Physical Education

What is Physical Education?

Physical education should be regarded as a vital and dynamic aspect of every educational program. Physical education is education through human movement. It is the aspect of education that contributes to the total growth and development of the child mostly through selected movement and physical activities. It also enhances academic learning, helps meet the overall elementary school mission, employs authentic assessment strategies, treats students with dignity and respect and applies instructional and motivational techniques (Pettifor 1). Physical education prepares students to live physically active, healthy lives through learning experiences at school. These learning experiences must include appropriate motor skills, healthy-related fitness, knowledge of health-related fitness, confidence in being active, and also an appreciation of the benefits of physical activity. Physical education helps develop the whole child, including the child's cognitive development, physical development, social development and also helps develop psychomotor skills.

According to the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum; Grades 1-8 resouce, there are three strands of physical education: Healthy Living, Fundamental Movement Skills, and Active Participation. Healthy Living includes healthy eating, growth development, personal safety and injury prevention and substance abuse. Fundamental Movement Skills includes locomotion/travelling, manipulation and stability. Active Participation includes physical activity, physical fitness, living skills and safety (OPHEA 2).

Some key points of a Quality Health and Physical Education Program:

Ð'* Skills and activities relate back to Curriculum Expectations

Ð'* Students have the opportunity to participate in daily vigorous physical activity.

Ð'* Physical activities are planned organized

Ð'* The program includes everybody

Ð'* Activities are challenging and engage students to build a commitment to leading an active life.

Ð'* Variety of assessment strategies.

Creating a Positive and Learning Environment

The positive learning atmosphere you set in the regular classroom should carry over to the physical education setting. Resist the urge to become a harsh drill sergeant because you are nervous about allowing your students to move. At times you may feel like you have lost control of the classroom because they are continuously moving around. As a teacher, try to ensure that you offer a warm but firm demeanor that creates an emotionally and safe learning environment. It is important to encourage your students to make everyone feel special, valued and needed by setting a good example.

Strategies for Being Positive:

Ð'* Catch students being good

Ð'* Expect students to follow your directions

Ð'* Keep your cool and address problems quickly

Ð'* Focus on the behaviour not on the person

Ð'* Be consistent

Ð'* Use a continuum of teaching styles

Ð'* Use positive tools

(Pettifor, 47)

Accommodations

All students deserve a quality Physical Education program that addresses their individual needs and strengths. In order to accommodate students with special needs, consult support staff and ensure that program accommodations and modifications are put in place so that they have to opportunity to learn and perform to their full potential. Teachers need to be familiar with students' Individual Education Plans and establish good communication skills with parents and needs to have a better understanding of how to meet students special needs.

Balanced Physical Education Program

A balanced Physical Education program has a broad selection of activities that meet a diversity of needs in order to ensure that all students are given every opportunity to learn and perform to their full potential (OPHEA 14). The three strands (Healthy Living, Fundamental Movement Skills and Active Participation) provide a framework for planning a program that provides a balanced instructional curriculum. Teachers must ensure that the program and lessons are appropriate to the students' ages and levels of development. They must use a variety of instructional strategies to ensure that all students are given the opportunity to learn and perform to the best of their ability.

Healthy Living Ð'- This part of the program provides students with information and knowledge on how to develop, maintain, and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Students can solve problems, make decisions and set goals with regard to their personal health and well-being. The four components are; Healthy eating, Growth and development, and personal safety and injury prevention (Ontario Curriculum, 10)

Fundamental Movement Skills Ð'- There are three movement skills in this strand; locomotion/travelling, manipulation, and stability. These basic movement skills are the foundation for the physical activity and are essential for the development of effective motor skills. These skills can enhance a students interpersonal, cognitive and emotional development. Therefore, it is essential that the physical activities are inclusive and engaging (Ontario Ministry of Education, 20)

Students will develop skills related to the following four principles of movement:

Ð'* Body awareness

Ð'* Space awareness

Ð'* Effort

Ð'* Relationship

Active Participation Ð'- Daily vigorous activity must be part of a child's daily routine. This help the child become physically fit, independent learners and also to develop interpersonal skills.

Physical activity provides students with a variety of opportunities to increase their self esteem, develop their interpersonal skill, and develop respect for others. Students play individually or in groups and should participate in activities such as dance, gymnastics,