Program Purpose
Developmentally appropriate physical education programs are designed for all students, including those who are physically gifted and those who are physically or mentally challenged.
The program goal is to provide students of all abilities and interests with a foundation of movement experiences that eventually lead to active and healthy lifestyles.
Quality Physical Education Program
A quality physical education program is important because it provides learning experiences that meet the developmental needs of youth, helping to improve mental alertness, academic performance, readiness to learn, and enthusiasm for learning.
Components of a quality physical education program include:
• Instruction provided by a certified physical education specialist;
• Provision of adequate equipment and facilities;
• Developmentally appropriate and sequentially aligned instruction;
• Instruction centered on skill, cognitive, and social development;
• Inclusion of all students;
• Sufficient practice opportunities for class activities;
• Standards-driven lessons that facilitate student learning;
• Physical activity for student benefit, never for punishment; and
• Assessment for monitoring and reinforcing student learning.
Physically Educated Persons To pursue a lifetime of healthful physical activity, a physically educated person:
• Possesses the skills necessary to engage in a variety of physical activities,
• Demonstrates physical fitness,
• Participates regularly in physical activity,
• Recognizes the implications and benefits of participation in physical activities, and
• Considers physical activity an important component of a healthful lifestyle.
Physically Active Students Research shows that healthy, physically active students are better learners. Participation in physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stress, and depression; improves physical fitness; and may increase the likelihood of a more active lifestyle. Daily participation in a quality physical education program provides health-related benefits that enable students to enhance cognitive ability.
Alabama Course of Study: Physical Education 5 6
Alabama Course of Study: Physical Education Recess Time Recess time provides unstructured play opportunities that allow children to engage in physical activity, whereas the physical education program provides sequential instruction to enhance the development of motor skills, movement concepts, and physical fitness. It is recommended that both recess time and physical education be included in the daily elementary school curriculum. However, recess time should not replace, interfere with, or be scheduled before or after physical education instruction. During recess, adequate and safe spaces and facilities should be provided in order for all students to be physically active at the same time. Recess should be properly supervised by certified personnel following a recommended student-teacher ratio. In addition, medical and parental concerns for limited or restricted physical activity should also be applied to recess.
Assessment
Assessments such as student journals and skill rubrics are recommended to be used to assist with individualized instruction activities, yearly curriculum planning, communication with parents, and evaluation of program effectiveness. All assessments should be linked to the instructional program and should be designed to provide students with a confidential analysis regarding progress, including suggestions for opportunities to enhance performance. Another consideration regarding assessment involves the wearing of prescribed clothing for physical education activities. While such apparel is important during physical activity, it should not be a major factor in determining student grades. A final point involving assessment addresses the utilization of results of physical fitness tests. These tests help students gain knowledge of their physical capabilities and are not intended to be used as formal assessment tools for assigning numerical or letter grades. Lifetime Learners Physical education is designed to guide individuals in becoming physically active lifetime learners. Alabama’s students live in a world of rapid change. Tomorrow’s physical activities may look quite different from those of today. A developmentally and instructionally appropriate physical education program is derived from research, curricular development, interdisciplinary integration, technological advances, and multiple assessment tools. Instructional methodology provides for the success of all students by providing a safe, inclusive, and progressive learning environment.
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