Rethinking Learning: The Power of Movement in Education
Traditional classroom settings don’t work for every child. Some students struggle to engage with abstract concepts while sitting in a classroom, leading to frustration and lack of confidence. But what if it could be more dynamic? Maths on the Move is just one way education is adapting to integrate physical activity into the learning process – helping children grasp concepts in a way that is familiar and engaging.
Here are three key benefits of Physically Active Learning:
- Increased Confidence
For many children, heavy subjects like maths can feel overwhelming. Incorporating movement into learning allows students to engage with concepts in a more accessible way. For example, during a classroom activity where students calculate distances for a relay race or work together to solve maths puzzles, it would be laid out in a way that children are moving from one station to another, children see maths in action. These movement-based tasks help make the subject itself feel less intimidating, more relevant and overall build a stronger sense of confidence in their abilities.
- Improved Academic Performance
It’s not just about making lessons more engaging – active learning has been shown to boost academic achievement. In these lessons, children might begin by answering a set of maths questions as a warm-up. They will then engage in physical activities where they apply what they’ve learnt, such as using movement to demonstrate angles and shapes. The session ends with a reflection where students answer a final set of questions to see how much they’ve improved. The structure strengthens their understanding by connecting physical actions to ideas.
- Boosted Physical Activity and Wellbeing
With a growing concern about children getting enough physical activity, it’s crucial to integrate more active time into their day. Many children struggle to meet the UK Chief Medical Officers recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day. By incorporating movement into lessons, students can work towards these guidelines without even realising. It goes without saying that moving can enhance focus, cognitive function and learning efficiency which overall benefits all aspects of a child’s education.
Through the Maths on the Move programme, we incorporate movement with maths to meet the specific needs of the pupils. The structure reinforces that children aren’t just getting active – they’re actively reinforcing their maths skills. Below shows the impact stats from the programme:
How can your school get started with Physically Active Learning?
Investing in the Maths on the Move programme is a powerful way to enhance pupil engagement, boost academic performance and promote physical wellbeing. With proven results and a tailored approach that fits seamlessly into your curriculum, it empowers students to learn in a fun, active and impactful way.
Take the next step in creating a dynamic learning environment by finding out more here.