Physical Activity and Fitness: Why Exercise Matters Worksheet

Question 1

List three ways regular physical activity can help your body stay healthy.

Accepted Answer

Regular physical activity can strengthen your heart, build stronger muscles and bones, and help your body use energy in a healthy way. It can also improve balance, coordination, and sleep.

Question 2

Your heart beats faster when you run or play a fast game. Explain why this happens.

Accepted Answer

Your heart beats faster because your muscles need more oxygen and energy during exercise. The heart pumps more blood to carry oxygen to the working muscles.

Question 3

Circle the activity that is mostly aerobic exercise: stretching your arms, jogging around the playground, lifting a heavy backpack one time, or sitting and reading. Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

Jogging around the playground is mostly aerobic exercise because it makes the heart and lungs work harder for several minutes. Aerobic activities use oxygen and help build endurance.

Question 4

Match each activity to the type of fitness it helps most: push-ups, toe touches, and bike riding. Use the choices strength, flexibility, and endurance.

Accepted Answer

Push-ups help strength because they work muscles. Toe touches help flexibility because they stretch muscles. Bike riding helps endurance because it can keep the heart and lungs working for a longer time.

Question 5

A student says, "I only need to exercise if I want to play sports." Write a response that explains why this idea is not correct.

Accepted Answer

This idea is not correct because exercise is helpful for everyone, not only athletes. Physical activity helps the heart, lungs, muscles, bones, mood, sleep, and energy for daily life.

Question 6

Look at this weekly activity plan: Monday 20 minutes walking, Tuesday 30 minutes soccer, Wednesday 0 minutes, Thursday 15 minutes dancing, Friday 25 minutes biking. How many total minutes of physical activity are listed for the week?

Accepted Answer

The total is 90 minutes of physical activity. You add 20 + 30 + 0 + 15 + 25 to get 90 minutes.

Question 7

Name two safety habits that can help prevent injuries during physical activity.

Accepted Answer

Two safety habits are warming up before exercise and wearing the right shoes or protective gear. Drinking water and using safe spaces to play can also help prevent injuries.

Question 8

Explain why warming up before exercise is helpful.

Accepted Answer

Warming up is helpful because it slowly gets the heart, muscles, and joints ready to move. It can lower the chance of injury and make activity feel easier.

Question 9

A class has recess for 20 minutes. Maya spends 5 minutes tying her shoes, 10 minutes playing tag, and 5 minutes sitting. What fraction of recess did Maya spend being active?

Accepted Answer

Maya spent 10 out of 20 minutes being active, which is 10/20 or 1/2 of recess. This means she was active for half of the recess time.

Question 10

Choose the better after-school plan for fitness and explain why: Plan A is 45 minutes of outdoor play and 30 minutes of screen time. Plan B is 10 minutes of outdoor play and 2 hours of screen time.

Accepted Answer

Plan A is better for fitness because it includes more time for physical activity and less time sitting. More movement helps the heart, muscles, bones, and energy level.

Question 11

Describe how physical activity can help your mood or your brain.

Accepted Answer

Physical activity can help your mood by reducing stress and helping you feel calmer or happier. It can also help your brain focus and be ready to learn.

Question 12

Give one example of a strength activity and explain which muscles it uses.

Accepted Answer

One example of a strength activity is doing push-ups. Push-ups use arm, shoulder, chest, and core muscles to help lift and lower the body.

Question 13

Give one example of a flexibility activity and explain why flexibility matters.

Accepted Answer

One example of a flexibility activity is stretching the legs gently after a warm-up. Flexibility matters because it helps joints move well and can make daily movements and exercise safer.

Question 14

A student wants to build endurance. Should the student choose a 2-minute slow stretch or a 25-minute brisk walk? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The student should choose the 25-minute brisk walk because endurance activities last longer and make the heart and lungs work steadily. A slow stretch is better for flexibility than endurance.

Question 15

Write a simple goal for being physically active this week. Include the activity, how long you will do it, and how many days you will try it.

Accepted Answer

A good goal could be: I will walk, bike, or play actively for 30 minutes on 4 days this week. This goal is clear because it names the activity, the time, and the number of days.

Physical Activity and Fitness: Why Exercise Matters

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