Title: Enhancing Pupils attention Span through JJR Active mindas , Active
bodies
Background : The study indicate that the Integration of structured
physical activities in classroom discussion significantly enhance learners
attention spans, leading to improved focus and cognitive performance in
educational settings. These activities help in developing better self-
regulation skills, which are crucial for maintaining attention during tasks.
Overview of the implementation of the JJR Active Minds, Active
Bodies:
week 1
Wwek2
Week3
Research Questions:
1. What is the current level of attention span among pupils during
traditional classroom discussions?
2. How can the integration of structured physical activities into classroom
instruction enhance pupils' attention span in elementary school settings?
3. What potential challenges or obstacles do you anticipate in
implementing and sustaining physical activity interventions within the
classroom?
The researchers identified several challenges in implementing
physical activity interventions in the classroom, primarily due to varying
levels of student engagement, behavior, and understanding. Some
students grasped concepts quickly, while others required additional time
and support, making it difficult to address everyone’s needs. Disruptive or
hyperactive behavior, lack of focus, and difficulties in giving clear
instructions were common obstacles during activities like the "relay
balloon race" and "jumping rope challenge." Time management was
another significant concern, as balancing physical activities with a rigid
academic curriculum and scheduling conflicts limited their
implementation. Resource limitations, such as financial constraints and
insufficient materials, further compounded these challenges. Additionally,
not all students were eager to participate, and some had physical
limitations requiring activity modifications. These issues, combined with
the difficulty of helping students refocus after activities, often disrupted
the learning environment.
Observations; Observations revealed that traditional classroom
discussions often led to disengagement, with students displaying short
attention spans—ranging from 9 to 12 minutes—across subjects like Math,
English, and Araling Panlipunan, marked by behaviors such as doodling,
chatting, and restlessness. In contrast, the JJR Active Minds and Active
Bodies interventions significantly improved engagement and behavior.
Activities like the Jump Rope Challenge in Math boosted energy and focus,
while the Jigsaw Puzzle Hunt in English fostered teamwork and dynamic
discussions. The Relay Balloon Race in Araling Panlipunan reduced
restlessness and increased participation in group tasks. These physical
activities not only helped students release excess energy but also
enhanced their attention spans, collaboration, and classroom participation.
Despite minor challenges, such as coordination issues, the interventions
proved effective in creating a more engaged, alert, and student-centered
learning environment, aligning with research on the benefits of active
learning and movement in classrooms.
Summary: The study examined the impact of physical activities like the
Jump Rope Challenge, Jigsaw Puzzle Hunt, and Relay Balloon Race on
elementary students' attention spans and engagement in Math, English,
and Araling Panlipunan. Traditional classroom methods often resulted in
short attention spans (9–12 minutes) and passive behaviors, such as
fidgeting and low energy. In contrast, integrating physical activities
significantly boosted attention spans—up to 17 minutes in Math, 19
minutes in English, and 15 minutes in Araling Panlipunan—while fostering
teamwork, reducing restlessness, and increasing participation. These
findings align with research by Shao & Kuo (2018), Mueller & Oppenheimer
(2014), and Donnelly et al. (2016), which highlight that active learning and
physical interventions enhance focus, cognitive performance, and
engagement, surpassing the limitations of passive learning methods.
Overall, the study demonstrated that structured physical activities create
a more interactive, engaging, and effective classroom environment.
Conclusions. The study concluded that integrating structured physical
activities, such as the Jump Rope Challenge, Jigsaw Puzzle Hunt, and Relay
Balloon Race, significantly enhanced pupils' attention spans, engagement,
and learning behaviors. Attention spans increased from an average of 9–
12 minutes during traditional lessons to 15–19 minutes with physical
activities, which acted as energizing and cognitive reset mechanisms.
These activities facilitated energy release, reduced restlessness, and
improved focus, while their novelty and variety boosted motivation and
active participation. Additionally, they promoted teamwork, collaboration,
and interactive learning, creating a more dynamic and engaging
classroom environment. The findings strongly support incorporating
physical activities into the curriculum, aligning with research emphasizing
their cognitive, behavioral, and social benefits in education.
Recommendations;To maximize the benefits of structured physical
activities on pupils' attention span and engagement, the study
recommends integrating such activities into the basic education
curriculum, supported by funding, resources, and teacher training.
Teachers should incorporate short, interactive physical activities into
lesson plans to make learning more engaging while addressing classroom
management challenges. Learners should actively participate to enhance
attention, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, while parents are
encouraged to promote physical activities at home to reinforce classroom
benefits. Future researchers should explore the long-term effects of these
interventions across different contexts and investigate their integration
with digital learning to optimize educational outcomes.
Reflection as a Researcher;As researchers, we observed that integrating
physical activities, such as jumping rope, relay balloon races, and jigsaw
puzzle hunts, effectively enhanced students' attention, engagement, and
participation in class. These findings align with studies like Donnelly et al.
(2016) and Stevenson et al. (2019), which highlight the cognitive and
behavioral benefits of physical activity in energizing students and helping
them transition to focused academic tasks. However, challenges such as
engaging hyperactive or disengaged students and addressing individual
differences in motivation and learning styles, as noted by Voss et al.
(2019), underscore the need for adaptable strategies. While the study
supports incorporating physical activities into classrooms to foster
attention and participation, further refinement in implementation is
necessary to ensure all students benefit, regardless of diverse needs or
curriculum constraints.
Action Plan for Dissemination and Utilization of JJR Active Minds
and Active Bodies: The action plan for the dissemination and utilization
of the JJR Active Minds and Active Bodies intervention aims to ensure that
the findings and strategies from this action research are effectively
communicated and integrated into the educational practices at Petronio
Leal Memorial Elementary School. This plan focuses on involving teachers
from key subject areas Math, English, and Araling Panlipunan who can
adopt and adapt the physical activity-based strategies to enhance
students’ attention span and overall engagement. By sharing successful
practices and outcomes from the intervention, the goal is to foster a
collaborative approach that promotes active learning and sustained
improvement in student focus across various disciplines. This plan outlines
the steps for sharing results, providing training, and supporting ongoing
implementation of the intervention within the school community.
If funding is limited and the recommended activities are not
feasible, there are several cost-effective alternatives to disseminate and
utilize the results of the study.
1.Leveraging Free Digital Platforms. Instead of hosting large
conferences or paying for expensive publication fees, researchers can
publish the findings through open-access platforms such as ResearchGate
or academia.edu. Social media can also serve as a powerful tool to reach
educators and policymakers by sharing findings via free online channels
(e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn).
2. Collaborations with Local Educational Institutions.
Researchers can work directly with schools and educational departments
to implement pilot programs at little or no cost. These partnerships can
include sharing study results through informal presentations or workshops
during teachers' meetings, without requiring a large budget.
3. Virtual Workshops and Webinars. Hosting free virtual
workshops or webinars using platforms like Zoom or Google Meet can
reach a broad audience without incurring travel or venue costs. Teachers
and stakeholders can participate in online discussions and training
sessions to learn about the findings of the study.
4. Utilizing Volunteer Support. Researchers can involve volunteers
for activities such as content creation (writing articles or creating
resources), administrative support, and organizing meetings. This reduces
the financial burden of the dissemination activities.