Transcript 2014 The Brain and Physical Activities

The Brain and Physical Activities
August 2014
Amanda Morgan, MS, OTR/L
Danielle Alden, MS, OTR/L
Good Morning!!
Think about where your body is right now
Are you Low- tired, sleepy, sad, or bored?
Are you Medium- focused and ready to learn?
Are you High- too much coffee, leg shaking, overly
excited about the presentation today?
Write your name on a sticky note
Put your sticky note on the alert meter.
Let us try out some strategies!!!
Theraband
Move n Sit
Mouth Tools
Why is Movement Important?
Blood pools in the seat and feet after about 20
minutes. Humans need to move at least 6 – 7 paces
to re-circulate this blood and allow it to be pumped
through the brain.
Current research is showing that today’s students are
developing their fine motor skills and not developing
their gross motor skills. Encourage teachers to
incorporate gross motor movements into the
learning.
Physical Activity
Take two minutes to start your class with some
type of mild physical activity and build
activities into your lesson, app. every 20
minutes
• Stretching
• Brisk walk
• Cross-lateral re-patterning movements
– Arm and leg movements that cross over from one side of the
body to the other
Hook Ups
Stand or sit
Cross the right leg over the left at the ankles
Right wrist cross it over the left wrist
Link up the fingers so the right wrist is on top
Bend elbows out and gently turn the fingers
toward the body
Rest the hands on the sternum (breast bone) in
the center of the chest
Few minutes
Hook Ups
Hook Ups
Purpose: to help with nervousness to calm the
mind and improve concentration
Useful: before a test or special event (like
speaking in front of class)
Cross Crawl
Instructions:
Stand or sit
Right hand across the body to left knee as
you raise it
Do the same with the left hand on the right
knee (like you are marching)
About 2 minutes
Cross Crawl
Cross Crawl
Purpose: help coordinate right and left brain by
exercising the information flow between the 2
hemispheres
Useful: spelling, writing, listening, reading, and
comprehension
Stretching (aka: Yoga)
Create a chart with each student’s name and the
different poses. Time how long they can
maintain a position and let them see their
progress.
Hands to Heart
Everyone position your hands for Hands to
Heart
Take a deep breath in through your nose and
exhale through your mouth
You can close your eyes to help relax your body.
Why Does It Work?
All of those activities are bilateral
movements improving communication
between hemispheres.
Research
Physical exercise and stimulation are just as critical as
mental stimulation.
Given the trend of reduced recess time and physical
education requirements, we should rethink how we
spend class time and introduce research proven activities
that expand brain function.
Reference:
Fitzell, Susan, M.Ed. (2005). A Dozen Mind-Expanding Strategies to
Increase Brain Capacity!
Research
The number and intricacy of connections
(synapses) in the human brain is greatly
dependent upon the richness of the environment
to which it adapts.
Physical movement has impact on creating and
accessing memory.
Reference:
Jones, Susan (1999). Grow A Brain.
Alert Program
Primary focus: help students learn to monitor,
maintain, and change their level of alertness
needed for specific situations or task.
"Self-regulation is the ability to attain, change,
or maintain an appropriate level of alertness
for a task or situation" (Williams &
Shellenberger, 1996).
Alert Level
Stage 1: Identifying levels of Alertness
Stage 2: Finding Strategies, which change your
level of alertness
Stage 3: Self Regulation
When would you use it?
Part of your natural day
Transitions
Before needed concentrations.
Functional Heavy Work Activities
Chairs up and down
Sanitizing tables
Do you feel the strategies change
your alert level or help you to
focus?
$60 a box for $25 yards
Look for Latex Free
$25 small (10 inches)$30 large (13 ½ inches)
The Environment
Does it feel like Crackle Barrel?
The Environment
or Does it feel like a Spa?
Classroom Light Filters
Fluorescent Light Covers
• Diffuse the harsh glare of fluorescent lights while
reducing flickering and eyestrain.
https://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/P2284classroom-light-filters-covers-light-sensitivity
(4-piece sets (Tranquil Blue or Whisper White)
$33.99
-Use Low Lights (Lamp)
Plants
• Plants increase O2 levels by 10 %.
– Typical classroom needs 4 – 8 plants.
– Good plants are areca palms, lady palms, bamboo
palms, rubber plants, gerbera daisies, yellow
chrysanthemums, ficus benjamina, philodendrons,
dracena deremensis, and peace lilies.
Heavy lifting and class chores- water the plants and
flowers.
Noise Level
Rugs- defuse the noise and
Tennis Balls on the feet of
provides a visual cue.
the chairs
~contact high school tennis
coaches for the old tennis balls
Any Questions??
References
Brain Gym International retrieved on November 1, 2010 from
www.braingym.org
Fitzell, Susan, M.Ed. (2005). A Dozen Mind-Expanding Strategies
to Increase Brain Capacity!
Hannaford, Carla (1995). Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All
In Your Head
Jones, Susan (1999). Grow A Brain.
The Alert Program retrieved on November 1, 2010 from
www.alertprogram.com