Physical Activity at School

RWJF Priority: Increase the time, intensity and duration of physical activity during the school day and out-of-school programs

Schools play a critical role in helping children lead active, healthy lives. By requiring active participation in daily physical education classes, providing activity breaks throughout the day, and supporting walking and bicycling to school, schools can increase students’ physical activity. After-school programs located in schools, parks and recreational centers also can develop innovative ways to help children be active.

The resources below, from RWJF grantees and partners, highlight recent efforts to examine and develop programs and policies that help children be active before, during and after the school day.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

Featured

Kids Get Moving with Playworks

During recess, students at schools participating in the Playworks program engaged more physical activity that was, on average, more intense.

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From the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids

Creating a Healthy Place for Kids in Trenton, NJ

"A long time coming." The New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids helped make Monument Elementary School in Trenton a healthier place for students by leading efforts to build a new playground and install a salad bar in the cafeteria.

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From Active Living Research

Study: P.E. Could Mean 23 More Minutes of Physical Activity for Kids

Requiring daily physical education in school could help young people be active for 23 minutes per day, which is more than a third of the total amount of daily physical activity experts recommend for young people.

Read the study

From Active Living Research

Do Short Physical Activity Breaks in Classrooms Work?

Providing short physical activity breaks during the school day can increase physical activity in students, help improve on-task behavior, and improve some measures of health.

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From the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Terence C. Reilly School No. 7: Healthy Schools Program Gold National Recognition Award Winner

Principal Jennifer Cedeno chalks up her students' attention spans—and their academic performance—to an innovative physical activity and nutrition program.

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From Active Living Research

Policies and Standards for Promoting Physical Activity in After-School Programs

After-school programs can contribute to children’s overall daily physical activity, but their potential impact is far from being realized. This brief examines offers recommendations for changing standards and policies to better promote physical activity in after-school programs.

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From the Safe Routes to School National Program

Safe Routes to School: Helping Communities Save Lives and Dollars

By getting more children to walk and bicycle to school, Safe Routes to School initiatives can reduce traffic congestion around schools and increase children's physical activity levels.

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Health Policy Snapshot

Do Students Who Are More Active Do Better in School?

Physical activity is linked to cognitive and behavioral benefits for students, such as improved concentration, better school attendance, and fewer classroom disruptions.

Read the brief

More Research and Resources on Physical Activity at School

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Implementation of Texas Senate Bill 19 to Increase Physical Activity in Elementary Schools

March 25, 2009 | Book

Passing a school health policy bill is not enough. Program refinements, monitoring and accountability measures, as well as supportive communitywide efforts, are necessary to achieve the legislation's goals, according to this evaluation of a bill mandating physical education time and school health education.

Physical Environmental Correlates of Childhood Obesity

March 6, 2009 | Journal Article

This article provides a systematic review of the literature on the relationship between environmental and community factors and childhood obesity. While these factors are thought to contribute to childhood obesity, the nature of the relationship is not well understood.

Active After School: Michigan's After-School Partnership Creates a Pilot Program

February 23, 2009 | Program Result

In 2004, Michigan established the Michigan After-School Partnership, a collaborative of public and private agencies aimed at promoting quality after-school programs.

West Virginia Healthy Lifestyles Act of 2005

February 10, 2009 | Evaluation

In 2005, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin III signed into law House Bill 2816--the Healthy Lifestyles Act--to help address the state's obesity epidemic. The evaluation was conducted in 2007 by a team from West Virginia University Health Sciences Center and was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Arkansas Act 1220 Evaluation: A Project of Information for Action: School Policies to Prevent Childhood Obesity

February 5, 2009 | Evaluation

The Arkansas 1220 Evaluation examines the Arkansas Act 1220 of 2003 to Combat Obesity's effect on children, families and schools.

The Boston Schoolyard Initiative: A Study of Its Schoolyard Renovations

October 3, 2008 | Program Result

Researchers in the Boston University Department of Environmental Health conducted a case study of the Boston Schoolyard Initiative, a project that provides funds and technical support to community groups dedicated to renovating schoolyards in Boston.

Mississippi Healthy Summit Leads to Increased Physical Activity Requirements in Schools

July 14, 2008 | Program Result

The state of Mississippi convened the Healthy Mississippi Summit, June 15, 2006, in Jackson, Miss., to focus attention on the primary causes of chronic diseases in Mississippi and to promote a statewide approach to promoting healthy lifestyles.

Active Education

November 8, 2007 | Issue Brief

Physical education, physical activity and academic performance.

New York Athletic Organization Creates Teachers' Kit to Get Kids Running

August 1, 2007 | Program Result

In 2006, staff of the New York Road Runners Foundation created two startup kits to enable teachers to start running programs in elementary and middle schools.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Drafts Guidelines for Schools to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

June 1, 2007 | Program Result

The CDC conducted a review of the scientific literature and produced evidence-based guidelines for school health programs to promote healthy eating and physical activity to prevent obesity among children.