Movement Charts

We’ve all heard it, kids aren’t moving enough today.  Many things play a role in this including technology, increased school demands, decreased free play opportunities etc.  Today, we have to be more thoughtful to include movement into our kids days  We know it’s important and absolutely necessary.  How about incorporating a fun tool such as a movement chart to track movement throughout the day, month, and week?

Movement Charts

As a pediatric physical therapist, I’ve noticed that several of the different classrooms that I’ve been in have classroom helper charts or weather charts.  As a mom, I have friends that do chore charts.  So why not movement charts as a form of motivation or a a way to track brain breaks and movement!  I know that movement charts could be a fun way to encourage movement for the kiddos!  Most kids love to move given the opportunity.  So, maybe it’s more of a reminder tool for the adult!

Movement charts are super simple to use.  It would be a great way to start out a morning meeting in a classroom.  It would also work well as part of a brain break.  In therapy or physical education classes the chart could be used as part of a warm-up.  Maybe even use these in a math lesson?

The sky is the limit with movement charts.  Maybe kids track what they did at recess?  Maybe you track your class brain break activities.  Maybe you let the kids pick a jumping activity or a stretch and track it as a class or individual. Maybe its played as a game by drawing the cards and see what student fills up a graph line first?  The nice thing about the movement chart is it is versatile and can be used how you like.

Get Your FREE Movement Chart

I’ve created two FREE movement charts that include several different ways to move during the day. They are available in the Freebie Library.  The charts have a picture of the movement as well as an associated card with the movement.  The larger pictures could be used on a bulletin board or kept on a ring or in a box.  As the children perform the movements they would be able to check off their box as a movement completed for that day.  The amount of movements in a day could be determined by the instructor.  All of the different movements can be modified based on the space in the classroom, the needs of the students, and what the instructor wants to get out of the movement break opportunity.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

My store at Pink Oatmeal has ideas to get the kids moving at home, in the classroom, and in therapy!  If you prefer Teachers Pay Teachers you can find me there too with even more ideas to get the kids moving!

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Let’s connect!  Pink Oatmeal is on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram!