What is ‘Get moving, Get learning’?
‘Get Moving, Get Learning’ is a teaching resource, written by primary teachers, for Key Stage 1 teachers. Its overall aim is to enable children to be more active. The resource supports teachers to increase children’s participation in physical activity by sharing ideas on how curriculum areas other than physical education can be delivered through physical activities. It reflects the principles of the National Curriculum for Key Stage 1, the primary national strategy ‘Excellence and enjoyment’ and ‘High quality PE and sport for young people’.
DVD Clips:
The impact of Get Moving, Get Learning
The resource comprises:
written guidance, which provides ideas for learning through physical activities in the following curriculum
areas:
- art and design
- religious studies
- citizenship
- literacy
- geography
- numeracy
- history
- science
- a DVD demonstrating some of the activities being used by a classroom teacher to support Key stage 1 pupils’ learning. Please click here to see DVD clips
Each activity reflects the relevant subject objectives. It also shows links to objectives within the physical education curriculum so that teachers can build on these basic activities in their physical education lessons. The activities are not substitutes for a broad and balanced PE curriculum but recognise the importance of ‘learning by doing’ for younger children.
‘Get Moving, Get Learning’ is not an exhaustive resource. It aims to stimulate teachers’ creativity and ability to provide cross-curricular learning experiences with movement as the central theme. The activities can be used to introduce and reinforce concepts or give a context for learning.
Further ideas on embedding physical activity within the whole school day can be found at:
www.qca.org.uk/pess
Background to the ‘Get moving, Get learning’ Resource
Benefits for learning
All young children are, by their nature, concrete learners. “Concrete learners like a hands-on approach. They don't want just to read about an experiment; they want to do it.” Taming the Dragons: Real School Problems - Susan Setley, 1995.
According to the noted educator Sandra Rief (1), students retain:
- 10% of what they read
- 20% of what they hear
- 30% of what they see
- 50% of what they see and hear
- 70% of what they say
- 90% of what they say and do.
(1) Rief, Sandra F. How to Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children: Practical Techniques, Strategies, and Interventions for Helping Children with Attention Problems and Hyperactivity. The Center for Applied Research in Education, 1993.
Get moving, Get learning
Engaging children in activities where they move to learn makes the learning more accessible and memorable whilst fostering creative and dynamic energy in the classroom. In addition to learning specific curricular content from these kinaesthetic activities, children exposed to creative movement as a language for learning are becoming more aware of their own natural resources.
Benefits for health
Up to a third of children aged 7 years and under are not active enough on a daily basis to meet the
recommended levels of physical activity (DH 2003). Whilst most of the recommended physical activity should take place through physical education lessons, out of school hours sessions, community-based clubs and informal play and recreation, encouraging children to be active throughout the school day reinforces the health message. It encourages them to incorporate activity into their daily life. Get moving, Get Learning’ supports children to achieve excellence, enjoyment, well-being and health.
Acknowledgements:
Lesley Doughty (Physical Education & Sport Training Consultant) for writing the ‘Get Moving, Get
Learning’ resource.
Stockton School Sport Partnership for An Island Home activity.
Norah Loftus from Durham County Council for Toys, The Seaside, Light and Dark and Chinese New Year activities.
Paula Thompson, St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Newcastle upon Tyne for her support in the writing of the ‘Get Moving, Get Learning’ resource.
The staff and children of St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Newcastle Upon Tyne, for their involvement in the production of the ‘Get moving, get learning’ DVD.
Gill Marsden, SSCO from the Cramlington & Seaton Valley School Sport Partnership for trialling the activities.