Fitness For Life
Course Description
Fitness For Life
Instruction in physical education strives to develop healthy, responsible students who have the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to work together in groups, think critically, and participate in a variety of activities that lead to a lifelong healthy lifestyle. The Physical Education Core Curriculum utilizes appropriate instructional practices to develop competence and confidence in a variety of movement forms such as sports, dance, and recreational and physical fitness activities. The emphasis is on providing success and enjoyment for all students, and not just for those who are "physically gifted." The Physical Education Core represents a shift from a team sports-dominated program to a lifetime activity format with connections to community resources. Knowledge of the relationship between proper nutrition and the benefits of a consistent fitness regimen is the common thread running through the Physical Education Core. Reading and writing practices such as reports, activity journals, and portfolios are incorporated in the Core to broaden the physical education experience and to contribute to the overall literacy of students. Students develop life skills through cooperative and competitive activity participation and learn to value academic service experiences.
Intended Learning Outcomes for Secondary Physical Education
The Intended Learning Outcomes reflect the skills, attitudes, standards, and behaviors students should learn as a result of instruction in physical education. They represent an essential part of the Physical Education Core Curriculum and provide teachers with standards for evaluation of student learning.
The primary goal of physical education instruction is to develop attitudes, skills, and behaviors to empower students to live healthy, productive lives. By the end of secondary physical education instruction, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate competency in activity and physical fitness.
Use basic offensive and defensive strategies in a variety of games and activities.
Recognize the health benefits of lifetime activity participation.
Perform a series of simple and complex activities with confidence.
Analyze and compare the health and fitness benefits from a variety of physical activities. Describe and demonstrate the significance of basic physiological principles to the development of physical fitness.
Demonstrate an understanding of the five elements of physical fitness — muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and proper nutrition.
Develop a personal fitness plan for short and long-term development, complete with assessment strategies.
2. Derive satisfaction through fair play, skill development, and participation with people of diverse backgrounds.
Enjoy participating with people of different backgrounds and skill levels.
Enjoy the creative and aesthetic aspects of activity performance.
Seek to learn new physical activities.
Find pleasure contributing to team activities.
Participate in lifetime recreation offerings in the community.
Understand the ethical responsibilities in activity participation.
3. Apply complex thinking through problem-solving skills in activity settings.
Understand the significance of physiological principles to the development of a personal fitness plan.
Compare the physical, social, and emotional benefits of a variety of fitness activities.
Evaluate and select ways to improve health through proper nutrition and exercise.
Use internal and external feedback to modify and improve performance.
Design short- and long-term fitness programs.
4. Develop strategies for a lifelong healthy lifestyle.
Understand the importance of activity and proper nutritional choices.
Develop a personal fitness program that reflects individual interests and needs.
Understand the ways in which age and body changes impact activity and nutritional choices over a lifespan.
Utilize community resources for activity and fitness.
Utilize activity to reduce stress in everyday life.
5. Apply attributes of responsible citizenship.
Respect and celebrate individual differences in activity settings.
Self-officiate in recreational sports participation.
Follow prescribed rules and standards ensuring fair play.
Communicate effectively and respectfully to resolve conflict in activity settings.
Recognize the value and personal rewards of volunteering in community settings.
Understand the responsibilities of both participant and spectator in sporting activities to avoid verbal and/or physical confrontation at sporting events.