How the Body Knows Its Mind: The Surprising Power of the Physical Environment to Influence
How You Think and Feel Beilock, Sian (2015)

The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain
Murphy Paul, Annie (2021)

Enhancing Children’s Cognition With Physical Activity Games
Tomporowski, P., McCullick, B., & Pesce, C. (2015)

Mind in Motion: How Action Shapes Thought
Tversky, Barbara (2019)

​Movement Matters: How Embodied Cognition Informs Teaching and Learning
Macrine & Fugate (Editors) 2022

Click HERE for a summary of articles on enhancing learning using movement (curated by Nancy in 2022)

The effects of physical activity interventions on prereading, early word recognition and spelling development in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis  This EXCELLENT article is not open access, but a lengthy summary is available at the above link. Quoting from the Conclusions:  “Results from the present review and meta-analysis suggest that the integration of physical activity into the classroom, using activities with a close temporal connection to the academic task (i.e., high integration interventions), appears to be an effective strategy to improve children’s word recognition and spelling skills.”(VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE: The vast majority of the skill-based movements in Nancy’s book Secret Code Actions would be considered “high integration”.)  

“A Narrative Review of School-based Physical Activity for Enhancing Cognition and Learning: The Importance of Relevancy and Integration” If you only have a few minutes, this MUST READ article explains why weaving skill-based movement into instruction and practice may be valuable for some children.

​An Evolutionary Upgrade of Cognitive Load Theory: Using the Human Motor System and Collaboration to Support the Learning of Complex Cognitive Tasks

Effects of 8 weeks With Embodied Learning on 5–6‑Year‑Old Danish Children’s Pre‑reading Skills and Word Reading Skills: the PLAYMORE Project, DK 

​Effects of a Classroom-based Program on Physical Activity and On-task Behaviour

​Exercise and Children’s Intelligence, Cognition, and Academic Achievement

How Seeing and Using Gestures Make Ideas More Memorable

Using Actions to Enhance Memory: Effects of Enactment, Gestures, and Exercise on Human Memory

​Strategies for classroom physical activity in schools (CDC)

​The Canadian Pediatric Society Physical Activity Guidelines

​