Recess
Encyclopedia
Recess is a general term for a period of time in which a group of people is temporarily dismissed from its duties. In
parliamentary procedure
, a recess is initiated by a motion to recess
. It was invented by Bronson Alcott, who wanted his students to have active physical play and time to talk.
In education
, "recess" is the North America
n term (known as "Lunch" or "break" in the UK
and Ireland
, sometimes "playlunch" or "little lunch" in Australia
, or "interval" or "morning tea" in New Zealand
) for a daily period, typically ten to thirty minutes, in elementary school
where students are allowed to leave the school's interior to enter its adjacent outdoor playground
, where they can play on recreational equipment, such as seesaw
s and swing set
s, or engage in activities such as basketball
, dodgeball
, or four square
. Many middle schools also offer recess in an effort to provide students with a sufficient opportunity to consume quick snacks, communicate with their peers, visit the restroom, study, and/or other various activities.
s consider recess an integral portion of child development, to teach them the importance of social skills and physical education
. Play is essential for children to develop not only their physical abilities, but also their intellectual, social, and moral capabilities. Via play, children are able to learn about the world around them. By role playing, children are able to experience, and gain insight on, a socio-emotional level. Psychomotor learning
also gives children clues on how the world around them works as they can physically demonstrate such skills. Children need the freedom to play in order to learn skills necessary to become competent adults such as coping with stress and problem solving. Through the means of caregiver's observations of children’s play, one is able to identify deficiencies in children’s development.
If the weather is bad, recess may be held indoors, in the classroom, where the students finish work, play board games or other activities that take more than one to play. This helps encourage group activity and some of the games are also educational. Or, they might play educational computer games or read books.
Childhood obesity
and type 2 diabetes are also a major concern as the United States youth do not get the physical outlet needed not only for their cognitive development but for their physical health.
and Ireland
, high school students traditionally do not have 'free periods' but do have 'break' which normally occurs just after their second lesson of the day (normally referred to as second period). This generally lasts for around 20 minutes. During break, snacks are usually sold in the school's canteen and students normally use this time to socialize or finish off any homework or schoolwork that needs to be finished. Once break is finished, students go to their next classroom to start period 3. Lunchtime usually starts just after period 4 and lasts around 50-60 min. This system is more or less the same in junior schools in the UK and Ireland, but infant school
s will normally add another breaktime towards the end of the day. Another difference in junior and infant schools, compared to high schools, is the use of play equipment (such as hula hoop, skipping rope, balls, etc.) available to play with, opposed to a full playground (with climbing walls, swings, slides, jungle gym, etc.)
In Australia
and New Zealand
, generally in public schools "recess" occurs as a break between morning and mid-morning classes. It is followed after mid-morning classes by a more lengthy break, lunchtime. Thus, the structure of the school-day consists of three lesson blocks, broken up by two intervals: recess and lunch respectively.There must be at least an hours worth of "recess" or "free period" a week. In Queensland
, the short morning break is generally referred to as "little lunch" and the longer lunchtime break as "big lunch".
Celebrated the third Thursday in June each year is Recess At Work Day. While the effect of play on children has been studied it has been noted that adults lose their creatvity, imagination, and ability to innovate as they get older and spend less time in social settings with the opportunity to have a recess of sorts. The Founder of Recess At Work Day suggests all organizations take some time off on this day to play or use it as an opportunity for a dose of fun learning, training or staff development. In addition the Founder hopes that as adults see the benefits of taking a break there will be a return of Recess in schools.
, though by many standards it is removed when the child enters middle school
. However, in college
, students usually have free periods, which are similar in spirit, although usually one studies or talks with one's friends during such times rather than playing games, which are made difficult by the lack of a playground
.
With the No Child Left Behind Act
of 2001, many schools have significantly cut back on the amount of recess time for children, even in preschool. Some have even eliminated recess all together. With the focus now on preparing the children for testing into the next grade, there is less time to incorporate physical education
or recess into the curriculum.
In Washington, recess and physical education
are being removed from the curricula. This is a controversy because according to some researchers and child education specialists, children need a break from schoolwork.
parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...
, a recess is initiated by a motion to recess
Recess (motion)
In parliamentary procedure, "recess" refers to legislative bodies—such as parliaments, assemblies, juries—that are released to reassemble at a later time. The members may leave the meeting room, but are expected to remain nearby. A recess may be simply to allow a break or it may be...
. It was invented by Bronson Alcott, who wanted his students to have active physical play and time to talk.
In education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, "recess" is the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n term (known as "Lunch" or "break" in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, sometimes "playlunch" or "little lunch" in Australia
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
, or "interval" or "morning tea" in New Zealand
New Zealand English
New Zealand English is the dialect of the English language used in New Zealand.The English language was established in New Zealand by colonists during the 19th century. It is one of "the newest native-speaker variet[ies] of the English language in existence, a variety which has developed and...
) for a daily period, typically ten to thirty minutes, in elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
where students are allowed to leave the school's interior to enter its adjacent outdoor playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
, where they can play on recreational equipment, such as seesaw
Seesaw
A seesaw is a long, narrow board pivoted in the middle so that, as one end goes up, the other goes down.-Mechanics:Mechanically a seesaw is a lever and fulcrum....
s and swing set
Swing Set
Swing Set is an EP by Ani Difranco, released July 11, 2000 on Righteous Babe Records.-Track listing:#"Swing " – 3:57#"Swing " – 6:13#"To the Teeth " – 6:12...
s, or engage in activities such as basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, dodgeball
Dodgeball
Dodgeball is any of a variety of games in which players try to hit other players on the opposing team with balls while avoiding being hit themselves. This article is about a well-known form of team sport with modified rules that is often played in physical education classes and has been featured...
, or four square
Four square
Four square, also known as squareball, boxball, and in Canada, champ, is a ball game played among four individuals on a square court divided into quadrants...
. Many middle schools also offer recess in an effort to provide students with a sufficient opportunity to consume quick snacks, communicate with their peers, visit the restroom, study, and/or other various activities.
Importance of play in child development
Although no formal education exists during recess, sociologists and psychologistPsychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
s consider recess an integral portion of child development, to teach them the importance of social skills and physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
. Play is essential for children to develop not only their physical abilities, but also their intellectual, social, and moral capabilities. Via play, children are able to learn about the world around them. By role playing, children are able to experience, and gain insight on, a socio-emotional level. Psychomotor learning
Psychomotor learning
Psychomotor learning is the relationship between cognitive functions and physical movement. Psychomotor learning is demonstrated by physical skills such as movement, coordination, manipulation, dexterity, grace, strength, speed; actions which...
also gives children clues on how the world around them works as they can physically demonstrate such skills. Children need the freedom to play in order to learn skills necessary to become competent adults such as coping with stress and problem solving. Through the means of caregiver's observations of children’s play, one is able to identify deficiencies in children’s development.
If the weather is bad, recess may be held indoors, in the classroom, where the students finish work, play board games or other activities that take more than one to play. This helps encourage group activity and some of the games are also educational. Or, they might play educational computer games or read books.
Effects of limiting recess
Data suggests that students who lack opportunities for play do not grow into happy, well adjusted adults, and, although schools are now focusing their attention on the test scores while eliminating recess/physical education, studies show that recess and/or P.E. actually increase test scores as the students produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory and problem solving.Childhood obesity
Childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. As methods to determine body fat directly are difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is often based on BMI. Due to the rising prevalence of obesity in children and its many adverse health effects...
and type 2 diabetes are also a major concern as the United States youth do not get the physical outlet needed not only for their cognitive development but for their physical health.
International recess
In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, high school students traditionally do not have 'free periods' but do have 'break' which normally occurs just after their second lesson of the day (normally referred to as second period). This generally lasts for around 20 minutes. During break, snacks are usually sold in the school's canteen and students normally use this time to socialize or finish off any homework or schoolwork that needs to be finished. Once break is finished, students go to their next classroom to start period 3. Lunchtime usually starts just after period 4 and lasts around 50-60 min. This system is more or less the same in junior schools in the UK and Ireland, but infant school
Infant school
An Infant school is a term used primarily in the United Kingdom for school for children between the ages of four and seven years. It is usually a small school serving a particular locality....
s will normally add another breaktime towards the end of the day. Another difference in junior and infant schools, compared to high schools, is the use of play equipment (such as hula hoop, skipping rope, balls, etc.) available to play with, opposed to a full playground (with climbing walls, swings, slides, jungle gym, etc.)
In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, generally in public schools "recess" occurs as a break between morning and mid-morning classes. It is followed after mid-morning classes by a more lengthy break, lunchtime. Thus, the structure of the school-day consists of three lesson blocks, broken up by two intervals: recess and lunch respectively.There must be at least an hours worth of "recess" or "free period" a week. In Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, the short morning break is generally referred to as "little lunch" and the longer lunchtime break as "big lunch".
Celebrated the third Thursday in June each year is Recess At Work Day. While the effect of play on children has been studied it has been noted that adults lose their creatvity, imagination, and ability to innovate as they get older and spend less time in social settings with the opportunity to have a recess of sorts. The Founder of Recess At Work Day suggests all organizations take some time off on this day to play or use it as an opportunity for a dose of fun learning, training or staff development. In addition the Founder hopes that as adults see the benefits of taking a break there will be a return of Recess in schools.
United States
In North America, the point where recess ends in a child's education is largely dependent on the school districtSchool district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
, though by many standards it is removed when the child enters middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
. However, in college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
, students usually have free periods, which are similar in spirit, although usually one studies or talks with one's friends during such times rather than playing games, which are made difficult by the lack of a playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
.
With the No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
of 2001, many schools have significantly cut back on the amount of recess time for children, even in preschool. Some have even eliminated recess all together. With the focus now on preparing the children for testing into the next grade, there is less time to incorporate physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
or recess into the curriculum.
In Washington, recess and physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
are being removed from the curricula. This is a controversy because according to some researchers and child education specialists, children need a break from schoolwork.