ERIC Number: EJ1119988
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Dec
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1751-2271
EISSN: N/A
Infusing Physical Activities into the Classroom: Effects on Preschool Children's Geography Learning
Mavilidi, Myrto-Foteini; Okely, Anthony D.; Chandler, Paul; Paas, Fred
Mind, Brain, and Education, v10 n4 p256-263 Dec 2016
In this intervention study, we investigated the effects of physical activities that were integrated into a geography task on preschool children's learning performance and enjoyment. Eight childcare centers with 87 four-to-five-year-old children were randomly assigned across an integrated physical activity condition, an unintegrated physical activity condition, and a control condition without physical activity. Children learned the names and a typical animal from each of the six continents using a floor-mounted world map with soft toy animals. Both learning conditions with physical activities showed higher performance than the learning condition without physical activities on an immediate retention test, and on a delayed retention test administered five weeks later. In addition, children in the physical activity conditions (integrated and nonintegrated) enjoyed their learning method the most. Infusing task-relevant physical activities into the classroom and the learning task is discussed as a promising way to improve children's learning, enjoyment, and health.
Descriptors: Physical Activities, Intervention, Preschool Children, Geography Instruction, Task Analysis, Child Care Centers, Control Groups, Animals, Maps, Toys, Naming, Learning Processes, Teaching Methods, Retention (Psychology), Tests
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A