Enhancing Physical Education
with Human Anatomy and
Physiology
Michelle Day
Unit Summary
Students will learn information on
anatomy and physiology and how it
relates to physical education.
Students will complete an essay and
group presentation as part of the
unit. Students will be researching
and working together in groups as
well as on their own.
Target Content Standards
o Assess one’s own muscle strength, muscle endurance, aerobic
capacity, flexibility, and body composition by using a scientifically
based health-related fitness assessment.
o Develop individual goals, from research-based standards, for each
of the five components of health-related physical fitness.
o Assess periodically the attainment of, or progress toward,
personal physical fitness goals and make necessary adjustments
to a personal physical fitness program.
o Identify physical activities that are effective in improving each of
the health-related physical fitness components.
Physical Education Model Content Standards for California Public Schools 2005
Unit Objectives
During this unit, I want my students to
o Be able to identify muscles and explain their actions
o Be able to discuss and present the different energy systems
o Be able to create their own fitness plans
By creating this unit, I want to
o Teach my students how to develop more physically active
lifestyles.
o Show my students how to work out and stay fit in an
efficient yet in injury preventative fashion.
Curriculum-Framing Questions
Essential Question:
o What is anatomy & physiology?
Unit Questions
o Why is learning physiology important to exercise?
o How can I incorporate anatomy into exercising?
Content Questions
o What different energy systems do you use when exercising?
o How can I create a fitness plan?
Student Needs Assessment
What I can learn from the assessment
o
o
What my students are curious about learning.
How my students feel about the project.
o To know how to motivate and challenge students.
What my students can gain from the
assessment
o To begin to think of what physical activities they might
want to engage in for the project.
Why a Project in a Physical
Education Class?
Project-based learning is valuable because it
will develop 21st century skills by
o Building communication skills by working with
other students in small groups.
o Giving students a better understanding of the
human body to improve athletic abilities.
o Allowing students to apply information and
theories to their own lives and future physical
fitness.
o Allowing students to learn how to work
efficiently with resources and time given.
Project Summary
Students will learn the fundamentals of
anatomy and physiology. They will then
research additional information to create a
fitness plan for themselves, as well as one
for a friend or family member. Students
will be required to write an essay, give a
group presentation, and be able to show
that they are engaging in his or her fitness
plan.