My Classroom Physical Activity Pyramid: A Tool for Integrating Movement into the Classroom

Abstract

The classroom teacher is a critical team member of a comprehensive school physical activity program and an activity-friendly school environment. Students spend more time in the classroom than in any other school setting or environment. Classrooms are busy places, and classroom teachers must make decisions about how to make the best use of their time with students. The My Classroom Physical Activity Pyramid was developed as a teaching tool specifically for classroom teachers to track students' physical activity during the school day. The Classroom Pyramid is an easy-to-understand graphic organizer to assess the amount of time and different ways students can accumulate physical activity throughout the school day. Physical educators, directors of physical activity, and public health professionals can also use the pyramid to help teachers identify the numerous opportunities for activity integration, track progress, and organize a plan to meet the recommendation for daily physical activity in schools.