Brainstorm of Product

How does exercising/stretching help students in Kindergarten to Second grade stay focused on a task?

Progress check:
So far I have learned that doing stretches that cross your midline will also help the development of your right-brain, left-brain.  I also learned that students need about twenty minutes worth of exercising, and even though you won't be able to do that much in your classroom it would still be helpful to take short breaks to do a few exercises just to help your students stay focused on their school work.  I think the main thing I really need to focus on is getting my stretching/exercises to use in my final product. 

Target audience and Product:
My final project will mainly be projected to teachers, but I think parents could find use in it as well.  Teachers could use these activities for short stretching break(s) when she (the teacher) sees her students start fading out during the day and especially after lunch.  I think parents can use this idea of midline stretching to help their child with right-brain, left-brain activities at an early age. 
For my product I am thinking about videoing myself doing certain midline stretches and explain how to do it (kind of like in magazines but in a video).  If I don't do the video I will do pictures of me doing the stretches and explain how to do them.  With the video or pictures I would create a website to post them on so teachers and parents can go look at them or even play them in front of the classroom/children so they can follow along with me.

Midline Cross Exercising/Stretching

How does exercising/stretching help students in Kindergarten to Second grade stay focused on a task?

I asked my kindergarten teacher why she thinks young students can not stay focused on a task and how might exercising/stretching help them.  This is what she told me:

Children between Kindergarten age and second grade generally have a short attention span, and some more than others.  By breaking up their “on task” time with intermittent intervals of quick exercise or movement children will be able to better focus on the task at hand. 

 

She also mentioned that exercises that "cross the midline" helps with developing right-brain, left-brain activity.  Our bodies are divided in half (right side/left side) from head to toe.  It is important for children to be able to do exercises that cause limbs (arms & legs) to cross over the mid-section of their bodies. 

Ex. Stand straight with arms stretched out, feet apart. Bend over and touch left foot with right hand.  Or touch right knee with your left elbow.

 

http://drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2006/03_Mar/pg04.html

So I went to google and typed in cross the midline exercises and I found a great website that talks about vigorous physical activity gets the blood flowing and releases stress and some activities helps the brains more alert and to help improve learning.  It also mentions that children need to "stand up and stretch" about every 20 minutes.  The website also gives me four exercise movements you can do: cross the midline, elbow tap, windmills, backwards.  For smaller kids it mentions that you can put a piece of painters tape in the middle of their bodies so they can be aware of crossing the midline.

 

 

http://nspt4kids.com/parenting/help-your-child-develop-the-crossing-the-midline-skill/

This is another website that talks about how important it is for crossing the midline.  3 or 4 years old, a child should have mastered the bilateral skill (using both sides of the body together).  The crossing the midline also helps you develop a dominant hand and a helping hand.  The website also has right brain/left brain teasers that will help develop your brain.