Chapter 1
What is Physical Education?
Objectives Chapter 1
• Define and describe Physical
Education
• Cite 5 qualities of a physically
educated person
• Articulate the benefits of a active
lifestyle
• Articulate the importance of physical
education to the growing child
Objectives continued
• Explain the role of the elementary
classroom teacher in providing quality
physical education for students.
• Express the educational value of
recess
• Explain the role of the elementary
classroom teacher in providing quality
recess time.
Describe the following terms:
• Physical Education
– Learning through movement
– Learning about movement
• Play- movements children do during
their free time; minimum of adult
supervision; children select those
activities that hold their attention
• Games – more organized; have
arbitrary rules set by the participants
and they enforce them
• Physical Education – curriculum,
goals, objectives, assessment
• Organized Sport Activities – organized
games that have established,
accepted, published rules
• Athletics – goal is to produce a few
highly skilled players – selected by a
coach
Unpleasant PE Experiences
Bowyer (1996) Survey
•Performing fitness
testing in front of
peers
•Running that was
physically demanding
•Getting hit and
sitting out playing
dodgeball
•Being picked last
as a team member
•Being unable to
climb a rope
•Possessing
insufficient skill to
play basketball and
softball
Characteristics
of a Physically Educated Person
• HAS learned skills necessary to
perform a variety of physical activities
• IS physically fit
• DOES participate regularly in physical
activity
• KNOWS the implications of and
benefits from involvement in physical
education
• VALUES physical activity and its
contribution to a healthful lifestyle
Content Standards
NASPE, 1995
• Standard 1
Student demonstrates competency in
many movement forms and
proficiency in a few movement forms.
• Standard 2
Student applies movement concepts
and principles to the learning and
development of motor skills.
Content Standards
NASPE, 1995
• Standard 3
Student exhibits a physically active
lifestyle.
• Standard 4
Student achieves and maintains a
health-enhancing level of physical
fitness
• Standard 5
Student demonstrates responsible
personal and social behavior in
physical activity settings.
Content Standards
NASPE, 1995
• Standard 6
Student demonstrates understanding
and respect for differences among
people in physical activity settings.
• Standard 7
Student understands that physical
activity provides the opportunity for
enjoyment, challenge, self-expression,
and social interaction.
NASPE recognizes that educators must teach the
whole child: the physical, intellectual and social
aspects.
Physical Education Guidelines
for Elementary School Children
• Children should
– Be physically active each day
– Have daily physical education (30
minutes)
– Have weekly minimum of 150 minutes of
physical education
– Have daily free play time
Benefits of Being Physical Active
As you age….
•Reduced risks of
•Improved movement
skills
•Improved physical
fitness
•Reduction of stress
•Healthier mental states
•Improved cooperation
skills
•Feelings of success
–Coronary heart disease
–Diabetes
–Hypertension
–Obesity
–Certain cancers
Why Do We Need PE Programs
in Elementary Schools?
• Because recess cannot substitute for PE (focus
and goals of recess and PE are different).
• Because children are more active outside of school
time on days when PE time was increased.
• To improve the skill level of children.
• To fight the sharp decline in regular participation in
physical activity as children get older.
• To encourage girls to regularly participate in
physical activity as they participate less than boys.
The Future for Elementary School
Physical Education
PEP Act
Multiple intelligence theory
Gardner suggests 8 intelligences:
linguistic; logical-mathematical; spatial;
musical; bodily kinesthetic;
interpersonal; intrapersonal; naturalist
Brain-based education
Role of Classroom Teacher as a
Movement Educator
• Three possible situations:
– Totally responsible for physical
education for your students (just like
being responsible for reading and
mathematics)
– Totally responsible for physical
education, but school district provides a
physical education specialist who serves
as a resource for the classroom teacher
– No responsibility for physical education
as your school has a physical education
specialist hired to teach PE to your
students
Shape of the Nation Report
NASPE, 2002
• 48 states have mandates for PE (Colorado and South Dakota
do not)
• Only 1 state requires daily PE for all K-12 students (Illinois)
• Only 1 state requires daily PE for all K-8 students (Alabama)
• When mandated, PE time requirements range from 30-150
minutes a week
• A few states are in the process of developing state tests to
hold students accountable for state standards in PE
(California, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, New York, South
Carolina, and Vermont)
Your Role as Movement Educator
(regardless of the situation)
• Advocating and providing daily
physical activity for your students
• Forming partnerships with physical
education specialists
• Enhancing your physical education
teaching skills
• Knowing and utilizing national and
state standards
• Supporting the value of physical
education
Classroom teachers…
You can support the value of being
physically active (or not)…
Your attitude can portray fun (or not)….
excitement (or not)….
You can point out the benefits of
physical activity (or not)!
Benefits of Recess
Physical
Mental
Social
Improves heart/lung Provides a break
fitness
from studying
Builds decisionmaking skills
Improves movement
skills
Develops
relationships with
others
Improves muscular
strength
Creates
self-confidence