🔬 ScienceLevel 1Lesson 29
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Exercise and Movement

Lesson preview: the Mini Lesson and Vocabulary are open to everyone. Guided practice, exercises, the parent checklist and the printable PDF worksheet come with full access (free 7-day trial or membership).

Learning Objectives

  • 1Explain why exercise is important for the body
  • 2Describe at least three things that happen to the body during exercise
  • 3Name several types of physical activity that keep me healthy
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Mini Lesson

Your body was built to move. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day to keep their heart, lungs, muscles, and bones strong and healthy.

Why exercise matters

  • Exercise makes your heart stronger — a strong heart pumps blood more efficiently around the body.
  • It builds strong muscles and bones — the more you use them, the stronger they become.
  • Exercise boosts your mood — it releases chemicals in the brain that make you feel happy.
  • Regular activity helps you sleep better and gives you more energy during the day.
  • Example: Running, swimming, skipping, dancing, and riding a bike are all great exercise.

What happens to your body during exercise

  • Heart beats faster — to pump more blood to working muscles.
  • Breathing speeds up — to bring in more oxygen and remove carbon dioxide.
  • Body gets warmer — muscles produce heat as they work.
  • You sweat — the body cools itself by releasing water through the skin.
  • Muscles may ache after — a sign they have been working hard and getting stronger.

Types of exercise

  • Cardio (heart and lungs): running, swimming, cycling, skipping.
  • Strength (muscles and bones): climbing, gymnastics, push-ups.
  • Flexibility (stretching): yoga, stretching, dancing.
Six types of exercise children can doA grid of six tiles showing simple stick figures doing different kinds of exercise — running, jumping, stretching, dancing, cycling, and swimming.Six Kinds of ExerciseRunningcardioJumpingcardioStretchingflexibilityDancingflexibilityCyclingcardioSwimmingcardio
Six ways to move your body — pick the ones you love!
Four benefits of exercise for the bodyA central stick figure with four labeled benefit blocks around it — strong muscles, healthy heart, good mood, and better sleep.Why Exercise Helps Your BodyStrong Musclesand bonesHealthy Heartand lungsGood Moodfeel happyBetter Sleepmore energy
Exercise helps every part of your body and mind.
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Ask yourself: "Have I moved my body for 60 minutes today? What activity made my heart beat faster?"

Vocabulary
Exercise
Moving your body to make it strongere.g. Running is good exercise.
Heart
The muscle in your chest that pumps bloode.g. My heart beats faster when I run.
Muscles
Body parts that help you move and lift thingse.g. Climbing builds strong muscles.
Oxygen
A gas in the air your body needs to keep goinge.g. I breathe in oxygen when I exercise.
Sweat
Water that comes out of your skin to cool you downe.g. I sweat after a long run.
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