Keeping kids active throughout the day can help them learn better, focus more and stay on task. Even small bursts of activity can be beneficial for you and your students. 

We know that other than physical education classes and recess it can be a struggle to add activity into your students' days. That's why we've curated a list of awesome resources to help you find some great ideas that are organized by grade level and related to your curriculum.

Here is one example of 10 minute energizer from Apple Schools:

Millimetre, Centimetre, and Metre, Oh My! (Gr. 2-6) 

1. Have students line up around the perimeter of the room or stand at their desks. 
2. Have students start with feet side by side and move one set of toes ahead of the other set of toes to represent millimetre or “small”. 
3. Have students place one foot in front of the other to represent centimetres or “medium”. 
4. Have students take one large step forward to represent metre or “large”. 
5. Call out different measurements: Example – Move forward 2 centimetres, then 5 millimetres, then 1 metre. 
6. Have all students move in the same direction. Variations: 1. Add directions (right, left, forward, back). 

Example: Move back 3 metres and right 2 centimetres.

Find more resources here:

Apple Schools Energizers

Purposeful Movement - Doug Gleddie / University of Alberta

Active For Life: Lesson Plans and Resources

Sometimes it can be tricky to come up with new and fun ideas to get your kids more active. Here are some resources to help you encourage your family to be active.

Need more ideas?
Try Active for Life Activities

Short on time?
Use the Active for Life, Kid Active App.Set the amount of time you have and it will give you a bunch of activities to try out.

Worried about outdoor play?
Read the ParticipACTION 2015 Report Card. Sending you kids outside to play is important. The biggest risk is keeping them indoors! 

Kids need to be active throughout the day; their brain health depends on it. A healthy brain leads to improved: thinking and learning, emotional regulation and self-control, problem-solving ability, memory, ability to cope with anxiety and depressive symptoms, self-esteem and self-worth, attention and focus.

Boosting kids’ physical activity levels could be the missing part of the equation in supporting their mental health

Take the active route

Did you know that using active travel for short trips, such as to work or school can have a long-lasting impact on our physical and mental well-being? It also benefits the environment and the community as a whole!

What can active travel include?

• Biking
• Walking / Running / Rollerblading
• Skateboarding / Scooter / Wheelchair
• Public Transit

How can we include it in our school or work day?

• Meet up with friends and bike to school together
• Gather at a park with family and walk
• Park the car a few blocks away and walk
• It all counts!

Benefits of active travel:

• Physical well-being - Boost/strengthen our physical health to help fight off many diseases
• Mental well-being - Reduce stress and anxiety, while increasing mood and focus
• Environmentally friendly - Reduce traffic congestion and support cleaner air
• Road safety awareness - Promote safe road practices
• Social connections - Encourage and enable social connections
• Independence - Learn to place routes, manage time and make decisions 
• Natural surroundings - Connect with nature, engage with our surroundings and enjoy the changing seasons
• Economical - Save money by reducing overall transportation costs 

Check out Strathcona County's cycle map for information on the 287 km of trails within Sherwood Park. Explore new routes and make your bike ride or walk a litte more interesting.