Minds On

Benefits of exercise

Imagine what it feels like after you play outside for a little while and have your heart pumping. How do you feel after you are active?

A child wears a set of large homemade cardboard airplane wings and runs outside.

Being active every day is important for both our body and our mind. Exercise helps our body by keeping our muscles and bones strong and healthy. It helps increase our flexibility and give us more energy.

Exercise helps our mind by putting us in a good mood. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins that helps you feel good and think better.

How can you be active every day? Why do you think exercise is good for you?

Using the Benefits of Exercise document, list two reasons why you think exercise is good for your mind and body. You can complete this document in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

If possible, you can share your ideas with a partner.

Press ‘Hint’ to access an example.

Exercise is good for my body because it makes my heart and lungs strong.

Exercise is good for my mind because moving my body helps me think and feel better.

Benefits of Exercise
Benefits of exercise for the mind Benefits of exercise for the body

 

 

 

 

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Benefits of Exercise. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Action

Warm up

It’s time to get active! You are going to exercise to a Power Up video called “Power Circus.”

Safety

Before you begin:

Warm Up

Warm up

Now it’s time for a warm-up!

Explore the following warm up activities. Choose three of the activities to perform on your own!

A student bends at the waist and uses one his right arm to touch his left toes. Then he will use his left arm to touch his right toes.

  1. Start by standing or sitting with your arms hanging loose.
  2. Slowly move one arm and reach for your opposite foot.
  3. Count to five and carefully move your body back up.
  4. Repeat this step with your other hand.

A student is seated with her arms extended. She is moving both her arms in a circular motion.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Stretch your arms out to the side.
  3. Make circles moving your arms forward, count to five then stop.
  4. Make circles moving your arms backwards, count to five then stop.
  5. Repeat this stretch one more time.

A student is standing, facing straight ahead and bends her neck to her right shoulder and then to her left shoulder.

  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Keep your head straight.
  3. Gently move your head to one side, then slowly roll it to the other side.
  4. Bring your head back to the starting position and repeat the stretch.
  5. Repeat this stretch five times.

A student keep extends her right arm and brings it across her body without bending it. She uses her left hand to press her arm to her chest.

  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Bring one arm across your body.
  3. Use your other arm and hold your elbow, slowly pulling it to your chest.
  4. Hold and count to ten.
  5. Repeat on the other side.

A student has their arms raised straight upwards.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Slowly raise your arms up high.
  3. Count to ten then bring your arms down.
  4. Repeat this stretch one more time.

Explore this video entitled “Power Up: Circus 4” to learn more about how you can get active through a circus-themed workout.

How do you feel now that you have been exercising for a few minutes? What changes do you notice in your body? Has your mood improved now that you have been active?

Sock ball

You will need:

  • a rolled-up pair of socks or a ball
  • one of these items: a bucket, a cardboard box, a large bowl or a pot

Two pairs of rolled up socks are on the floor in front of a bucket.

Step 1: Place your bucket on the floor and take one big step back, still holding your rolled up socks.

A rolled up pair of socks has been sent into the bucket.

Step 2: Try to send the ball into the bucket.

Were you successful? How many times could you get the sock ball into the bucket out of ten turns?

If you want to challenge yourself further, move further away from the bucket. How else can you make this activity more or less challenging? Have you tried throwing the sock ball behind you?

What makes this activity enjoyable? Would you recommend it to someone else? How did it make you feel?

Cool Down

Let’s cool down!

Explore the following options. Complete three of these activities for your cooldown.

Press the following tabs to access the cool down activities.

A student shakes his hands, then his feet then his hips.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Gently shake one arm, the other arm, then both.
  3. Shake one leg, the other leg, then both.
  4. Gently shake your head, hips, and whole body.

A student is seated with her arms extended. She is moving both her arms in a circular motion.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. March on the spot, raise your arms out to your shoulders.
  3. Slowly make circles going one way, do this five times.
  4. Slowly make circles going the other way, do this five times.

A seated student has both arms raised over his head. With his hands clasped together, he is moving his arms in a circular motion.

  1. Start by sanding or sitting.
  2. Marching on the spot, raise your arms in the air.
  3. Slowly make circles going one way, do this five times.
  4. Slowly make circles going the other way, do this five times.
  5. Try and make different shapes.

A student has her arms out in front of her. She sways them at different speeds.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Pretend to be a tree in a windstorm, your arms are the branches.
  3. The windstorm starts off strong blowing hard.
  4. The windstorm then begins to blow softer and calm.

A student has his arms raised straight upwards.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Reach up using your arms and touch the sky, count to five.
  3. Slowly reach down and touch your toes, count to five.
  4. Repeat this one more time.

A student bends at the waist and touches his toes.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Slowly move your body forward.
  3. Reach and touch your toes, count to five, then move your body back up.
  4. Try to touch your toes one foot at a time.

A seated student is pretending to climb a ladder by raising his hands and knees up one at a time.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Pretend to climb a tall ladder.
  3. Slowly move your arms and legs up and down climbing a ladder to the sky.

A student breathes in, then breathes out and then hugs herself.
  1. Start by standing or sitting.
  2. Slowly take a deep breath and breathe through your nose.
  3. Breathe out through your mouth.
  4. Repeat this three times.
  5. Take your arms and wrap them around your shoulders and give yourself a big hug.

Consolidation

Healthy brains and bodies

Your heart is always beating and pumping blood to the muscles and the rest of the body. This makes your heart and lungs strong. This keeps you healthy. Being active also makes you feel good. It’s good for the brain. It’s important to keep our brains and our bodies healthy.

Student Success

Think-Pair-Share

Thinking about the video we explored in the Action section, how could Lucas encourage Laura to understand the benefit of working out?

Think about the importance of exercise and explain why it is good for your mind and body. Share this importance of exercise with a partner, if possible. If you wish, you can also record your thoughts using any method of your choice.

Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.