Did you know that increasing a student’s physical activity can actually improve their academic performance?
Decades of research show the powerful cognitive benefits of physical activity. Success in school depends on strong executive function, or mental skills that enable us to set goals, make plans, and complete tasks. Studies show that executive function has a positive relationship with physical activity and fitness.
Movement-based learning is an evidence-based approach that integrates physical activity directly into academic instruction. Instead of treating movement as a distraction or a break, it becomes a part of the learning process. Learning with movement engages both the body and the mind.
Beyond academics, the benefits of exercise for students include improved mood and overall well-being, helping them feel more capable and confident in the classroom. Physical activity also reduces the risk of numerous long-term diseases.
In this article, we’re diving into the science behind movement-based learning and how it helps students. At Math & Movement, we believe physical activity is a fundamental component of effective pedagogy. Our mission is to help schools and educators tap into the science of how children learn best—through active bodies.
But first, why is the science behind movement-based learning important? In short, the modern classroom faces health and learning challenges that schools can no longer ignore.
Between 2017 and 2020, nearly 20% of US youth, or about 14.7 million children, were classified as obese.
At the same time, today’s students are spending more time sitting than ever before. On average, elementary school children spend 8.5 hours sitting each day. Furthermore, research shows that by age eight, their activity levels begin to decline sharply and continue to do so throughout adolescence.
Only 20-28% of children ages 6 to 17 meet the US Physical Activity Guidelines that recommend 60 minutes of daily exercise. This is alarming, considering the fact that excessive sedentary behavior contributes to long-term health issues, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, and depression.
This lack of movement not only jeopardizes physical health but also undermines learning. Physical inactivity diminishes cognitive skills essential for learning, such as executive function, memory, and attention.
Traditionally, movement in schools has been viewed as something separate from “real” learning. For instance, typical breaks from learning include recess, gym class, or a short activity to “burn off energy”.
The sedentary classroom can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution, when schools prepared students to be disciplined, factory-ready workers. Prolonged sitting in rows of desks was once intended to cultivate a docile workforce.
Today, scientists are aware of the cognitive benefits of physical activity and the academic benefits of exercise for students. Yet, as the statistics show, learning with movement is still unheard of in a lot of schools.
Research reframes movement as an integral part of teaching. By embedding motion directly into lessons, teachers leverage the cognitive benefits of physical activity, helping students focus, remember, and problem-solve.
A 2006 study found that 70% of high school dropouts blamed a lack of motivation for leaving school. Many students cited boredom and a sense that school lacked relevance. These feelings can start as early as elementary school if student engagement isn’t prioritized.
One of the benefits of exercise for students is the release of endorphins. These neurochemicals make students feel good, and a positive mood leads to higher motivation and participation in class. Movement-based learning can increase student engagement and foster a healthy relationship with school from an early age.
Many educators believe that movement-based activities will lead to disruptions or an out-of-control class. On the contrary, one study found that physical activity breaks in the classroom actually reduce off-task behavior.
Adding physical activity to the school day doesn’t mean sacrificing instructional time. In fact, little research supports the idea that more time spent on instruction correlates with higher test scores. Instead, evidence shows that more physical activity during the school day increases academic performance.
Put simply, learning with movement maximizes both student attention and classroom productivity.
Want to head deeper into the research and results behind Math & Movement? Explore our Program Data page to see how schools across the US are transforming student achievement with our kinesthetic learning strategies.
Understanding why movement-based learning works involves understanding the connection between the brain and the body. Learning is the product of a deeply interconnected system.
The human brain is made up of billions of neurons that send rapid-fire signals to form the basis of thought, memory, and learning. Neurons do not operate in isolation. They communicate with one another through synapses or fiber pathways.
To function, these cells rely on the brain’s vast connectivity, an intricate web linking different regions responsible for attention, memory, movement, and emotion.
When students engage in movement-based learning, they are fueling the very brain processes that allow them to think critically, solve problems, and retain knowledge.
Even short bursts of movement allow students to reap the cognitive benefits of physical activity.
Movement increases blood flow, bringing oxygen and glucose to regions of the brain critical for learning and memory, including the hippocampus. These resources act as fuel for neurons, while also enhancing alertness and preparing students for complex cognitive tasks.
Intermittent movement throughout the day significantly improves cognitive performance by optimizing oxygenation and glucose metabolism. In this way, learning with movement helps students stay focused, energized, and ready to comprehend new information.
Movement does more than just energize the brain – it reshapes its very structure.
Neurogenesis, the process of growing new neurons, is strongly tied to physical activity. The hippocampus, which governs memory and learning, and the basal ganglia, which regulate attention and executive control, both experience remarkable benefits in physically active children.
Research has found that higher aerobic fitness in children is linked to greater hippocampal volume, stronger attentional control, and improved executive function. Similarly, physical activity strengthens the basal ganglia, positively impacting learning ability and cognitive control.
Active children also have increased cortical mass, which is indicative of a more robust and resilient brain structure overall.
These changes demonstrate that the cognitive benefits of physical activity are more than temporary. They help the brain grow in ways that support future learning.
Yet another benefit of exercise for students is the release of key neurotransmitters that regulate mood, focus, and cognition. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin all surge with physical activity. They enhance motivation and improve attention.
Perhaps most importantly, movement enhances neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections in response to experiences. Neuroplasticity is the foundation of learning itself.
By integrating movement-based learning into instruction, educators can maximize students’ natural capacity for learning.
Education is about developing the brain’s ability to think, adapt, and solve problems. The question is not just what students learn but how well they process, retain, and apply it.
We mentioned that executive functions are the mental skills that enable us to set goals, make plans, and complete tasks. They allow us to organize information and regulate our behavior. Because executive functions play a critical role in planning, reasoning, and problem-solving, they are essential for success in school and life overall.
We know that physical activity and fitness strengthen executive functioning. Going a step further, scientists found a connection between students’ aerobic fitness and their academic performance in math and literacy.
Focus is necessary for learning. Studies show that even brief physical activity significantly improves selective attention, the ability to focus on what matters while ignoring distractions.
This is where brain breaks come in: short, intentional bursts of activity that reset energy and refresh focus. Neuroscientists confirm that these breaks boost concentration, leading to a more positive and productive classroom environment.
Try incorporating our active math movements throughout the school day. These quick exercises are a great way to get started with movement-based learning and the benefits of exercise for students.
Movement isn't just for recess
Want to get started with movement-based learning right now? Enter your email to get our training manual with over 250 active math movements. No materials necessary!
See how simple adding movement can be!
Movement not only helps students pay attention, but it also helps them remember what they learn. Evidence suggests that physical exercise enhances recall and improves memory abilities up to one year later.
Notably, research highlights that movement-based interventions that are highly integrated and directly relevant to the lesson content have the greatest positive effects on memory. In other words, when students learn with movement, memory retention increases significantly.
Movement also amplifies higher-order thinking.
Engaging in dynamic physical activities requires children to plan, adapt, and evaluate their actions. Therefore, physical activity supports the cognitive processes involved in problem-solving and critical thinking. This strengthens reasoning and decision-making skills in all aspects of life.
The science is undeniable: learning with movement is a highly effective yet underutilized approach to teaching.
At the heart of movement-based learning lies the theory of embodied cognition—the idea that the mind is not just housed in the brain, and that thought is shaped by the body’s interactions with its environment. Every gesture, step, and physical touch contributes to how we process and retain knowledge.
This perspective is not new. Educational pioneers like John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky all emphasized that learning is active and experiential:
Together, their work laid the foundation for today’s emphasis on learning with movement.
Modern neuroscience strengthens these ideas. Concepts such as neural reuse, embodied simulation, and grounded cognition demonstrate that cognitive processes, including language comprehension and decision-making, are directly influenced by sensorimotor experiences. The brain does more than store abstract knowledge. It anchors information to lived, physical experience.
This is why kinesthetic learning, a form of embodied cognition where students learn through movement, has such a powerful effect on academic outcomes. Research consistently shows that students who engage their bodies in the learning process perform better, remember more, and feel more confident.
By embracing embodied cognition, schools can tap into the cognitive benefits of physical activity.
Schools face various challenges to implementing movement-based learning, including limited time in the day, pressure to meet testing benchmarks, and tight budgets. But these barriers aren’t insurmountable.
Learning with movement is a catalyst for deeper engagement, stronger retention, and improved academic outcomes. When schools invest in movement-based learning, they are making both an instructional choice and a public health investment.
By integrating movement into lessons, educators enable students to receive the cognitive benefits of physical activity while also addressing long-term wellness. The result is improved academic achievement and healthier, more confident students who carry the benefits of exercise into adulthood.
Decision-makers who champion movement in education help create schools where students are attentive, motivated, and equipped with the executive function skills they need to thrive in a fast-changing world. This is worth overcoming any challenges.
At Math & Movement, our mission is to make movement-based learning accessible to every student. Our program supplements your school’s existing curriculum with kinesthetic materials and activities that leverage the cognitive benefits of physical activity. We give educators the tools, training, and confidence to implement movement-based learning without sacrificing academic rigor.
With our Whole School and Classroom Learning Kits, schools can seamlessly integrate evidence-based strategies that turn learning into a hands-on, full-body, lasting experience. Explore Math & Movement’s kits today and lead your school toward a smarter, healthier future.
Learning through movement is also called kinesthetic learning. It’s an evidence-based teaching approach that integrates physical activity directly into academic lessons. Kinesthetic learning engages both the body and the mind to improve focus, comprehension, and retention.
The benefits of movement-based learning include stronger focus, better memory retention, and higher student engagement. When students move, they activate brain regions responsible for attention, problem-solving, and executive function. This approach reduces off-task behavior, boosts motivation, and creates a more positive, active classroom environment that supports both academic success and overall well-being.
The cognitive benefits of physical activity are well-documented. Exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, fuels neurons with glucose, and stimulates the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. It also promotes neurogenesis (the growth of new brain cells) and neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to form new connections), which strengthen memory, attention, and executive function, all of which are essential for effective learning.
The benefits of exercise for students go beyond physical health. Regular movement improves mood, reduces stress, and enhances cognitive performance. Active students tend to show better academic achievement, improved self-confidence, and greater classroom participation. Exercise also helps prevent long-term health issues, making it both an educational and public health investment for schools.
Chaddock, L., Erickson, K. I., Prakash, R. S., VanPatter, M., Voss, M. W., Pontifex, M. B., Raine, L. B., Hillman, C. H., & Kramer, A. F. (2010). Basal ganglia volume is associated with aerobic fitness in preadolescent children. Developmental neuroscience, 32(3), 249–256. https://doi.org/10.1159/000316648
Suzy Koontz, CEO and Founder of Math & Movement, has spent over 25 years helping students achieve academic success. She has created over 200 kinesthetic teaching tools adopted by schools nationwide and has authored over 20 books. As a sought-after national presenter, Suzy shares how movement can transform the way students learn.
Movement isn't just for recess
Want to get started with movement-based learning right now? Enter your email to get our training manual with over 250 active math movements. No materials necessary!
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