We all know exercise is good for us, but trying to fit it into our already busy homeschool schedules can be challenging. However, there are many health and wellbeing benefits associated with daily physical activity that make exercise an important, and worthwhile, addition to your family's daily routine.
Exercise increases our levels of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine which all support emotional well-being, motivation, and our response to stress. As if happiness isn't enough to warrant more exercise in your day, physical exercise also works out your brain! According to neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki, physical activity has a positive effect on the brain which is immediate, long-lasting, and protective. A single workout can improve a student’s ability to focus on a task for up to two hours!
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggest that it is important to provide young people opportunities and encouragement to participate in physical activities that are appropriate for their age,
that are enjoyable, and that offer variety. Children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.
With that in mind, we have found a few FREE resources for you to easily use in your home, backyard, local park, and even a bowling alley.
This seven-lesson, free, online Operation FitKids™ curriculum is available at no cost for both the 3rd-5th-grade classroom level, as well as the 6th-8th-grade level.
A $99.95 value, this curriculum is designed for fitness professionals, educators, and parents looking to integrate health and fitness into classroom learning.
Each curriculum includes colorful illustrations, activity worksheets, vocabulary words, and fun, age-appropriate examples to keep kids interested and engaged as you move through each lesson. All lessons are broken into two components—Fitness and Nutrition—to help kids understand that being active and eating well are equally important to maintaining good health and staying fit. And, although the lessons and their activities are presented in an independent fashion, lesson concepts can easily be integrated into existing curricula or training regimens.
TPT is the go-to place for educators to find the resources, knowledge, and inspiration they need to teach at their best. Each resource is created by a
Teacher-Author and is tailored to a unique need or niche.
They have 40 different unit plans for physical fitness activities that you can enjoy with your Tk-12th grade. All for FREE!
Do you have some FREE Physical Education curriculum resources to share with us? We always appreciate hearing from our audience! Please email us at Info@HomeschoolConcierge.Com.