1. How Kinesthetic Learning Improves Student Understanding
Presented by Craig Higgins

2. Warm Up
Quick and easy way to get the blood flowing and the brain working!
Name of Activity: Space Jam
Grade Level: K-3
Formation: Standing at desks
Equipment: none

3. SPARK Case Study THE REVOLUTIONARY NEW SCIENCE OF EXERCISE AND THE BRAIN by John J. Ratey, MD
Naperville School District 203
Zero Hour PE – requires 45 minutes of physical activity before school begins.
Competing against themselves
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
38 countries – over 230,000 students
99% of students took test
Scored 1st in Science
Scored 6th in Math

4. Exercise: Improves Learning Decreases: Compensates the Aging Process
Stress
Anxiety
Depression
Attention Deficit
Addiction
Hormonal Changes
Compensates the Aging Process

5. Brain Functions
Plasticity – The more you use your brain the stronger and more flexible it becomes.
Neuron – Transmit information throughout the body.
Synapse – The connection between neurons.
Caused by a chemical reaction
Neurotransmitters – Carries signals between neurons and other cells in your body.
Serotonin - Prozac
Norepinphrine
Dopamine - Ritalin

6. Making Connections

7. Priming the Brain Three ways exercise optimizes the brain function.
Ready to learn – improves attention and motivation.
Creates a micro environment by releasing neurotransmitters.
Promotes new brain cells
Hippocampus – memory station
Neurogenesis – (Birth of neurons) is the process by which neurons are generated.
The brain is created for movement.
Inactivity kills the brain: “Don’t use it, you lose it.”

8. Looking at the Numbers According to the U
Looking at the Numbers According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services
Variables in Classroom Activities
Total # of studies
Positive
None
Negative
Cognitive Skills and Attitudes 11 2 9
Attention 1
Spatial skills 4 3
Memory
Verbal
Motor Ability
Mood
Academic Behavior
Classroom Behavior
Academic Achievement 8 5
Achievement Test Scores
Total 20 12

9. Three Dimensions of the Brain
Focus Dimension
Attention Intelligence
Cerebellum
Brain Stem
Centering Dimension
Emotional Intelligence
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland
Laterality Dimension
Informational Intelligence
Cerebral Cortex

10. Attention Intelligence
First to develop
Seeing, participating, anticipating, comprehending
Controls breathing and heart rate
Visual skills
Controls access to higher reasoning
Receives all information from senses

11. Centering Dimension Second to develop Feeling, stabilizing, organizing
Helps convert short term memory to long term
Generates pleasure and anxiety responses
Releases hormones
Fight or Flight
Sense of smell

12. Informational Intelligence
Third to develop, not fully developed until the age of 8
Thinking, processing, communicating
Interprets all senses
Allows us to form complex memory, thought, and reason
Language
Expression
Logics

13. Cross-Lateral Movement
Crossing over – using both sides of your brain
Improving academics
Math – left side of the brain
Spelling/Reading – both sides of your brain
Up/Down – CENTERING
Emotions
Hormones
Side/Side – LATERALITY
Academics – crossing your mid-line
Front/Back – FOCUS
Memory
Concentration

14. Brain Gym Activity
Lazy 8

15. Let Us Put Our Brains Together
At your table discuss strategies and activities you use in your classroom to promote Kinesthetic learning.
Discuss how exercise has improved your overall wellbeing.

16. Questions
Remember I am not a Neuroscientist.

17. Homework
Identify three different resources that use brain based activities.
Using the same resources PRINT ten activities or lessons you could use in your classroom.