In a randomized controlled trial, children in Playworks schools spent more time in vigorous physical activity at recess than students at non-Playworks schools, and more teachers in Playworks schools reported students engaged in intense recess activity¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r? · q3
Currency · newest study 2014 · checked against its sources 2026-10-17 (automated, 2 of 2 entries) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Accelerometer data showed children in Playworks schools spent more time in vigorous physical activity at recess than students at non-Playworks schools. → Mathematica Policy Research 2014 q3 i? More teachers in Playworks schools than in non-Playworks schools agreed or strongly agreed that their students engaged in recess activities that made them sweat or breathe hard. → Mathematica Policy Research 2014 (2)

Evidence¶

Mathematica Policy Research 2014¶

Mathematica Policy Research. (2014). Mathematica's Facts & Findings: A snapshot of significant research results. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/2014-facts-and-findings-print

q3 · i? · causal · r?

A randomized controlled trial of the Playworks program, which places full-time coaches in low-income schools, measured recess physical activity with accelerometers. It found children in Playworks schools "spent more time in vigorous physical activity at recess than students at non-Playworks schools." No effect size is printed.

"Accelerometer data showed that children in Playworks schools spent more time in vigorous physical activity at recess than students at non-Playworks schools."

Mathematica Policy Research 2014 (2)¶

Mathematica Policy Research. (2014). Mathematica's Facts & Findings: A snapshot of significant research results. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/2014-facts-and-findings-print

q3 · i? · causal · r?

In the same randomized controlled trial, teacher surveys measured perceived student recess activity intensity. More teachers in Playworks schools than non-Playworks schools agreed their students engaged in activities that made them sweat or breathe hard. No effect size is printed.

"According to teacher surveys, more teachers in Playworks schools reported that their students engaged in intense physical activity during recess, compared with teachers in non-Playworks schools."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Physical Well-Being — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Playworks showed significant impact on some measures of girls' physical activity but no significant impact on measures of boys' physical activity — related
• Girls in Playworks schools had significantly higher accelerometer intensity counts and spent more time in vigorous physical activity than girls in control schools — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Girls in Playworks schools were less likely to be sedentary and more likely to engage in jumping, tag, and playground games during recess — related
• No significant accelerometer-based differences in physical activity were found for boys in Playworks schools compared with control schools — related
• Teachers in Playworks schools reported significantly better student behavior at recess and readiness for class — related
• Playworks made transitions from recess to classroom learning less difficult, per teacher reports — related