You are here:

Recess, physical education, and elementary school student outcomes
ARTICLE

, ,

Economics of Education Review Volume 30, Number 5, ISSN 0272-7757 Publisher: Elsevier Ltd

Abstract

Today's children experience a decreased amount of time at recess and fewer physical education (PE) classes throughout the school day. Breaks for physical activity limit class time for academics, potentially reducing learning. However, breaks may improve alertness and achievement. Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey Kindergarten Class of 1998–1999, we evaluate how recess and PE in elementary school influence children's learning. We find no statistically significant or economically significant impacts of weekly recess or PE time on student learning for kindergarteners through fifth graders. For example, in kindergarten, adding an hour a week of recess reduces the average test score gain in reading by a statistically insignificant 0.01 standard deviations. An additional 49min per week of PE in kindergarten improves reading test score gains by a statistically insignificant 0.05 standard deviations. We find no statistical difference in the male and female students’ response to recess and PE. Evidence suggests that recess and PE do not harm student outcomes.

Citation

Dills, A.K., Morgan, H.N. & Rotthoff, K.W. (2011). Recess, physical education, and elementary school student outcomes. Economics of Education Review, 30(5), 889-900. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved June 5, 2023 from .

This record was imported from Economics of Education Review on March 1, 2019. Economics of Education Review is a publication of Elsevier.

Full text is availabe on Science Direct: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2011.04.011

Keywords

References

View References & Citations Map
  1. Barros, R.M., Silver, E.J., & Stein, R.E. (2009). School recess and group classroom behavior . Pediatrics, 123(2), pp. 431-436.
  2. Boyle, E., Marshall, N., & Robeson, W. (2003). Gender at play: Fourth-grade girls and boys on the playground . American Behavioral Scientist, 46(10), pp. 1326-1345.
  3. Carlson, S.A., Fulton, J.E., Lee, S.M., Maynard, L.M., Brown, D.R., & Kohl, H.W. (2008). Physical education and academic achievement in elementary school: Data from the early childhood longitudinal study . American Journal of Public Health, 98(4), pp. 721-727.
  4. Cawley, J., Meyerhoefer, C., & Newhouse, D. (2007). The impact of state physical education requirements on youth physical activity and overweight . Health Economics, 16(12), pp. 1287-1301.
  5. Centers for Disease Control Prevention (2010). The association between school based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance . Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  6. Datar, A., & Sturm, R. (2004). Physical education in elementary school and body mass index: Evidence from the early childhood longitudinal study . American Journal of Public Health, 94(9).
  7. DeCicca, P. (2007). Does full-day kindergarten matter? Evidence from the first two years of schooling . Economics of Education Review, 26, pp. 67-82.
  8. Dempster, F.N. (1988). The spacing effect: A case study in the failure to apply the results of psychological research . American Psychologist, 43(8), pp. 627-634.
  9. Dollman, J., Boshoff, K., & Dodd, G. (2006). The relationship between curriculum time for physical education and literacy and numeracy standards in South Australian primary schools . European Physical Education Review, 12(2), pp. 151-163.
  10. Fitzpatrick, M.D, Grissmer, D., & Hastedt, S. (2011). What a difference a day makes: Estimating daily learning gains during kindergarten and first grade using a natural experiment . Economics of Education Review, 30(2), pp. 269-279.
  11. Hellmich, N. (2010). Michelle Obama to launch initiative fighting child obesity. USA Today (accessed June 15, 2010). http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-01-20-michelle-obama-obesity_N.htm.
  12. Jarrett, O. (2002). Recess in elementary school: What does the research say? . Eric Digest.
  13. Jarrett, O.S., Hoge, P., Davies, G., Maxwell, D., Yetley, A., & Dickerson, C. (1998). Impact of recess on classroom behavior: Group effects and individual differences . Journal of Educational Research, 92(2), pp. 121-126.
  14. Johnson, D. (1998). Many schools putting an end to child's play. New York Times, April 7, pp. A1, A16.
  15. Klein, J. (2004). Planning middle school schedules for improved attention and achievement . Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 48(4), pp. 441-450.
  16. Krueger, A.B. (1999). Experimental estimates of education production functions . Quarterly Journal of Economics, 114(May (2)), pp. 497-532.
  17. Marcotte, D.E. (2007). Schooling and test scores: A mother-natural experiment . Economics of Education Review, 26, pp. 629-640.
  18. Mortenson, T. (1999). Where are the boys? The growing gender gap in higher education. The College Board Review, #188.
  19. National Association for Sport and Physical Education, & American Heart Association (2010). 2010 shape of the nation report: Status of physical education in the USA . Reston, VA: National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
  20. Ogden, C.L., Flegal, K.M., Carroll, M.D., & Johnson, C.L. (2002). Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and adolescents, 1999–2000 . Journal of American Medical Association, 288(14), pp. 1728-1732.
  21. Pellegrini, A.D. (1995). School recess and playground behavior . Albany: State University of New York.
  22. Pellegrini, A.D., & Bjorklund, D. (1997). The role of recess in children's cognitive performance . Educational Psychologist, 32(1), pp. 35-40.
  23. Pellegrini, A.D., & Bohn, C.M. (2005). The role of recess in children's cognitive performance and school adjustment . Educational Researcher, 34, p. 13.
  24. Pellegrini, A.D., & Davis, P.L. (1993). Relations between children's playground and classroom behaviour . British Journal of Educational Psychology, 63(1), pp. 88-95.
  25. Pellegrini, A.D., Huberty, P.D., & Jones, I. (1995). The effects of recess timing on children's playground and classroom behaviors . American Educational Research Journal, 32(4), pp. 845-864.
  26. Pellegrini, A.D., Kato, K., Blatchford, P., & Baines, E. (2002). A short-term longitudinal study of children's playground games across the first year of school: Implications for social competence and adjustment to school . American Educational Research Journal, 39(4), pp. 991-1015.
  27. Pischke, J.-S. (2007). The impact of length of the school year on student performance and earnings: Evidence from the German short school years . The Economic Journal, 117(523), pp. 1216-1242.
  28. Pollack, J.M., Atkins-Burnett, S., Najarian, M., & Rock, D.A. (2005). Early childhood longitudinal study kindergarten class of 1998–99 (ECLS-K), psychometric report for the fifth grade (NCES 2006-036), US Department of Education . Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.
  29. Sarkin, J.A., McKenzie, T.L., & Sallis, J.F. (1997). Gender differences in physical activity during fifth-grade physical education and recess periods . Journal of Teaching and Physical Education, 17(1), pp. 99-106.
  30. Schacher, R. (2005). The end of recess . District Administration, 41(8), pp. 36-41.
  31. School Health Policies Practices Study. (2000). National center for chronic disease prevention and health promotion. SHPPS 2000 Data Files and Documentation – State Level Physical Education and Activity.
  32. Simons-Morton, B.G., Taylor, W.C., Snider, S.A., & Huang, I.W. (1993). The physical activity of fifth-grade students during physical education classes . American Journal of Public Health, 83, p. 2.
  33. Tourangeau, K., Nord, C., Lê, T., Pollack, J.M., & Atkins-Burnett, S., (2006). Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–1999 (ECLS-K) Combined User's Manual for the ECLS-K Fifth-Grade Data Files and Electronic Codebooks (NCES 2006-032). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.
  34. Tremarche, P.V., Robinson, E.M., & Graham, L.B. (2007). Physical education and its effect on elementary testing results . Physical Educator, 64(2), pp. 58-64.
  35. Wingert, P. (2000). Young and overweight . Newsweek, 135(24).
  36. Zygmunt-Fillwalk, E., & Bilello, T. (2005). Parents’ victory in reclaiming recess for their children . Childhood Education, 82(1), pp. 19-23.

These references have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. Signed in users can suggest corrections to these mistakes.

Suggest Corrections to References

Cited By

View References & Citations Map

These links are based on references which have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. If you see a mistake, please contact info@learntechlib.org.