Recess is ideal for students to accumulate recommended physical activity minutes and work on social-emotional learning skills. However, many students fail to meet national physical activity guidelines, and recess is often withheld from students for a myriad of reasons, including behavioral issues. Helping students build social-emotional skills and…

Physical education is the only school subject that provides access to psychomotor learning opportunity for all students, and, thus, should be the primary content identified in physical education standards. Half of the recently released 2024 SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards now focus specifically on social and personal…

Physical activity (PA) promotion for children with disabilities tends to be less of a priority in physical education teacher education programs when compared with a focus on motor and sport-specific skills and strategies. As a result, physical education teachers tend to have less competence in promoting PA of students with disabilities, leaving…

Physically Literacy (PL), a term adopted by SHAPE America in 2014, has been coined the goal of physical education. The purpose of this study is to define PL and give practical applications for physical educators while also reviewing current PL assessments. PL is defined as "the ability to move with competence and confidence in a wide variety…

Research has shown that children's levels of physical activity are set at an all-time low, which can lead to health problems such as obesity and diabetes. So, what can parents do to ensure that their child gets enough physical activity each day? This booklet answers that question and explains why the key to helping a child be more physically…

Competition is a ubiquitous component of American culture and in many US physical education programs. In this article, five myths associated with competition are dispelled: (1) Everyone likes competition, (2) Competition is motivational, (3) Competition is fun, (4) Competition promotes physical activity, and (5) Competition prepares children for…

Recent reports on youth sport participation continue to show alarming trends. Participation rates have been declining, particularly among children between the ages of six and 12 years old. According to the Aspen Institute's Project Play (2016) initiative, fewer young people are participating in organized team sports today than they were in 2008.…

The history of family and consumer sciences (FCS) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is discussed with an emphasis on the critical importance of the human dimension. EFNEP's focus on people, education for change, accountability, strategic partnerships, and public value are highlighted as an example and model for…

Children who become competent in a wide variety of motor skills and movement patterns are more likely to remain physically active for life. Physical education can achieve this goal by providing an extensive selection of activities and by including learning units that encourage students to increase their skill level and stay active year-round.…

The purpose of this article is to provide support for middle school physical education programs that meet the developmental needs of students while providing for student choice. With its health and physical education program called Creating Healthy Active Minds for Personal Success (CHAMPS), Moscow Middle School is striving to cultivate student…

The basic movement concepts associated with falling and rolling are needed for many dynamic adult activities. This is the case any time the activity, either by intent or accident, involves safely transitioning from a standing position to the ground quickly. Failure to teach these skills in school physical education could result in a barrier to…

Given increasing childhood inactivity and obesity, and minimal time for quality physical education in elementary and secondary schools, it is essential that children are motivated and held accountable for independent motor and movement skill practice. The Movement and Motor Skill Challenge System provides a comprehensive set of stimulating,…

Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs (CSPAP) are designed to provide expanded opportunities for physical activity beyond regularly scheduled physical education time-including before, during, and after school, as well as at home and in the community. While CSPAPs are gaining support, currently there are no models for designing,…

Teaching and learning of sport and sports-related games dominates the curriculum in most secondary physical education programs in America. For many secondary school students, playing games can be exciting and lead to a lifetime of participation in sport-related activities. Using the Tactical Games Model (TGM) (Mitchell et al., 2006) to teach the…

Physical and sport educators care that Johnny and Susie cannot move as well as their peers. They try their best to improve their skill levels because they value participation and skillfulness in sport and physical activity. However, many times there is a deeper problem as to why Johnny or Susie cannot move as well as their peers. Physical and…