The effect of nature activities during 8 weeks on some physical fitness parameters and academic success in children aged 11-14

It is stated by experts that children who receive sports education in schools or engage in sports activities will be supported in terms of school success, systematic work and discipline. The happiness of the child, who feels that he belongs to a social group, relaxes by throwing off the excess energy, the support of his environment and the achievements increase his motivation and increase his physical, social and mental activity. The aim of this study is to evaluate some physical characteristics and academic achievements of girls and boys participating in school team activities. In the research, middle school students aged 11-14 were played nature-based games for two days and 90 minutes a day for 8 weeks and a nature walk was made. The effects of this nature walk and nature-based games on some physical characteristics of children aged 11-14 were investigated. A total of 60 people, 15 (50%) girls and 15 (50%) boys in the study group, 15 girls (50%) and 15 (50%) boys in the control group, participated in this study. For the data, the academic achievement scores of the 1st written exam and 2nd written exam in the 2020-2021 Education-teaching period (1st semester) and the physical test results in November and January were measured. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to determine whether there was a difference between the pretest and posttests of the control and experimental groups, taking into account the descriptive statistics of the groups, as well as the genders statistically. Considering the 1st and 2nd measurements of the subject group, height (156,03 cm and 159,60 cm), body weight (47,80 kg and 51,00 kg), push-ups (10,79 and 12,07), shuttle pull (45,90 and 57,90), anaerobic power (71,17 kgm/s and 74,86 kgm/s), Vo2max (21,79 ml/kg/min and 22,89 ml/kg/min) There was a significant (p<0,05) difference in grade point average (85,94 points and 84,24 points) measurements, but not in other parameters. In the control group, height (152,60 cm and 156,20 cm), body weight (45,47 kg and 46,33 kg), anaerobic power (66,16 kg / sec and 69,02 kg / sec), A significant (p<0,05) difference was found in grade point average (80,87 points and 79,33 points) measurements, but not in other parameters. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the nature exercises performed for 8 weeks could significantly improve the health and physical characteristics of 11-14 year old girls and boys who participated in the study.