If you are teaching Primary or PDHPE in NSW, you already know something isn’t quite right.

Our students are sitting more.
Moving less.
And struggling with basic movement skills that used to come naturally.

But what if the solution didn’t require rewriting your entire program?

What if it only took five minutes?

This week on The PDHPE and CAFS Podcast, I shared one small shift that can completely change the energy of your classroom.

And the best part?

You can try it tomorrow.

The Problem We Are Seeing in NSW Schools

Recent Australian research tells a concerning story.

Only around 23 percent of children aged 5-14 meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

Even more alarming, national report cards are now giving Australian children a D or D minus for overall physical activity and movement skills.

As PE teachers and primary educators, we see this every day.

Students struggle with:

• stamina
• coordination
• confidence in sport
• basic fundamental movement skills.

But the classroom can become part of the solution.

The 5 Minute Movement Shift

Instead of brain breaks, try movement breaks.

Five minutes.
Five times a week.

That equals 25 minutes of purposeful movement added to your students’ week without changing your timetable.

These movement breaks are simple activities designed to build fundamental movement skills, such as:

• hopping
• skipping
• jumping
• running
• galloping
• balancing.

They require no equipment and can happen inside your classroom.

Why Movement Breaks Work

Research from Deakin University shows that short movement breaks can:

• improve brain functioning
• increase oxygen flow to the brain
• strengthen focus and memory
• improve behaviour in the classroom.

In simple terms, students think better after they move.

And when movement is purposeful, students also build physical literacy and confidence in sport.

Simple Ideas You Can Try Tomorrow

Movement breaks do not need to be complicated.

Try activities like:

Superhero Hoppers
Students choose a superhero name and hop between safety zones in the classroom.

Wave Riders
Students practise side gallops across the room while imagining they are surfing waves.

Kangaroo and Joey
Pairs work together to practise rhythm and jumping patterns.

Each activity takes less than five minutes.

But the impact adds up quickly.

The Bigger Opportunity for PDHPE Teachers

The real goal is not just getting kids to move.

It is helping students develop fundamental movement skills and lifelong confidence in physical activity.

These skills underpin everything from sport participation to lifelong health and wellbeing.

And when teachers consistently embed movement into learning environments, the classroom becomes a space where movement is normal, expected and enjoyable.

Where to Start

If you want a simple starting point, download the free Fundamental Movement Skills resource. thelearnnet.com/fms

And if you are a primary teacher navigating the new K-6 and 7-10 PDHPE syllabus in NSW, our K-6 Primary PDHPE and 7-10 PDHPE Memberships provide:

• ready to use programs
• comprehensive units of work
• movement activities
• fundamental movement skill resources
• practical classroom strategies.

Explore them here:

thelearnnet.com/pdhpe

Because when students move more, they learn better.

And sometimes the biggest impact starts with just five minutes.