Exercise Builds Better Brains…and Bodies

1. Exercise Builds Better Brains…and Bodies Sharon Boggs

2. Sharon Boggs • Movement Education & Curriculum Specialist • Founder of Rhythm and Moves, Inc. 1984 est. • National Board Certification 2008 • Beginning Teacher Support provider, CA • Author of “SuperMoves” Pre-School Movement Education Curriculum (3-5 years) sharonlboggs@comcast.net SharonLBoggs.Blogspot.com RhythmandMoves.com

3. Brain Break – Ear & Nose Switch

4. How have things changed since I started teaching? • By 2020 US will be the fattest nation among the 33 nations that form the OECD. 75% of the population will be obese. • 1 in 3 US children born in 2000 will develop type 2 Diabetes in their lifetime. • 12-13% of US children, 6,000,000 are currently diagnosed with ADD, up from 150,000 in the 1970s. • In 1960s the incident of Autism was 1-10,000 today; 1-91

5. We Just Don’t Move Like We Used To 100 years ago, we moved as much as 10 miles per day. Today, the average person moves about 2-3 miles per day.

6. Move it or Lose it • As early man, we were in almost constant motion. • Cognitive Scores increase with consistent aerobic exercise. Executive Function and Memory scores, spatial tasks, reaction times and Quantitative Skills all improve with exercise. • Exercise creates new brain cells that are more resistant to damage and stress.

7. We have a brain to move • Smallest life form with a brain, common name “sea squirt”, finds a rock to feed and first, eats it’s own brain! • Only life that “Moves” on it’s own, has a brain. • Amazingly, the part of the brain that processes movement is the same part of the brain that processes learning.

8. Amazingly, the part of the brain that processes movement is the same part of the brain that processes learning.

9. Brain Break – Right and Left Balance

10. BDNF • Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor is created when we do aerobic exercise. A substance that strengthens cells and axons, fortifies the connections among neurons and sparks neurogenesis. • Large Muscle Movements seem to create more BDNF.

11. Studies Linking Motor Movement to Learning • Movement facilitates cognition. Movement is a central mission of the brain. (Sylwester) • Bodily Kinesthetic is one of eight Multiple Intelligences. (Gardner) • Most students, up to 85%, are natural kinesthetic learners. (Hannaford) • Children in poverty seem to rely primarily on their kinesthetic abilities for learning. (Payne) • Repetitive gross motor movement balances brain chemicals that calm behavior and elevates self-esteem and self worth, accommodates ADD/ADHD. (Jensen) • Motor skills are fundamental to learning. Memory is retrieved better when learned through movement. (Jensen)

12. Additional Benefits of Physical Activity • Reduces the risk for obesity and related diseases; Diabetes, Heart Disease, Hypertension, etc. • Associated with improved academic achievement • Helps children and adults feel better about themselves. • Reduces the risk and alleviates the symptoms of depression and stress. • Improves overall quality of life. • Helps prevent the onset of Dementia

13. Organizations Recommending 60 Minutes or More per Day of Physical Activity • WHO – World Health Organization • US Gov. – Let’s Move • CDC – Center for Disease Control • AAHPERD – American Ass. For Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. • NASPE – National Ass. For Sport and Physical Education • ACSM – American College of Sports Medicine. • DHHS – Department for Health and Human Services.

15. NASPE GUIDELINE 1

16. NASPE GUIDELINE 2

17. NASPE GUIDELINE 3

18. NASPE GUIDELINE 4

19. NASPE GUIDELINE 5

20. This is your Students’ BRAIN on MOVEMENT Cerebellum Center controls movement and thinking. Regular bouts of exercise helps children focus. Memory is retrieved better when learned through movement. BDNF is created when you exercise; Miracle Grow for the brain.

21. So, What Can We Do? Move!

22. Upper – Lower Case Letter Match • On-Line: Seated with a felt board and letters, matching lower case to upper case letters. • Your Class: Traveling to a lower case letter pile choosing one, finding another way to travel to the upper case letter on a cone that matches!

23. Sort the Compost Bin • On Line – Seated using a worksheet and color paper. • Your Class – Picking up “litter” bean bags and taking them to the appropriate “receptacle” bucket. Garbage, Green Waste, Recycle

24. What will you do with this information? ?