About This Project

The purpose of this study is to examine 1) whether using movement-producing (kinesthetic) furniture in classrooms significantly increases physical activity (PA) during the school day, and 2) the feasibility of using this furniture in classrooms for larger studies. Building on prior research, I hypothesize that increased levels of PA will improve learning, social, and health outcomes, and that increases will be more significant for students experiencing poverty/income insecurity.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

There is extensive evidence demonstrating the positive impact of physical activity (PA) on academic outcomes. PA has also been shown to improve children’s executive function/self-regulation, resilience, and social-emotional skills. The COVID-19 outbreak caused significant declines in PA in young children, and ongoing safety measures include a significant reduction or total elimination of recess and other physical activities. It is critical to develop innovative ways to promote PA in the schools without violating social distancing laws.

What is the significance of this project?

This is an issue for all students, but the lack of PA and play is an equity issue. Often, the children who lose out on recess are children of color, children in low-income or poor households, and children who live in urban areas. These children are also more likely to begin school without prerequisite social-emotional skills and foundational content knowledge which begins a trend of widening the predictable school achievement gap throughout their K-12 experience. Thus, the use of this furniture may help to offset declines in activity levels and promote more effective learning and cognitive function in the classroom through increased PA/decreased sedentary behaviors.

What are the goals of the project?

I will explore how using movement-producing (kinesthetic) classroom furniture to decrease sedentary behaviors (independent variable) impacts low-income (Title I) early elementary (K-2) children's cognitive, academic, and behavioral outcomes (dependent variable) and project feasibility. I wills elect two classrooms (~20 children each) on the same grade level from the same school. In addition to classroom observations, I will measure differences in physical activity using ActiGraph GT9X accelerometers, a research tool that measures various physical activity markers. One classroom will be the treatment classroom with kinesthetic furniture (independent variable; four pedal stools and one kneel and spin small group table), and the control classroom will use typical classroom furniture.