy and practice regarding the teaching of mathematics
The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a curriculum-based physical activity integration program known as EASY Minds on children’s daily school time PA levels
Summary
Introduction to the EASYMinds program and key measures.Practical Movement-based learning. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a curriculum-based physical activity integration program known as EASY Minds (Encouraging Activity to Stimulate Young Minds) on children’s daily school time physical activity levels. Global estimates demonstrate that less than 20% of young people are achieving the guidelines of 60 minutes per day of ‘health enhancing’ moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) [1] This is of concern as multiple physical and psychological health benefits can be [9]. Educational researchers have stated that that the single biggest barrier to PA promotion are teachers’ own beliefs, perceptions and attitude towards PA [14] Despite these challenges, schools provide an ideal setting in which changes can be implemented for facilitating PA opportunities and reducing sedentary behaviour [15]. One such strategy is PA integration across the curriculum [4,14,18]
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