The Effects of Recess on
Classroom Behavior
Kara Beauregard
Erin Curtis
Allie Garver
Matt Gentile
Problem Statement
Although recess is an established educational practice, students are often denied this
important break during the school day. Jambor and Guddemi (1992) and Pellegrini (1995)
identified three major arguments that school systems have used to justify the abolition of
recess: (a) There is no time for recess because more instructional time is needed to raise test
scores; (b) recess disrupts the work patterns of the children, causing high levels of excitement
and subsequent inattentiveness; and (c) recess encourages aggression and antisocial behavior.
However, research suggests that lack of a recess break for students may have a negative
impact on behavior and learning (Jarrett, 1998). Research also suggests that for most children,
uninterrupted instructional time may be a paradoxically inefficient use of instructional time
(Jarrett, 1998). Listening, sitting, and working on assigned tasks for prolonged periods are
inappropriate for young children—they need to be actively engaged with materials, and
integrated types of learning should take place indoors and outdoors (Holmes, 2006).
The research literature clearly documents the positive role of recess in maximizing primary
school children’s attention to classroom tasks: that is, children are less attentive as the
duration between break times increases and, correspondingly, they are more attentive after
the breaks than before (Pellegrini & Smith, 1993).
More research needs to be conducted in order to identify the relationship between recess and
classroom behavior in order for instructional time to be used most efficiently. Our research
will indicate whether teachers perceive students who are allowed recess to be more focused
in the classroom and will contribute to our overall understanding of recess’s effect on
classroom behavior.
Hypothesis
Students who are given a recess
break during the school day
show increased levels of focus
and appropriate in class
behavior compared to students
who are not given a recess
break.
Sample
• All participants enrolled in EDU738 at Salem State
University during the Spring 2012 semester and was
found using convenience sampling.
• Participants are, at the time of the study, pursuing a
masters’ degree in an education-related field at Salem
State University.
• Participants reside in the Massachusetts area and are
most likely employed in Massachusetts schools.
• Participation was voluntary.
Research Design
• Participants were first contacted via email and asked to
participate in our research study.
• Through this email, they were asked to send a signed
informed consent form in reply if they choose to
participate.
• Participants were then be sent a link to the questionnaire
which was hosted by Survey Monkey. The questionnaire
should have taken participants between 10 to 15 minutes
to complete.
Instruments
• Participants completed a brief questionnaire regarding
their teaching experience, recess policies of the schools
that they work at, as well as their students’ behavior and
focus before and after recess.
• This questionnaire consisted of 26 multiple choice
questions and 2 open response questions, which were all
written by members of the research group conducting this
study.
• This questionnaire was hosted by an online survey-hosting
website, SurveyMonkey and can be found at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/recessbreak
Questionnaire Results
• Results are presented in crosstabular format, however the
open response answers have been omitted in order to
maintain full confidentiality.
#1
1. I have read and understand
this information and agree to
participate in this study.
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Yes
100.0%
11
No
0.0%
0
answered question
11
skipped question
0
#2
2. Please choose the
answer that best
describes you.
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
I am currently teaching.
63.6%
7
I have worked as a
teacher in the past but
do not currently.
18.2%
2
I have never worked as
a teacher.
18.2%
2
answered question
11
skipped question
0
#3
3. How long have you been
teaching?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Less than 1 year
14.3%
1
1-3 years
42.9%
3
4-6 years
28.6%
2
7-10 years
0.0%
0
More than 10 years
14.3%
1
answered question
7
skipped question
4
#4
4. How would you describe the
district you teach in?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Urban
14.3%
1
Suburban
71.4%
5
Rural
14.3%
1
answered question
7
skipped question
4
#5
5. How would you describe the
school in which you teach?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Public
71.4%
5
Private
14.3%
1
Charter
14.3%
1
answered question
7
skipped question
4
#6
6. What is the grade level in
which you are currently
teaching?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Preschool
0.0%
0
Kindergarten
0.0%
0
First
50.0%
3
Second
0.0%
0
Third
0.0%
0
Fourth
0.0%
0
Fifth
0.0%
0
Middle School
16.7%
1
High School
33.3%
2
answered question
6
skipped question
5
#7
7. How many students do you
have in your classroom?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
15-20
50.0%
3
21-25
50.0%
3
26-30
0.0%
0
30 or more
0.0%
0
answered question
6
skipped question
5
#8
8. How many boys/
girls?
Answer Options
Response Average
Response Total
Response Count
Boys
11.67
70
6
Girls
6.67
40
6
answered question
6
skipped question
5
Number
Boys
Girls
1
7
8
2
9
12
3
17
3
4
7
1
5
18
7
6
12
9
#9
9. Does your school have a
building level recess policy?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Yes
50.0%
3
No
50.0%
3
answered question
6
skipped question
5
#10
10. If recess is not offered at your school,
what is the reason? (Check all that apply)
Answer Options
Response Percent
No available outdoor space
0.0%
No available indoor space
0.0%
Safety and security issues
100.0%
Not enough time during the school day
100.0%
Lack of adults to supervise recess
100.0%
Other (please specify)
answered question
skipped question
Number
Other (please specify)
1
Special Education Program
#11
11. Please choose the answer
that best describes the recess
policy at your school.
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Students have at least one
recess break during the school
day.
66.7%
4
Students do not have recess,
but they do have breaks during
the school day.
33.3%
2
Students have no recess or
other breaks during the school
day.
0.0%
0
answered question
6
skipped question
5
#12
12. How many times a day do
your students get a recess
break?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
1
25.0%
1
2
75.0%
3
3
0.0%
0
Other (please specify)
0
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#13
13. What time of day does
recess occur? (Check all that
apply)
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Early morning (before 11am)
50.0%
2
Mid morning/ afternoon
(11am- 2pm)
100.0%
4
Afternoon (after 2pm)
0.0%
0
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#14
14. How long is recess? (If
more than one recess break
during the day, check all that
apply)
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Less than 10 minutes
0.0%
0
10-15 minutes
75.0%
3
15-20 minutes
25.0%
1
20-30 minutes
0.0%
0
More than 30 minutes
0.0%
0
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#15
15. Are your students ever
kept inside during recess?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Yes
50.0%
2
No
50.0%
2
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#16
16. For what reasons are your
students kept in for recess?
(Check all that apply)
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
To make up work missed due
to absence
100.0%
1
To make up work not
completed during class
100.0%
1
For test retake
100.0%
1
As punishment for behavioral
issues
100.0%
1
Other (please specify)
1
answered question
1
skipped question
10
Number
Other (please specify)
1
Rain
#17
17. On an average day, what
classroom activities are your
students engaged in before
recess?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Sitting at desk, listening to
teacher
0.0%
0
Independent work
50.0%
1
Group work
100.0%
2
Free choice
0.0%
0
Other (please specify)
3
answered question
2
skipped question
9
Number
Other (please specify)
1
lunch & math
2
Not sure as some other teacher
is with this class.
3
snack/lunch
#18
18. On an average day, what
activities are you students
engaged in after recess?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Sitting at desk, listening to
teacher
66.7%
2
Independent work
100.0%
3
Group work
100.0%
3
Free choice
0.0%
0
Other (please specify)
2
answered question
3
skipped question
8
Number
Other (please specify)
1
Specials & Snack
2
The lesson is very structured
with an opener, a sharing
activity, an instructional
activity and a follow up
activity.
#19
19. On an average day, how
would you describe your
students' behavior in the
classroom before recess?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Very good (students follow
directions, are respectful and
polite, don't speak out of
turn)
0.0%
0
Good (students follow most
directions, are respectful and
polite, may speak out of turn)
100.0%
4
Fair (students follow some
directions, may be slightly
disrespectful and impolite,
may speak out of turn)
0.0%
0
Poor (students following little
or no directions, are
disrespectful and impolite,
frequently speak out of turn
0.0%
0
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#20
20. On an average day, how
would you describe your
students' behavior in the
classroom after recess?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Very good (students follow
directions, are respectful and
polite, don't speak out of
turn)
25.0%
1
Good (students follow most
directions, are respectful and
polite, may speak out of turn)
50.0%
2
Fair (students follow some
directions, may be slightly
disrespectful and impolite,
may speak out of turn)
25.0%
1
Poor (students following little
or no directions, are
disrespectful and impolite,
frequently speak out of turn
0.0%
0
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#21
21. During an average week,
how frequently do your
students display inappropriate
behavior before recess?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Every day
0.0%
0
Most days
0.0%
0
Some days
100.0%
4
Never
0.0%
0
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#22
22. During an average week,
how frequently do your
students display inappropriate
behavior after recess?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Every day
0.0%
0
Most days
0.0%
0
Some days
100.0%
4
Never
0.0%
0
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#23
23. Do you think that a recess
break has any effect on your
students' behavior?
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Yes
100.0%
4
No
0.0%
0
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#24
24. Please choose the answer
that best describes your
thoughts on the effects of
recess on your students'
behavior.
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Students show more
inappropriate behavior in the
classroom when they have a
recess break.
25.0%
1
Students show less
inappropriate behavior in the
classroom when they have a
recess break.
75.0%
3
Students' behavior in the
classroom is not affected by
recess.
0.0%
0
answered question
4
skipped question
7
#25
25. Recess should be a part of
the school day for all
elementary students.
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Agree
90.0%
9
Slightly agree
10.0%
1
Neutral
0.0%
0
Slightly disagree
0.0%
0
Disagree
0.0%
0
answered question
10
skipped question
1
#26
26. Students who have missed
or not completed class work or
homework should be kept in
for recess.
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Agree
10.0%
1
Slightly agree
30.0%
3
Neutral
0.0%
0
Slightly disagree
20.0%
2
Disagree
40.0%
4
answered question
10
skipped question
1
#27
27. Recess should be taken
away from students as
punishment for misbehavior.
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Agree
10.0%
1
Slightly agree
40.0%
4
Neutral
10.0%
1
Slightly disagree
10.0%
1
Disagree
30.0%
3
answered question
10
skipped question
1
#28
28. Recess is an important
element of classroom
management.
Answer Options
Response Percent
Response Count
Agree
55.6%
5
Slightly agree
22.2%
2
Neutral
11.1%
1
Slightly disagree
0.0%
0
Disagree
11.1%
1
answered question
9
skipped question
2
Summary of our Findings
• Our study found that elementary teachers believe recess does
have an effect on their students level of appropriate classroom
behavior. Elementary teachers feel that their students show
less inappropriate behavior after they engage in a recess break
lasting between 10- 15 minutes in duration. The study
showed that our one middle school teacher’s perception was
the opposite to that of the elementary teachers. The middle
school teacher perceived his or her students level of
classroom behavior as being appropriate before recess and
observed an increase in the level of inappropriate behavior
after recess. This teacher did report that their students were
with another teacher before recess so the level of appropriate
behavior may be skewed for this study.