According to Eric Jensen, play and movement enhances brain connections and makes learning other subjects and skills that much easier. Research in the areas of movement and learning has been supported by a number of scientists and educators. Movement increases heart rate and circulation, which in turn enhances educational arousal. Increased arousal tends to narrow attention to targeted tasks. Stretching is an activity that increases oxygen to key brain areas, which increases this arousal.
Activity enhances spatial learning.
Since much of learning is relative to where you are when you learn something, it is possible for new scenery to positively influence recall. Allowing students to move to different parts of the room gives the same effect. In small groups with music playing in the background, students stand in a circle and the leader starts a clapping or finger-snapping rhythm. Once the rhythm is established, each student offers something they learned in the course of the day. Then it is the next person's turn.