Keeping kids active throughout the day can help them learn better, focus more and stay on task. Even small bursts of activity can be beneficial for you and your students. 

We know that other than physical education classes and recess it can be a struggle to add activity into your students' days. That's why we've curated a list of awesome resources to help you find some great ideas that are organized by grade level and related to your curriculum.

Here is one example of 10 minute energizer from Apple Schools:

Millimetre, Centimetre, and Metre, Oh My! (Gr. 2-6) 

1. Have students line up around the perimeter of the room or stand at their desks. 
2. Have students start with feet side by side and move one set of toes ahead of the other set of toes to represent millimetre or “small”. 
3. Have students place one foot in front of the other to represent centimetres or “medium”. 
4. Have students take one large step forward to represent metre or “large”. 
5. Call out different measurements: Example – Move forward 2 centimetres, then 5 millimetres, then 1 metre. 
6. Have all students move in the same direction. Variations: 1. Add directions (right, left, forward, back). 

Example: Move back 3 metres and right 2 centimetres.

Find more resources here:

Apple Schools Energizers

Purposeful Movement - Doug Gleddie / University of Alberta

Active For Life: Lesson Plans and Resources

Sometimes it can be tricky to come up with new and fun ideas to get your kids more active. Here are some resources to help you encourage your family to be active.

Need more ideas?
Try Active for Life Activities

Short on time?
Use the Active for Life, Kid Active App.Set the amount of time you have and it will give you a bunch of activities to try out.

Worried about outdoor play?
Read the ParticipACTION 2015 Report Card. Sending you kids outside to play is important. The biggest risk is keeping them indoors! 

Kids need to be active throughout the day; their brain health depends on it. A healthy brain leads to improved: thinking and learning, emotional regulation and self-control, problem-solving ability, memory, ability to cope with anxiety and depressive symptoms, self-esteem and self-worth, attention and focus.

Boosting kids’ physical activity levels could be the missing part of the equation in supporting their mental health.

It’s all about the brain + body equation.

View the 2018 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth: The Brain + Body Equation.