What Makes a Quality Health and Physical Education Program?
As a teacher faced with the task of designing and implementing several health and physical education units, many feel overwhelmed and ask the question, "Where do I begin?". With the sky being the limit in terms of research, articles, resources and texts regarding healthy and physical education, it can be difficult to determine components that make a successful and high quality health and physical education program. This is where our adventure begins! Dive in and discover this compilation of fantastic resources and learn what components make a fun and successful physical education program for today's youth.
Components of Physical Education
As a teacher, one of the most important documents that will guide your health and physical education program is the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum. This document was produced by the Ministry of Education in 2010 and clearly states the fundamental components of health and physical education which education needs to teach. According to the curriculum, healthy active living encompasses many skills and components. Within the curriculum of healthy active living, we have four main focus skills which include personal skills, living skills, interpersonal skills and critical and creative thinking skills. From those skills, three different areas of the curriculum emerge including movement competence, healthy living and active living. Within each of those areas, there are specific skills and competencies which children need to be taught. In the center of the curriculum lies physical literacy and health literacy, as some argue that the successful achievement of all other skills and competencies stem from the successful development of physical literacy and health literacy.
To examine these skills and competencies in further detail, follow the link to the curriculum document.
To examine these skills and competencies in further detail, follow the link to the curriculum document.
Exploring the Curriculum document
The following mindmap maps out four important aspects of the Health and Physical Education curriculum document, which include fundamental principles, roles and responsibilities, curriculum expectations and means of assessment.
What is Physical Literacy?
Physical Health and Education Canada (2013) define being physically literate as, "the ability to move with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities in multiple environments that benefit the healthy development of the whole person". Without the appropriate development physical literacy (or fundamental movement and sports skills), research shows that children and youth will withdraw from physical activity and sports at a younger age (PHE Canada, 2013).
For more information about what physical literacy is and its importance in the physical education curriculum, access the following article.
For more information about what physical literacy is and its importance in the physical education curriculum, access the following article.
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Safety in Physical Education
Safety is a huge component in designing a successful physical education program. To be successful in planning safe and appropriate lessons, teachers can access resources put out by OPHEA. "OPHEA is a not-for-profit organization that works in partnership with school boards, public health, government, non-government organizations and private sector organizations to develop groundbreaking programs that support healthy active schools and communities." OPHEA has created a document that outlines the safety rules and regulations to follow when teaching a physical education program.
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Who is OHPEA?
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