Exercise and thinking

“Every teacher is looking for ways to make their students better readers, thinkers, and problem solvers.”  This was the first line on a previous entry in our Curriculum and Instruction blog, and I agree with this even as a PE teacher.  One of the best strategies teachers can use to help make better thinkers is by promoting exercise.  There are many, many studies that prove that people who are exercising are better thinkers.  We teach this information to our PE students through our “Fitness Knowledge” lessons.  For example, here is a slide where we teach students what documented evidence there is for the effect of exercise on the brain:

Students learn that there is documented proof that exercise helps with greater attention, faster cognitive processing, and better performance on standardized test. 

Physical activity improves brain activity and capacity on three different levels:

1.        It improves alertness, attention, and motivation.

2.       It encourages nerve cells to bind together which is, essentially, how we are able to log new information.

3.       It encourages the development of new cells.

So, if you want your students to become better readers, thinkers, and problem solvers, you should promote and model exercise in your classes, as well.