Students at Oakland Heights Elementary in Meridian spent part of their school day Thursday singing, dancing and learning new words.  

The Move to Learn Initiative visited the school to get kids interested in movement, which included exercising in the classroom while they are learning. The program will come to other Meridian schools over the next few weeks. 

Coach Larry Calhoun, who led the class through an exercise routine, said that based on research, kids who take short breaks during class do better academically. After visiting schools around the state, Calhoun said teachers have told him kids cannot sit in a chair for eight hours and learn. They need time to move, he said. 

Calhoun said he wasn’t just there to teach the kids about movement, but to encourage them to be confident. Students also enjoy it when teachers dance and laugh with them, he noted. 

“The real love, they can feel it,” said Calhoun.

Shirley Mosley, the school’s principal, said one thing she learned from Calhoun’s presentation was that both teachers and students need motivating sometimes. 

“We are here together to support each other,” said Mosley.

Move to Learn will visit Poplar Springs Elementary School and Marion Park on Oct. 31, and  T.J. Harris Lower and Crestwood Elementary Schools on Nov. 1.