Introduction

Physical activity and other programs can increase academic performance. Academic performance can be increased by improving the overall wellness of the human body. Student test scores have increased significantly when consistent physical activity is part of a student's average day. The brain is the most important part of the human body, so brain activity is stimulated by the physical exertion. Students are more apt to retain information when they are involved in regular physical activity. Some of the ways to encourage healthy living are recreational and club sports, personal training, vitamins, and supplements. Thirty minutes of physical activity performed three to five times a week can help maintain weight, strengthen muscle tone and joint movement, produces a state of euphoria, and possibly improves academic learning. Schools need to increase the time of their physical education classes, so that students can be active during the day. Students need physical education in school to help them get through the school day. Allowing students to move around can help motivate them to sit through school and learn more than not having that special activity. Recreational and club sports have been proven to increase academic learning, by allowing kids to be active. Personal training allows people to expand their mind by learning different exercises. The body needs vitamins to make the body function. Supplements allow people get some of the essential vitamins for their body function. There are many ways for people to increase their academic performance. It is just going to take the willingness of people to go find a way, but school could aid in this endeavor by increasing the amount of physical education provided. So the objective of this paper is to prove that regular physical activity stimulates brain activity which increases academic performance.

Brain Function

The brain is the most important part of the human body. The brain is an important part in a learning process. The brain controls how people move, how they respond to a reaction, and it keeps a memory bank of previously learned experiences and experiences being learned. The brain can be broken down into three units: the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The cerebral cortex, the forebrain, controls the memory and the thought processes that someone experiences. The brain allows a person to remember or to recall an event about something that happened a few days ago or even a few years ago. The brain also allows an individual to think more clearly about a subject. The thinking process helps a student while learning in school. The brain helps individuals by finding new ways to learn new information and seek other ways to learn. According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (1997), “teaching strategies that enhance the brain-based learning include manipulative, active learning, field trips, guest speakers, and real-life projects that allow students to use many learning styles and multiple intelligences.” There are many different ways for the brain to learn and grow.

The brain also plays a major part while a person is exercising. While a person is exercising, the levels of endorphins increase which can reduce some effects and increase other effects. There are many changes that the body experiences while exercising. There are many benefits when a person exercises regularly. Some benefits include higher self-esteem, improved body image, improved mood, it has also been proved to help individuals sleep well, and many other great benefits. Some studies show that exercise has been proven to increase a person’s creativity. Even college students have found out that being active can help improve their brain functions, which leads to better academic performance. Exercising daily has benefits of increasing brain function. There have many studies today, show that exercise can increase brain function in the frontal lobes and in the hippocampus. By increasing brain function students may perform better in school. Students that are willing to learn are going to be more successful than those who are not willing to learn. Some recent studies have shown that exercise may be increasing brain function. Increased brain function can help with a person’s grades in school learning, as well as, their grades in their classes.

Schools need to increase the time of Physical Education classes

Physical education includes different types of instructions given to students by a physical educator to promote physical exercise and to promote how to take care of the body. Why is physical education important? Physical education is important because it has been linked to increasing academic performance. Physical education classes occur mostly in elementary schools and middle schools. PE is being offered less in schools nationwide because of budget cuts. The school board members think that by cutting funds there will be less time for students to participate in PE classes and more time for students to increase their test scores. Apparently, these school board members have not read the studies about how physical education can increase a student’s academic achievement. “The percentage of schools providing daily PE in 2006 is 3.8 percent in elementary schools, 7.9 percent in middle schools, and 2.1 percent in high schools” (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2007, p.1). Physical education should be focused more on the students in elementary school than those who are in middle school. Students in elementary school have more energy to be physically active. Children who learn an exercise at a young age are more willing to remember that exercise. When a school sacrifices time for physical education, they are risking a child’s academic performance.

Allowing students to have breaks during the day gives them a chance to run around, unwind and be free. This will allow for a better learning process. Students who get to take breaks during the day have time to be free and explore more than just a textbook.  Many studies say that students being physically active can have an impact on math tests and reading tests as well. Girls and boys perform differently during physical activity and learn information at a different pace. Physical education needs to be promoted in schools, especially in the elementary and middle schools, instead of it being taken out to make more time for academic learning. Hasn’t anyone heard that physical education can lead to better academic performance? Schools should allow the time for PE. If schools believe that academic performance can be increased by physical education, then why not leave it in schools? Schools should make time for PE because one the students will be joyous to run around and the teachers will be happy because the children will be calm, relaxed and ready to learn. Who says that physical education does not increase academic performance? “Physical activity enhances children’s learning capabilities and leads to better performance in the classroom” (Department of Sport and Recreation, 2007, p.1). There have been many studies conducted in different states to prove the theory that physical education classes have been linked to the increase of academic learning. Physical education provides time for students to get exercise and allows teachers to take a break. Physical education classes need to stay in schools so students can receive great benefits for learning.

After school programs

There are many ways an individual can stay active after school. Many schools offer after school programs. After school programs can include extracurricular activities, programs that include academics, and cultural promotion programs. Extracurricular activities can include drama, music, dance, and other subjects that are important to academic achievement. Academics can include a math club, a scholar club, the beta club or other types of clubs that can help with increasing a person’s academic performance. Cultural promotion programs can consist of the different types of cultural backgrounds. Children involved in afterschool programs have a good learning experience, have interaction with other peers, and have adult supervision, which some kids do not get when they arrive home from school. All of these characteristics can help increase an individual’s academic performance. Students involved in afterschool programs and recreational events are less likely to get involved into trouble, which can lead to jeopardizing their learning. “Studies indicate that after school programs can improve students’ social skills, improve their homework quality, enhance their academic achievement, increase their interest and ability in reading, encourage them develop new skills and interests, improve school attendance and reduce dropout rate, increase family and community involvement with children, and reduce grade retention and placement in special education” (Development Services Group Inc., 2000. p.2). Club sports, recreational activities, and personal training are just a few things a person can do to stay active after school. Club sports are sports that are not sponsored by a school or university. There are a wide range of club sports. These types of sports can range from softball, football, basketball and lacrosse just to name a few. Many people, especially students, say they do not have time for physical activity, but the truth of the matter is they are just too lazy to get up and do any kind of activity. If people knew that physical activity has been connected to increasing academic performance, then everyone may have a different perspective of participating in an activity. When someone is at school, increasing their academic achievement is important to them. Being active and staying active can increase a person’s brain function. Brain function is also vital in a person’s life without it a person would not have the ability to learn. Club sports can also get you interacted with other people on a team. Interaction with other people besides students and teachers can have an impact on someone. Interaction can help with increasing brain function and the more brain function a person has the better their academic performance becomes. “What will you see if school clubs are effective in increasing academic performance among young children and teenagers? Children will be happy and willing to learn in school, so they can participate in the sport or club in which they are involved with.

Recreation is time spent by a person to replenish their body and mind. Recreation is also known as a time to have fun with friends and family. Recreation has several benefits a person can become more involved with themselves and their community. A person can benefit from recreation by increasing changes in their academic performance. How can recreation increase academic performance? There are many ways recreation can increase academic performance because when a person is participating in an activity they are having a learning experience. There are many different types of recreational activities for students and families to get involved in. Some types of these activities include shopping, going to a park, travel, reading a book, and riding a bicycle, but these are just a few examples of recreational activities. Why would activities like these, for instance, be able to relax and calm someone? All the activities mentioned above and many more help a person become more relaxed because they are not stressing over anything while participating in some of these types of activities. Most parks offer different types of recreational activities for children and adults of all ages. Many parks have playgrounds, a track to walking or running, and some even have pools. A playground is good for children because they can run around and play with others. Children who are active have a better chanced at boosting their brain function. The more time children are allowed to play, the more time they will sit and be willing to learn. A track for walking or running can also help boost brain function because a person is moving all the time. Pools help people relax and become more focused on what is going on. Traveling from different places around the world can help boost the brain by learning about different cultures. By sitting and reading a book, the brain has better function by learning something new. Riding a bicycle is a type of exercise that is meant for relaxation, this type of exercise can help relax the brain into a state of euphoria. All of these activities can give a person a good mind set and help them focus. If exercising can make a person become more focused then their academic performance will be better. There are so many activities that can boost a person’s brain function and all it takes is for a person to stop being lazy and go find an activity. “Alternatives to traditional exercise provide variety and fun. They may also help reduce stress, increase muscular strength and flexibility, and increase energy levels. Examples of these exercises include yoga, Pilates, and tai chi” (Blair, 2006, p.4).

Personal training helps people develop strength training, flexibility, and endurance. Personal training is usually taught by a personal trainer. A personal trainer is certified to teach and evaluate a person’s fitness and health needs. “The goal of personal training is to achieve the following benefits: body fat loss/ weight loss, body shaping and muscle toning, cardiovascular fitness, increasing energy, stamina and endurance, increasing sports performance, improving coordination, enhancing immunity, and reducing stress and anxiety” (Kohout, 2008, p.2). Personal training is a way for a person to relieve stress and help them learn new exercises. A personal trainer can help motivate a person to exercise more. A personal trainer can motivate and encourage a person. A person can also be motivated and encouraged in school. Motivation is a key in academic achievement because when a person gets motivated they want to try more and get their work done.  Encouragement is another key role in academic achievement because encouragement from a teacher or a parent can increase a child’s desire to be successful with their homework. Personal training is a good way to learn new exercises because a person’s brain is like one big muscle. When a muscle is exercised it grows and strengthens. So when a person exercises, their brain grows and develops. Personal training is just another way for a person to make their brain grow and become stronger. If the brain is stronger, than a person has the ability to learn more while they are in school.

Products

Vitamins are organic, essential nutrients that the body requires in small amounts on a day to day basis. Minerals are inorganic. Some types of minerals are essential to the body in small amounts. This means, in order for the body to function properly a person needs the required amounts of vitamins and minerals daily. There are two types of vitamins: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Minerals are separated into major and trace. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and fat-soluble vitamins dissolve in fat. The water-soluble vitamins are the B vitamins and Vitamin C. The B vitamins include: thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin B12. The fat-soluble vitamins include Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, and Vitamin E. The major minerals the body needs are sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfate. The trace minerals the body needs are iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, copper, manganese, fluoride, chromium, and molybdenum. Vitamins and minerals are found in every day foods that most people consume. Many vitamins and minerals can be found in meats, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Water is also essential to the body. Water is more important than most of the vitamins and minerals mentioned above. If the body did not have water, it would not be able to absorb any of the nutrients because the body would be too weak.  A person who gets the right amount of nutrients is able to function more than those who get inadequate nutrients. A balanced diet has been proven to increase academic performance. “Fruit and vegetable consumption and dietary fat intake were found to play an important role in children’s academic performance, highlighting yet again the need for balanced diets at an early age” (Heller, 2008, p.1). There have been foods proven to be brain boosters. “Some of the foods meant for super brains include chocolate, yogurt, spinach, egg plants, red cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, avocados, egg, green tea, pumpkin seeds, blackberries, strawberries, walnuts, almonds, and cashews” (Riles, 2008, p.1). All these types of foods have been proven in some way to increase the thinking process in the brain. Students should eat breakfast, whether it is from home or school, to get some of the nutrients that help the thought processes in their brain. The brain is one big muscle. By eating right and giving the brain the nutrients it needs a person can improve academically in school. This process can happen by waking up just a few minutes earlier than someone does and grabbing a bowel or a piece of fruit. So take the time to eat breakfast and see if it changes the way your brain functions. If your brain functions better, then eating a balanced and healthy breakfast will help a student increase their academic performance. Increasing academic performance will make the students and their teachers happy. Vitamins and minerals may be different but they both can help increase a person’s brain function. Vitamins and minerals that increase brain function can lead to increasing a person’s academic achievement.

A supplement is can be in a pill form or in a powder form that contains vitamins and minerals. Instead of people eating foods with the right nutrients people take pills to get the nutrients that they need. Vitamins and minerals are essential to a person’s daily food intake. If people to get the right amount of nutrients they can experience symptoms from the lack of these vitamins and minerals. Supplements may help if a person does not have enough time to eat. The most common supplements taken are calcium, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and iron. Supplements in some cases are good for a person to take. For instance, if a person is lactose intolerant, they can take a calcium supplement. An iron supplement can be taken to improve the oxygen flowing to the brain. Are dietary supplements like the nutrients we receive in food? The answer to this question is no, but supplements do help with getting nutrients into the body. “Creatine is a popular nutritional supplement for sports enthusiasts and strength trainers, but new evidence shows it’s also a powerful booster of brain function” (Adams, 2003, p.1). There is evidence that proves supplements can boost brain function. Dietary supplements and adequate vitamins and minerals can increase a person’s academic performance. Supplements may not satisfy hunger, but they can satisfy your vitamin and mineral intake. Vitamins and minerals are adequate in brain function, and good brain function leads to an increase in academic performance.

Conclusion

The nature, scope, and objective have been proven by different studies. Brain function while exercising can increase the brain power. Brain function while learning is important because the brain grows as it learns more information. Brain function helps students concentrate on what they are learning and on what their teacher wants them to learn. Why is academic performance so important? Academic performance is important because in order to learn you have to be focused. Academic performance is what many students strive to do while they are in school. Academic performance has been linked to more physical activity, vitamins and supplements, and after school activities. In recent years, academic performance has decreased because the lack of physical activity among students. Students would perform better academically if there was more focus on physical education. Schools are focused more on academic classes than they are physical education classes. If schools would take the time to see that physical education not only helps increase test scores, but also gives students a chance to run around and get rid of some energy they have stored. Studies show that if time in physical education classes were increased a student’s test scores for math and reading would increase too. Schools that increase the time in their physical education classes have better test results because these schools take the time to understand what students want.

Students can also increase their academic performance by participating in after school programs. It has been proven that after school programs provide supervision, enriching experiences, and improves academic performance. Scholarly clubs help students with being social with other students. Students can also learn how to interact with other people besides their school mates. Environmental clubs teach students about the environment and its surroundings. Academic clubs are clubs for those who do well in school. These types of clubs help students with academics and make other children strive to become a part of such a club. Children who perform in these clubs increase their abilities of learning because they are interacting with other students and learning new information. Other ways students can increase their academic performance is joining club sports, doing recreational activities or getting personal training. Club sports help children interact with other peers their own age. Recreational activities are a time of leisure and relaxation. Personal training helps with exercising the muscles and the brain is the biggest muscle in the body. Personal training also helps people with interaction because they are interacting with a trainer to help improve their body. A personal trainer is someone to motivate a person to do better. Motivation is a key to helping a person perform better academically and to help them feel better about themselves.  Another item that helps is vitamins, minerals, and supplements. They all have key elements that are essential to boosting the brain. Vitamins come in two different forms and both have unique ways of improving the brain and its functions. Minerals play a minor role in helping with boosting the brain function. Supplements can increase brain function if a person is unable to get adequate nutrition from food sources. The brain is what helps students achieve their academic performance. Creatine is a mineral and studies show that it can help boost brain power. The boosting of the brain can lead to improved academic performance. There are many other vitamins and minerals that help brain function. Students can help the brain by exercising more and eating right. In conclusion, the more students are able to participate in physical education programs, the more they will excel in school.