Innovative Approaches to Increasing Physical Activity Among Youth in Finland
Schools across Finland are adopting creative strategies to promote physical activity among students as part of the school day. At HaukipudasUpper Secondary School in Oulu, Finland, mathematics lessons are combined with physical activity. Students alternate between solving equations and performing lunges or calculating probabilities and engaging in arm rotations. This pedagogical model is currently being studied by the University of Oulu and the Likes Research Centre at JAMK University of Applied Sciences. The research focuses on how integrating movement into lessons and breaks influences learning outcomes and student well-being. Based on the results, recommendations will be created for physically active classroom practices and for teachers and teacher educators.
Recess time exercise is just one component of this broader initiative. Students also participate in task-based checkpoints throughout the school building, solving mathematical problems while moving between stations. These activities encourage collaborative problem-solving and physical engagement. Although the research currently centers on mathematics and language instruction,the model is adaptable to a wide range of subjects. In Kuopio, Pyörö Comprehensive School has restructured its recess periods by encouraging students to put away their phones and take part in guided physical activities. Each day, a 30-minute longer recess features as structured program led by physical education teachers and students from PE classes, fostering both movement and social interaction.
In another city called Turku, retired volunteers-affectionately known as “sports grandparents”-organize biweekly sports breaks at Syvälahti School for lower secondary students. These sessions, which include activities such as futsal, basketball, and badminton, have become so popular that participation is occasionally scheduled in shifts. The recesses are unstructured, allowing students to choose how they wish to move. There is no mandatory program-just the freedom to enjoy physical activity. In another town Vaasa, the annual School Relay Carnival brought together over 600 students for its eleventh edition. The event aims to inspire children and adolescents to rediscover the joy of movement
Pauliina Lehtinen, a teacher at Isolahti School, emphasizes the school’s role in making physical activity enjoyable and meaningful. She highlights the importance of pedagogical approaches that help students find and maintain a positive relationship with physical activity, even if past experiences have been discouraging. “That is why versatility and variety are important elements in school PE”, Lehtinen points out.
Have you seen or experienced similar initiatives in your own school or community? What worked well-or didn’t? We would love to hear your thoughts!
Katja Mäkelä
Sources:
Mäkelä, K. (28.1.2025). Eläkeläiset keksivät ratkaisun nuorten liikkumattomuuteen: turkulaiskoulussa jopa tungosta välituntiliikuntaan. Yle Uutiset
Julkunen, P. (22.1.2025). Puhelin taskuun ja tilalle ohjattua liikuntaa – Kuopiossa koulu laittoi välitunnit uusiksi. Yle Uutiset
Viitanen, E. & Haavisto, A. (19.9.2024). Kouluviestikarnevaali innostaa lapsia ja nuoria liikkumaan Vaasassa-”Koulun rooli on tehdä liikkumisesta kivaa”. Yle Uutiset
Virranniemi, J. & Seeskorpi, P. (27.3.2024). Lukiolaiset jumppaavat, jotta oppi uppoaisi päähän paremmin. Link.