Physical Activity Health Benefits Teacher Resources

There's a big test in school next week—time to hit the gym! The final video in a playlist on study skills focuses on the relationship between bodily movement and brain development, and how regular exercise can improve school performance.

Create an inclusive physical education program with help from eight exercises designed to met of the needs of children with autism. Activities include ball work, hurdles, bear crawls, resistance bands, star jumps, and the Scramble. 

This skill-building activity encourages learners to evaluate evidence and to use strong evidence to support a stance on a controversial issue. Individuals use bar graphs to rate the strength of arguments for the benefits and risks in...

Ways are identified in which exercise benefits the nervous, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems of the human body in this presentation. It also includes definitions for and examples of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, as well as...

Leave it to the classic jump rope to get your class excited about physical activity! Your class will begin by discussing the benefits of jumping rope as a form of exercise and learning a few different types of jumps. Then in groups of...

Dr. Tina Marcantel speaks about health and the need for exercise as she hikes around Sedona, Arizona. Several benefits are highlighted in a succinct and clear way. Show your health students this video to encourage them to exercise...

What happens in the muscles during anaerobic and aerobic exercise, and how does this affect the heart and our overall health? A cross-curricular instructional activity that introduces learners to the lifelong benefits of exercise,...

Take a look at this four-page handout on exercise and the heart. Heart disease is the number one killer in the US, and most of that could be prevented. Learn about the benefits of physical activity and a longer healthier life. Check out...

Second graders discuss benefits of keeping physically fit, predict effects of exercise on their bodies, perform various exercises correctly, including push-up, curl-up, and jumping jack, discuss and follow safety practices while...

Discuss the importance of exercise with your middle schoolers using this PowerPoint. Actively engage them by surveying how they spend their free time and explain many benefits of physical activity. Learners consider what they did over...

Thirty minutes of physical activity a day maintains health and keeps chronic disease away! Your class will learn and discuss the number of minutes of physical activity needed every day to maintain good health, as well as the short- and...

Don't miss the opportunity to show what may be the most beneficial video your classes will ever see for their lifelong health and well-being. Using engaging animations and fascinating statistics, Dr. Mike Evans explains why exercise is...

Exercising is undeniably beneficial for our brains and bodies. But how do these benefits compare to the participation and joining of a sports team? Watch an educational video to discover the psychological and health benefits of joining a...

What does it really mean to know a language? Did you know that knowing two or more languages means that your brain might actually look and work differently than those of your monolingual friends? Discover the three different types of...

Pets for rent? Arguments for and against animal rentals are the focus of this resource, the third in a series of 24 that offer activities that enable class members to develop their discussion skills. A background article provides...

Fourth graders discuss cycling and create a list of good effects from cycling.  In this cycling lesson plan, 4th graders design a leaflet or poster to encourage cycling. Students debate the benefits of cycling. 

In this online/interactive worksheet about walking for exercise, students read about the benefits of walking their pets and answer multiple choice comprehensive questions. Students answer four multiple choice questions.

Eighth graders discuss the benefits of exercise before writing a persuasive essay describing a variety of physical activities. They research information about fitness and exercise using a variety of web sites and print resources.

How does the body immediately react to exercise? Review why the heart beats stronger, breathing quickens, body temperature increases, and muscles ache as a result of exercise, as well as some of the more long-term benefits of consistent...

Workout buddies aren't just for adults! Learners discuss the benefits of 60 minutes of physical activity each day and generate ideas for how they can accomplish this by working toward a goal with friends.

The importance of good posture, especially in the electronic age, is the focus of a short, cleverly animated video that reminds viewers to "stand up straight."

Fifth graders comprehend the benefits of daily physical activity and are taught the factors that affect physical performance. They relate ways that aerobic exercise strengthens and improves the efficiency of the heart and lungs. ...

Get your class into great shape by introducing them to the benefits of eating healthy snacks and engaing in regular exercise. This set of activities comes with all the worksheets and handouts needed to complete several weeks of nutrition...