Effects of the Inclusion of Physical Activity in Secondary School Academic Classes: the ACTIVE CLASS Study

Two active breaks are taken daily in a predetermined time slot. The development of each break is done through access to a specific digital platform where students follow the instructions of an avatar, which is in charge of guiding the realization of the active break. Each active rest involves a total of 4 minutes of activity, in which two sets of 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest of four different exercises are performed, ending with a brief return to calm consisting of two deep breaths. The activities selected for each of the active breaks include aerobic and strengthening activities of moderate and vigorous intensity.

"The physically active learning is carried out once a week for 1 hour outside the classroom, where physical activity (through movement, jumping, strengthening exercises, throwing, etc.) is incorporated into academic mathematics classes.~The mathematics teachers (with the support of the research team) are in charge of teaching the physically active classes. Prior to the development of each class, the research team, together with the mathematics teachers involved, meet and design the class according to the contents to be addressed."