Health and Physical Education Commons^™

Physical Activity Improving Executive Functioning Behaviors In Montessori Children Ages 3-12, Melissa Patten, Amanda Bodden

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Executive function refers to the intellectual processes necessary for goal-directed cognition and behavior, which develop across childhood and adolescence. This study focused on the effects of physical activity on concentration and focus, prior to academic lessons, in urban Montessori classrooms ages 3-12. This study was administered for six weeks utilizing a thematic calendar of physical activities. The tools used for data collection were: a pre-dialogue with teachers, pre and post-assessments, control tallies, on and off-task observation counts and a post-satisfaction survey. Movement interventions improved focus and concentration by an average of 27%. The data collected supported our hypothesis that purposeful …

Developing Kinesthetic Classrooms To Promote Active Learning, Brian Culp

Faculty and Research Publications

The use of kinesthetic movement in the classroom toward improving health and educational outcomes among youth has been a topic of discourse in recent years. School initiatives that have infused movement as part of the curriculum have shown to increase efficiency in learning, while decreasing stress and contributing to a positive classroom climate. One question that is worthy of exploration pertains to how future professionals in the fields of physical education and health can promote kinesthetic movement in schools and communities. This article discusses how a university kinesthetic classroom prepares future professionals to be advocates for school health using active …

Examining The Perceived Impacts Of Recreational Swimming Lessons For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Erin Kraft M.A. Ed.

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived impacts of recreational swimming lesson participation for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Although swimming lessons are a suitable form of physical activity for children with ASD, minimal research has examined the impacts of these lessons. The author conducted semi-structured interviews with an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) certified therapist and a swim instructor, each with experience working with children with ASD in swimming lessons. The participants suggested that swimming lessons encouraged children with ASD to socialise. Both participants agreed that distractions in swimming lessons and barriers in communication created challenges …

Group-Based Physical Activity Trajectories In Children Transitioning From Elementary To High School, Russell R. Pate

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background: Physical activity has been observed repeatedly to decline as children transition into adolescence; however, few studies have explored the possibility that sub-groups of children experience unique patterns of change during this transition. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the physical activity trajectories in clusters of youth transitioning from 5th to 11th grade.

Methods: Participants (n = 652) were recruited as 5th graders (ages 10–12 years) from elementary schools (n = 21) in two school districts. Demographic, anthropometric, and physical activity data were collected once per year when children were in 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, …

Effects Of A Physical Activity Educational Program On Parents Self-Efficacy For Facilitating Independent Physical Activity For Their Children With Disabilities, Dahnika Y. Romero

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Children and youth with disabilities have a higher risk of obesity than typically developing peers in part due to low physical activity levels. Increasing physical activity can increase children's’ health related quality of life, psychological well-being, and contribute to the prevention or delay of chronic diseases. One way to increase physical activity is by getting parents involved as facilitators of activity but they do not always have the skills to do so. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 5-session physical activity educational program on parental self-efficacy for facilitating independent physical activity for their …

The Effects Of Video Modeling On Complimentary Behaviors Towards Children With Disabilities In Typically Developing Children: A Case Study, Rhodes D. Wroth

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Video modeling has been an effective instructional tool to teach children with disabilities, however, there is less research on the effectiveness of video modeling to teach typically developing children. The participants of this study were two typically developing children, and they were siblings of child with a disability. This study used an ABAB experimental design to graph, and visually determine differences between control and intervention sessions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of video modeling to teach typically developing children verbal complimentary behaviors in an inclusive physical activity setting. The results of this study found video …