Moving to Learn, Learning to Move

Purposeful Movement

Presented by

Kelly Shaver

Young Children

• Learn through movement

• Learn through play

• Learn by being active

• Learn being physical

Movement

• Develops the whole body

• Including the brain

What is purposeful movement

• Movements that contribute to development

• The brain engages the body

• Intentional movement

• It is something purposeful

Purposeful movement activities

Develop connects between:

• Brain

• Body

Purposeful movement

• Our lives our filled with movement

• We move constantly

• It involves conscious thought

• A decision for physical action

The child

• When they plan to move

• How to move

• Maintains awareness

• Then reflects on the movement

• He or she is moving with………………………….

PURPOSE!

Physical movement

• Is Essential to learning during the early years of a child

• Not just physical learning but learning in all areas

Development

• Young children develop top to bottom

• Young children development from the inside out

Young children need

Opportunities to explore, practice and develop their:

• Large and small muscles

Young children need practice their

• Gross motor and

• Fine motor skills daily

Early childhood programs

• Need to offer children a curriculum with activities to practice their ever development skills.

Children come into this world:

• Learning to move! From birth.

• We need to inspire them to Move to Learn!

• Movement can enhance learning and gain focus!

Movement Breaks are

• Brain Breaks using purposeful movement

Ideas

• Hide the handouts or Hide and seek other items

• Movement means activity, activity needs space and organization

• Moving a group takes a plan, getting up 2 at a time, using names or colors

• White paper 4 corners, answer questions, get up and go to the paper, write reply

• 2 liter bottles with colored water, 2 large containers.

• Sand bag or salt bags- canvas child bags and sew to carry and transport.

• Bean bags

• Empowering children to take an active role in caring for the classroom: wipe tables, sweep floors, Wash shelves, and broom and dust pans.

• Using songs/music

• Using follow the leader type games

• Follow directions games

• Transitions with songs and movement and dance time in class.

More ideas

• Matching games on the floor, move- walk- bend over- match

• Moving a table/moving chairs

• Flannel board activities

• Calling children up one at a time to give them a name tag

• Parachute play

• The magic circle (stretch)

• Roll the dice and jump to the number

• Deck of cards, pick a card and move

• Beach ball toss

Thank you!

• Questions

Make and Take

• Make activity

• Practice purposeful movement experiences