12+ Research Studies Showing the Benefits of Activity
on Academics & Overcoming Life Challenges
Research Articles - “Active Kids Do Better Academically”
(Yellow Highlight)
Physically Fit Kids Have Beefier Brain – University of Illinois
Physically fit kids brains look and function differently than their less-fit peers with increased brain
“white matter” contributing to higher-fit children outperforming their lower-fit peers on cognitive tasks
in the classroom. Both short-and long-term differences in the relation of aerobic fitness to brain
health and cognition have been demonstrated.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140819083429.htm
Key Points:
 More physically fit = more white matter in brain
 More white matter is connected to faster and more efficient nerve activity
 They believe throughout ones lie span white matter can be associated with increased
physical activity
Research Details:
 Number of children – 24 participants
 Age – 9-10 year olds
 Academic Improvement (actual) – The new findings show exercise changes the brain in
ways that improve cognitive function
 Actual Source of Research – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
 Date of the article – August 19th, 2014
More physical activity improved school performance – Univ of Gothenberg
More physical activity is shown to improve school performance in Swedish study.
“Two hours of extra physical education each week doubled the odds that pupils achieve national
learning goals.”
Thomas Linden, Scientist and neurologist, Sahlgrenska Academy
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141014094753.htm
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University conducted research
Main idea is physical activity improves school performance
Results were clearly shown to support the idea physical activity improves school
performance
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Number of Children - 408
Age or Grade – 12 years old
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Actual Improvement in academics and activity – 2 hours of physical activity is shown to
improve school performance
Actual Source of Research – University of Gothenberg
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Date of the article – October 14th, 2014
Date of the research –July 10th, 2014
Fun and games make for better learners - Brendon Gurd
Classroom based high-intensity interval physical activity has shown to improve the on- and off-task
behavior of primary school students.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141031150008.htm
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Time crunch causes Ontario schools to find time during the day to incorporate activity
Only 4 minutes can lead to better academic achievement
Did not take a typical approach to the activity. Made up stories or situations to intrigue the
children
 Age or Grade – Grades 2 and 4
 Actual Improvement in academics and activity - off-task behaviors like fidgeting or
inattentiveness in the classroom decreased
 Actual Source of Research – Queens University
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Date of the article – October 31, 2014
Date of the research – July 28th, 2013
12 minutes of exercise improves attention and reading comprehension in
low-income adolescents, as well as reducing stress levels
A Dartmouth study shows that 12 minutes of exercise improves attention and reading
comprehension in low-income adolescents, as well as reducing stress levels. The recommendation
is for low-income school populations to incorporate brief bouts of exercise into their daily routine.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140612104952.htm
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Low income group experienced a much bigger jump
This may be due to their higher stress levels
Improves selective visual attention among children as well
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Age or Grade – Age 17-21
Actual Improvement in academics and activity – attention and reading comprehension
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – Dartmouth College
Date of the article – June 12th, 2014
How Exercise Can Boost Young Brains
A University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign study underscores the importance of physical activity
for children’s brain health and development, especially in terms of the particular thinking skills that
most affect academic performance.
http://nyti.ms/1sckTaA
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Activity increases a child’s ability to think
Tested aerobic fitness and executive functioning
Physically active kids showed vast improvement in test scores
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Number of Children - 220
Age or Grade – 8-9 Year olds
Actual Improvement in academics and activity - Activity led to better ability to think
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Date of the article – October 8th, 2014
Date of the research – September 2014
Quick activity breaks increase movement, resetting kids' brains
Physical activity breaks increase movement while resetting kids’ brains in Omaha Public Schools.
Quick activity breaks increase movement, resetting kids' brains
Omaha World-Herald
http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/quick-activity-breaks-increase-movement-resetting-kidsbrains/article_91ec6ddb-28fb-5d33-b9fb-99a2a00abc6b.html
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Take breaks in attempt to get blood flowing and “reset” their mind
With recess being limited teachers look to these breaks to allow children to take a break
from learning and hopefully come back ready to learn more
Recess has been reduced since “no child left behind”
Research points to many benefits recess can have on children
Age or Grade - Kindergarten
Actual Improvement in academics and activity – Improvement in math and reading test
scores
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – American Academy of Pediatrics
Date of the article – December 8th, 2014
Team sports linked self-esteem and better performance in the classroom
Team sports are shown to be the only extracurricular activity to have a consistent and significant
effect on student grades in addition to improving self-esteem, according to studies from the
University of South Carolina, Pennsylvania State University, and the UK.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2330445/Why-team-sports-really-improve-grades-Link-selfesteem-better-performance-classroom.html
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Students who play team sports perform better in the classroom
Study took into account after school activities and academic success
Team sports had a consistent and significant effect on students grades
Results remained the same across all socio economic backgrounds
Number of Children – 9,700
Age or Grade – 14-18 year olds
Actual Improvement in academics and activity – Team sports had significant and consistent
positive effect on students grades
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – University of South Carolina and Penn State
University
Date of the article – May 24th, 2014
Brain boost: Sport and physical activity enhance children’s learning
Dr. Karen Martin from the University of Western Australia reports that sports and physical activity
enhance children’s learning ability and academic performance beyond obvious benefits to physical
health.
http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/support-and-advice/research-and-policies/brain-boost
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With academics being highly important to schools physical activity and education are being
pushed away
Research shows increased physical activity can positively impact a students grades
There has been a great decline of physical activity in Australia
Actual Improvement in academics and activity Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – University of Western Australia
Date of the article – May, 2010
Date of the research – May, 2010
Proven: Kids Get Smarter Just from Exercising
14 studies conclude that the more physically active schoolchildren are, the better they do
academically. Participation in sports and physical activity prove a decrease in cardiovascular risk in
youth, provide beneficial effects on mental health outcomes, and enhance brain function and
cognition.
http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2012/01/20/physically-active-children-perform-betteracademically.aspx
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Extensive research shows kids improve academically through exercise
Exercise causes increased blood and oxygen flow to the brain
List of exercise related benefits include reduced symptoms of ADHD, improved sleep,
weight loss, stronger bones and improved mood
Gives examples of ways to make children more active
**********GREAT ARTICLE *********
Number of Children – looked at 14 studies ranging from 50 participants to 12,000
Age or Grade – 6 to 18
Actual Improvement in academics and activity - Increased blood and oxygen flow to the
brain, increased levels of norepinephrine and endorphins resulting in a reduction of stress
and an improvement of mood, increased growth factors that help to create new nerve cells
and support synaptic plasticity
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – Multiple Studies Used
Date of the article – Jan 20th, 2012
Date of the research – 2010
Examining The Impact of 45 Minutes of Daily Physical Education on
Cognitive Ability by Julian Reed
Results: Experimental elementary and middle school participants observed significantly greater
improvements compared with control elementary and middle school participants on 7 of 16 fitness
and body composition measures and on 8 of 26 cognitive measures. These fitness, body
composition, and cognitive improvement differences were more noticeable among elementary and
middle school females.
CONCLUSIONS:
Providing 45 minutes of daily physical education can perhaps increase cognitive ability while
increasing fitness and decreasing the prevalence of overweight and obese youth.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22820756
http://www.humankinetics.com/acucustom/sitename/Documents/DocumentItem/07_reed_JPAH_20
110037-ej.pdf
Examining the Impact of Integrating Physical Activity on Fluid Intelligence
and Academic Performance by Julian Reed
Results: Experimental Group children averaged close to 1200 pedometer steps per integration
day, thus averaging 3600 steps per week. Children in the Experimental Group performed
significantly better on the SPM Fluid Intelligence Test. Children in the Experimental Group also
performed significantly better on the Social Studies State mandated academic achievement test.
Experimental Group children also received higher scores on the English/Language Arts, Math and
Science achievements tests, but were not statistically significant compared with Control Group
children. Children classified in Fitnessgram's Healthy Fitness Zone for BMI earned lower scores on
many of the SPM Fluid Intelligence components.
DISCUSSION:
This investigation provides evidence that movement can influence fluid intelligence and should be
considered to promote cognitive development of elementary-age children. Equally compelling were
the differences in SPM Fluid Intelligence Test scores for children who were distinguished by
Fitnessgram's BMI cut points.
http://www.humankinetics.com/acucustom/sitename/Documents/DocumentItem/18049.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20551490
Opinion Articles - “Active Kids Do Better Academically”
(Blue highlight)
Incorporating physical activity into more subjects can help kids learn in
school - Sian Beilock
Exercise can aid the mental health and cognitive functioning in children as well as adults, according
to University of Chicago Prof. Sian Beilock in How the Body Knows Its Mind: “Movement matters for
everyone, with mobile kids hitting cognitive milestones faster. Activities like swimming, running,
cycling, walking briskly benefit the brain, in addition to keeping the body fit.”
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150107150742.htm
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Mobile kids hit cognitive milestones faster
The more quickly children learn how to walk and explore, the faster their cognitive
development.
Aerobic exercise will aid not just children but also adults into having a healthy brain
Research Articles - “Active Kids Do Better With Life Challenges”
(Green Highlight)
A study from Oregon State concludes that intervention including physical activity, games and music
help at-risk children learn self-regulation skills which will aid them life-long as well as prepare them
for kindergarten.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141121141230.htm
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For those children who have trouble in kindergarten most problems have seemed to have
come from their self-regulation skills
Introduced interventions for kids at-risk and saw major improvement
Used an 8 week study including games and surveys to test the children
Number of Children - 276
Age or Grade - Kindergarten
Actual Improvement in academics and activity – scored higher on tests checking self regulation
skills
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – Oregon State
Date of the article – November 21st, 2014
Young teens who play sports feel healthier and happier about life
Participation in sports helps young teens socially, emotionally and physically, according to Dr. Keith
Zulig and Rebecca White from West Virginia University. Teens active in sports are more satisfied
with their lives, feel healthier and have greater self esteem.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100922082330.htm
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Used questionnaires given to 12-14 year old children asking about happiness and how they
feel health wise
Saw no correlation in boys
Saw correlation between positive feelings and vigorous activity
Team sports for boys and girls both positively affected their feelings and happiness
Number of children - 245
Age or Grade – 12- 14 year olds
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Actual Improvement in academics and activity – higher life satisfaction when playing on a sports
team
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – West Virginia University
Date of the article – October 14th, 2010
Exercise and the Brain: It Will Make you Want to Work Out
Multiple studies conclude that a positive relationship exists between physical activity and cognitive
function in both children and adults, promoting the executive functions of the brain and overall body
and brain health.
https://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/brainandex.html
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Exercise improves cognitive function in young and old adults
The executive central command is what is most positively affected by exercise
Aerobic training, flexibility and resistance training work your brain in the best ways
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Number of Children - *Multiple Studies
Age or Grade - *Multiple Studies
Actual Improvement in academics and activity - *Multiple Studies
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) - *Multiple Studies
Date of the article – October 31st, 2009
Date of the research – Many studies form 2001-2008
Sports, Youth and Character:
Robert K Fullinwilder, from the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, University of Maryland,
extensive study concludes that sports build character, positively impacting the physical, mental and
moral health of youth.
http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/WorkingPapers/WP44Fullinwider.pdf
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40 page review of youth sports and the character it creates
Dublin City University, University of Limerick, and the University College Cork examine physical
education, physical activity and sports participation in Irish children and youth to guide policy
development in the areas of health, sports, education, transport and the environment which are
determining factors in getting Irish children to be more active more often.
https://www4.dcu.ie/shhp/downloads/CSPPA.pdf
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150 page examination of physical activity and education
Number of Children – 5,397
Age or Grade – Around 13 years old
Actual Improvement in academics and activity – One in four children were unfit, overweight or
obese and had elevated blood pressure
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – Dublin City University, University of Limerick, and
the University College Cork
Research from the University of Cambridge and Plymouth University have shown that followthrough activities such as swinging a golf club or tennis racket can help us to learn two different
skills at once, or learn a single skill faster.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150108130057.htm
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Repeated follow through motion will be remembered in the brain much easier
By practicing a single skill with multiple follow through actions more motor skills can be
learned
Can aid in post stroke rehabilitation and many other forms of rehab
Tennis vs. Racquet Ball, very hard for player to be proficient in both. Use much more top
spin in follow through of a tennis shot
Number of Children – Not child based
Age or Grade – Article focused on no specific age group
Actual Improvement in academics and activity – Learning occurs faster with consistent
movements
Actual Source of Research (University, etc.) – University of Cambridge
Date of the article – January 8th, 2015