Physical education is an integral part of the total education of every child in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12.
Physical educationoffers opportunities for all students to participate fully and explore a wide range of activities exposing students to new ideas and experiences. Equipment and activities are modified as needed to meet students’ developmental needs. Students develop self-confidence through participation in cooperative as well as competitive activities.
Physical education instruction focuses on developing the knowledge, attitudes, motor skills, behavioral skills, and confidence needed to adopt and maintain physically active lifestyles. Curriculum is aligned with National, State and district standards.
“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” - John F. Kennedy
Quality physical education programs are needed to increase the physical competence, health-related fitness, self-responsibility and enjoyment of physical activity for all students so that they can be physically active for a lifetime. Physical education programs can only provide these benefits if they are well-planned and well-implemented.
Improved Physical Fitness - Improves children's muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, body composition and cardiovascular endurance.
Skill Development - Develops motor skills, which allow for safe, successful and satisfying participation in physical activities.
Regular, Healthful Physical Activity - Provides a wide-range of developmentally appropriate activities for all children.
Support of Other Subject Areas - Reinforces knowledge learned across the curriculum.Serves as a lab for application of content in science, math and social studies.
Self Discipline - Facilitates development of student responsibility for health and fitness.
Improved Judgment - Quality physical education can influence moral development. Students have the opportunity to assume leadership, cooperate with others; question actions and regulations and accept responsibility for their own behavior.
Stress Reduction - Physical activity becomes an outlet for releasing tension and anxiety, and facilitates emotional stability and resilience.
Strengthened Peer Relationships - Physical education can be a major force in helping children socialize with others successfully and provides opportunities to learn positive people skills. Especially during late childhood and adolescence, being able to participate in dances, games and sports is an important part of peer culture.
Improved Self-confidence and Self-esteemPhysical education instills a stronger sense of self-worth in children based on their mastery of skills and concepts in physical activity. They can become more confident, assertive, independent and self-controlled.
Experience Setting Goals - Gives children the opportunity to set and strive for personal, achievable goals.
Center for Disease Control states, "Nearly half of young people 12-21 years of age are not vigorously active: moreover, physical activity sharply declines during adolescence...School-based interventions have been shown to be successful in increasing physical activity levels..."
Newsweek (2/96), "Physical activity is good not only for the heart, but also for the brain, feeding it glucose and oxygen, and increasing nerve connections, all of which makes it easier for children of all ages to learn. Numerous studies show that children who exercise do better in school."
Caterino & Polak (1999) suggest that such physical activity as running, jumping, and aerobic game playing have a definite impact of children's frontal lobe-a primary brain area for mental concentration, planning, and decision making.
Texas (1990) students involved in sports scored 17% higher than none-athletes.
Pollatschek & Hagen (1996) ,"Children who engage in daily physical education show superior motor fitness, academic performance, and attitude toward school as compared to their counterparts who do not have physical education.
(Sylwester) Movement facilitates cognition. Movement is a central mission of the brain.
(Jensen) Repetitive Gross Motor movement balances brain chemicals that calm behavior and elevates self-esteem and self worth, accommodates ADD/ADHD.
(Jensen) Motor skills are fundamental to learning. Memory is retrieved better when learned through movement.
(Dennison) Crossing the midline integrates the brain to organize itself. Neural activation occurs to many parts of the brain and equally to both hemispheres, making the brain more alert and energized for learning.
Physical educationoffers opportunities for all students to participate fully and explore a wide range of activities exposing students to new ideas and experiences. Equipment and activities are modified as needed to meet students’ developmental needs. Students develop self-confidence through participation in cooperative as well as competitive activities.
Physical education instruction focuses on developing the knowledge, attitudes, motor skills, behavioral skills, and confidence needed to adopt and maintain physically active lifestyles. Curriculum is aligned with National, State and district standards.
“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” - John F. Kennedy
Quality physical education programs are needed to increase the physical competence, health-related fitness, self-responsibility and enjoyment of physical activity for all students so that they can be physically active for a lifetime. Physical education programs can only provide these benefits if they are well-planned and well-implemented.
Improved Physical Fitness - Improves children's muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, body composition and cardiovascular endurance.
Skill Development - Develops motor skills, which allow for safe, successful and satisfying participation in physical activities.
Regular, Healthful Physical Activity - Provides a wide-range of developmentally appropriate activities for all children.
Support of Other Subject Areas - Reinforces knowledge learned across the curriculum.Serves as a lab for application of content in science, math and social studies.
Self Discipline - Facilitates development of student responsibility for health and fitness.
Improved Judgment - Quality physical education can influence moral development. Students have the opportunity to assume leadership, cooperate with others; question actions and regulations and accept responsibility for their own behavior.
Stress Reduction - Physical activity becomes an outlet for releasing tension and anxiety, and facilitates emotional stability and resilience.
Strengthened Peer Relationships - Physical education can be a major force in helping children socialize with others successfully and provides opportunities to learn positive people skills. Especially during late childhood and adolescence, being able to participate in dances, games and sports is an important part of peer culture.
Improved Self-confidence and Self-esteemPhysical education instills a stronger sense of self-worth in children based on their mastery of skills and concepts in physical activity. They can become more confident, assertive, independent and self-controlled.
Experience Setting Goals - Gives children the opportunity to set and strive for personal, achievable goals.
Center for Disease Control states, "Nearly half of young people 12-21 years of age are not vigorously active: moreover, physical activity sharply declines during adolescence...School-based interventions have been shown to be successful in increasing physical activity levels..."
Newsweek (2/96), "Physical activity is good not only for the heart, but also for the brain, feeding it glucose and oxygen, and increasing nerve connections, all of which makes it easier for children of all ages to learn. Numerous studies show that children who exercise do better in school."
Caterino & Polak (1999) suggest that such physical activity as running, jumping, and aerobic game playing have a definite impact of children's frontal lobe-a primary brain area for mental concentration, planning, and decision making.
Texas (1990) students involved in sports scored 17% higher than none-athletes.
Pollatschek & Hagen (1996) ,"Children who engage in daily physical education show superior motor fitness, academic performance, and attitude toward school as compared to their counterparts who do not have physical education.
(Sylwester) Movement facilitates cognition. Movement is a central mission of the brain.
(Jensen) Repetitive Gross Motor movement balances brain chemicals that calm behavior and elevates self-esteem and self worth, accommodates ADD/ADHD.
(Jensen) Motor skills are fundamental to learning. Memory is retrieved better when learned through movement.
(Dennison) Crossing the midline integrates the brain to organize itself. Neural activation occurs to many parts of the brain and equally to both hemispheres, making the brain more alert and energized for learning.