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Classroom Jobs for Students that Require Physical Activity

Assigning classroom jobs for students is a wonderful way to encourage independence and to allow for functional movement breaks throughout the day. When students have to complete their classroom jobs, they are being responsible and usually getting in some physical activity and functional fine motor skill practice.

All children benefit from physical activity throughout the school day.  Whether it be brain breaks, multisensory lessons or recess, physical activity helps students get the brain ready for optimal learning.  Classroom jobs or chores can also provide proprioceptive input (heavy work) that helps the nervous system to regulate.

List of Classroom Jobs for Students

Here are some suggestions for classroom job ideas for students that encourage physical activity, gross motor skills, fine motor skills and more!

  • Classroom messenger – student can walk throughout the school to deliver messages from the teacher to the office, other teachers, etc.
  • Team Mate – student can be a buddy for anyone who has to go on an errand.
  • Board Eraser – student is responsible to wash the whiteboards or chalkboards at the end of the day.
  • Sweeper – sweep the dust up off of the classroom floor.
  • Attendance Officer – walk around the room and check off the names of each student.
  • Window Watcher – student is responsible to open and close the shades.
  • Computer Technician – student turns on and off all of the computers. Help other students as needed with computer issues if able.
  • Door Monitor – push open and hold open doors for the students and staff.
  • Pencil Sharpener Classroom Job – great hand strengthening to sharpen all those pencils!
  • Line Leader – simply put LEAD the classroom line
  • Caboose – be the last person in the classroom line
  • Garbage Collector – Bend over, squat or crawl to pick up all the larger items that the broom can not get.
  • Librarian – lift, carry, and organize the books in the classroom library.
  • Recycle Duty – check all recycle bins and bring to proper location to empty bins.
  • Paper Duty – pass out and/or collect papers for the teacher.
  • Book Duty – pass out and/or collect books for the teacher.
  • Chair Stacker Classroom Job – stack all the chairs at the end of the day.
  • Mail Duty – picks up mail from the teacher’s mailbox in the office.
  • Desk Washer – wipes down the desks.
  • Organizing Officer – walks around the room and helps students keep their desks neat.
  • Phone Operator – gets up to answer the classroom phone when it rings.

Need More Ideas to Encourage Physical Activity Throughout the Day

Research has shown a positive association between 5-20 minute movement breaks in the classroom and cognitive skills, academic achievement, test scores, attitude and behavior. These quick movement breaks require no equipment and minimal space. 

Assigning classroom jobs for students is a wonderful way to encourage independence and for functional movement breaks throughout the day.