GAME SENSE
Making Physical Activity Fun!
HAVING FUN AND
STAYING HEALTHY
Kids love to play! Active Play is one of the best
ways that children become and stay healthy.
Sports and other physical activities keep
children moving. They keep children excited
and full of life. According to the Australian
Department of Health, children aged 5 to 12 will
benefit greatly from a total of 60 minutes of
rigorous exercise every day. This can be via
sports, active gaming, dance and other fun
activities.
WHAT IS GAME SENSE?
In order to keep young children engaged and having fun, there
are exciting ways to go about teaching them about physical
activity. Sport doesn’t need to be a rigid activity. Sporting can be
flexible and fun.
When it comes to Sport and other physical activities, Game
Sense places an emphasis on the play element. Through play,
children learn and develop:
-
Decision Making
Problem Solving
Tactical Thinking
Development of skills essential to every day life
HOW IS GAME SENSE TAUGHT?
A Soccer Ball doesn’t necessarily have to be used to play Soccer.
Basketballs can be used for any number of games!
Game Sense is all about creativity, play and exploration. A class of
students will be better engaged in their physical activities if the
games are fun, no questions asked. By modifying pre-existing
games to better suit the children’s age group, physical fitness
levels, interests and abilities, health promoting activities can be
developed that truly inspire and engage.
A series of games that last for only a few minutes at a time will
ensure that the children remain interested. If the child becomes
bored with physical activity, that attitude could continue into later
years of life. Healthy activity is something that should be a lifelong
affair. Health is important.
A NEW WAY OF TEACHING
AND UNDERSTANDING HEALTH
Thinking and problem solving are very important elements in
the Game Sense model.
Children aren’t just taught how to be physically active, but
they are encouraged to think about why. Children may be
asked why one method of performing an activity might be
better than another. Developing understanding of their
actions gives children insight.
Giving children the opportunity to try out different skills to
achieve the same goal is very valuable, as this can be applied
to all parts of their lives.
For instance, asking “What was the purpose of the activity”
and “How could we better get the ball into the hoop”
challenge students, and encourage them to try new methods.
STRENGTHS AS A
TEACHING METHOD
Being able to keep children interested in learning
is the dream of every teacher. A happy student is
one that will enjoy learning, and what could be
better than wanting to be healthy?
Game Sense is a perfect example of how a
teacher can make learning fun for students. A
group of related activities and games played
back to back ensures that the children are always
looking forward to more fun and excitement.
As a teaching approach, it also encourages
better lesson plans in other subjects. Creative
teaching benefits students. Creative teaching
makes for a better teacher.
WHAT DOES THE SYLLABUS
HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ALL THIS?
By following the PDHPS K-6 syllabus, certain key objectives can be met.
Values and Attitudes
To develop students’:
Appreciation of and a commitment to healthy and socially just ways of living.
Skills
To develop students’ skills in:
Making, communicating and acting upon health decisions
Moving with competence and confidence
Forming and maintaining positive relationships
Knowledge
To develop students’ knowledge and understanding about:
Ways to enhance personal and community health and wellbeing
The composition, performance and appraisal of movement
Being creative and flexible as a
teacher can be a great way to
ensure that students can reach all of
the listed objectives.
Game Sense ensures that fun and
learning are bundled together in a
way that benefits everybody.
REFERENCES
Board of Studies NSW. (2007). Personal Development, Health and Physical
Education K-6: Syllabus. Retrieved from
https://vuws.uws.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-1134984-dt-content-rid209679_1/courses/101576_2012_1h/101576_2012_1h_ImportedContent_201
11005061331/k6_pdhpe_syl.pdf
Brookes, L. (n.d.). How the Game Sense Approach in Physical Education
can Develop Cognitive Thinking. Retrieved from
http://www.somerville.qld.edu.au/sites/default/files/How%20the%20Game
%20Sense%20Approach%20in%20Physical%20Education%20can%20Develo
p%20Congnitive%20Thinking_Leanne%20Brookes_0.pdf
Pill, S. (n.d.). Sports Coach : Teaching games for understanding. Retrieved
from
http://www.ausport.gov.au/sportscoachmag/coaching_processes/teachi
ng_games_for_understanding