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Cooperative Activities To Reduce Aggression In Young Children, Kristin R. Beardsly Schoenherr

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

I investigated the effect of introducing cooperative games during recess to reduce aggressive behaviors in preschool-age children. The action research was done at an intentionally culturally and socio-economically diverse Montessori school in St. Paul, Minnesota. The 23 children involved were all children from the three to six age group who take daily naps. I recorded every aggressive incident I saw before, during, and after the intervention. I also recorded what cooperative activities I introduced for the intervention. Once before and after the intervention I asked the children if they enjoyed recess. I recorded observational notes such as weather conditions, and …

The Relationship Between Elementary School Children's Enjoyment Of School Playground Activities And Participation In Physical Activity During Lunchtime Recess, Brendon P. Hyndman, Leanne Lester

Dr Brendon P Hyndman

An emerging public health strategy is to enhance children's opportunities for physical activity (PA) during school recess periods, yet little is known about the influence of children's enjoyment of school playground activities on their participation in lunchtime recess PA. In this study, the Lunchtime Enjoyment Activity and Play (LEAP) questionnaire was used to measure 8- to 12-year-old children's enjoyment of school playground activities and pedometers were used to measure their PA at two Australian elementary schools (n = 105). Researchers applied multiple linear regression models in STATA (version 13.0) to investigate the relationship between children's enjoyment of playground activities and …

Engaging Children In Activities Beyond The Classroom Walls: A Social–Ecological Exploration Of Australian Primary School Children's Enjoyment Of School Play Activities, Brendon P. Hyndman, Barbara Chancellor

Dr Brendon P Hyndman

As children spend a significant amount of time in schools, it is vital that playwork practitioners develop an improved awareness relating to the influences on children's enjoyment of school play activities. The purpose of the present study was to assess children's enjoyment of school play activities beyond the classroom walls, including the type of play activities children enjoy and age- and gender-specific enjoyment levels. Within the study, the Lunchtime Enjoyment of Activity and Play (LEAP) questionnaire was administered to 281 children aged 8–12-years-old attending three primary schools in regional Victoria, Australia. The LEAP questionnaire was used to measure Australian primary …

A Qualitative Investigation Of Australian Youth Perceptions To Enhance School Physical Activity: The Environmental Perceptions Investigation Of Children’S Physical Activity (Epic-Pa) Study, Brendon P. Hyndman

Dr Brendon P Hyndman

Background: There is more demand than ever for schools to equip children with the necessary skills to be physically active. The purpose of the Environmental Perceptions Investigation of Children’s Physical Activity (EPIC-PA) study was to investigate elementary and secondary school children’s perceptions to enhance the school physical activity environment. Methods: Four Australian government schools (2 elementary and 2 secondary) were recruited for the EPIC-PA study. During the study, 78 children were recruited aged 10 to 13 years. The focus group discussions consisted of 54 children (32 elementary and 22 secondary) and the map drawing sessions included 24 children (17 elementary …

The Effect Of Behavioral Skills Training On Teachers Conducting The Recess-To-Classroom Transition, Sarah C. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Although it may not seem harmful, students in the elementary grades often take several minutes to move from recess back to their classrooms. The problem, however, is that these lengthy transitions add up over time, and teachers lose valuable time to instruct. The less instruction students receive, the poorer their academic performance tends to be. But how much time can teachers save by reducing their students’ transitions?

According to the current study, the answer is a lot. Dr. Thomas S. Higbee and Sarah C. Smith of Utah State University recently conducted a study in which they trained second, third, and …

Phenomenological Study Of The Significance Of Recess And Brain Breaks During The Instructional Day From The Perspective Of Elementary Teachers, Laura Knight

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to collect the perceptions of elementary teachers on the influence of recess and brain breaks on students within the instructional day capturing the essence of their voice through analysis. Participants included 10 teachers at Smith School District (pseudonym used) in the southeastern United States of America. One of the theories guiding this study was Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow, 1954) as it was in question whether elementary teachers perceive that students must have their need for physical movement met in order for optimal learning to occur. Another theory guiding this study was …