Lesson

Fun Ways to Get Kids to Move Each Day

Kids will learn how to incorporate fun movement ideas into their daily lives.

Objectives

  • Describe how move links to recharge, mood, and food.
  • Describe the benefits of physical activity (e.g., energy, focus, motivation).
  • Plan ways to add physical activity to daily routines.

Info to Know

Move is physical activity. To move is to participate in a sport, play, exercise, or do a leisure activity such as walking. Health experts recommend that youth get at least one hour of physical activity each day, but you do not have to do it all at once! 

One way to get essential movement in during the school day is to include brain breaks and brain boosts throughout the day. Check out 50 Educational Brain Breaks for quick and easy activities to help kids re-energize, focus, and boost brainpower!

Set The Stage

As a group, ask kids to brainstorm a list of their favorite ways to move their bodies.

To use this with your students click here.

Captivate

Exercises for Kids

Watch the Get Moving in the Classroom video and do the move dance to show fun ways to move each day.

Educate

Fun Ways to Exercise

Highlight the many times, many ways, and many places students can add movement to their day. Make it fun! Kids can:

  • Dance!
  • Play games and create new versions.
  • Like to jog? Try going backward!
  • Imitate your favorite animal.
  • Try a new hobby like fishing or gardening.

Check for understanding: What are some of your favorite ways to move?

Activate

Movement Tips for Kids

Students make their final entry on the Add Move to Your Day printable. They write or draw a movement choice they can make at bedtime. Encourage students to show parts of their bedtime routines such as brushing teeth, putting away toys, putting on pajamas, etc.

Let kids know that it's best to do active moves like playing soccer or dancing at least an hour before bedtime because these moves energize your body and can make it hard to fall asleep. However, it's a great idea to move and do some stretching or yoga as part of their bedtime routine!

Close the Lesson

Wrap up the unit with a virtual field day!  Watch fit Field Day: An Inclusive Workout for Kids for a fun and interactive way to get kids moving at home or school!  Talk to kids about ways they can encourage others to incorporate more physical activity into their daily lives.

Grade: K-2

Time: 20 Minutes

Health Education Standards

  • Standard 1: Core Concepts–Regularly engage in physical activities to enhance body and brain
  • Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication 
  • Standard 5: Decision-Making

Social and Emotional Learning Competencies

  • Self-Awareness
  • Self-Management
  • Responsible Decision-Making

Extend the Lesson

  • Play the fitGame, Daily Moves, to help kids think about ways to be active throughout the day.
  • Play the fitGame Memory Power, to build awareness of how movement connects to learning.
  • Watch the video, Be Active Every Day, to learn how movement benefits your body and brain.

View the fit Units and Lessons Scope and Sequence Chart.

Related Content

Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

When and Where Kids Can Make Healthy Choices

Grades K-2

Teach kids to think about making healthy choices and the importance of doing so.

Start Lesson
Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

Ways Healthy Choices Impact Kids' Moods

Grades K-2

Encourage kids to stop and think about their moods and energy levels. This leads to healthier decision-making.

Start Lesson
Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

What is a Choice-Check?

Grades K-2

Taking time to think about choices is important, we call this a choice-check.

Start Lesson
Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

How Can a Choice-Check Help Kids' Moods?

Grades K-2

Teach kids to think about how their energy and mood affect their food and move choices.

Start Lesson
Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

Times for Kids to Do a Choice-Check

Grades K-2

Making healthy choices happens throughout our day. Teach kids to recognize these moments.

Start Lesson
Food, Mood, Move, Recharge

Here's How Healthy Choices Lead to More Healthy Choices

Grades 3-5

Show kids how making healthy choices can cause a chain reaction of feeling good and making more healthy choices.

Start Lesson