A fundamental objective for the physical educator is to provide students with effective, age-appropriate physical education (PE) in a safe environment. The importance of PE must be emphasized in light of the strong association between regular physical activity and health. Currently, 18% of U.S. children ages 6 to 19 are classified as overweight…

America is in the midst of an obesity epidemic. Obesity rates among adults have increased by more than 60% in the last 10 years to where approximately 25% of American adults are obese today. According to Dr. Duane Alexander, Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH, 2003), the number of obese children is…

The number of children and youth who are overweight has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. According to the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 years are obese. In…

Background: In 2005, the North Carolina State Board of Education updated the Healthy Active Children Policy to include a requirement that all kindergarten through eighth-grade children receive at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each school day through physical education, recess, and other creative approaches. This study…

A national survey of 500 postsecondary institutions was undertaken to assess the services, programs, and facilities accessible to handicapped students. Among findings were that 22% of those responding provided special physical education course(s) and that, of 31 colleges or universities listed as members of the Association on Handicapped Student…

Three considerations governed the planning of a new activity center at Hope College (Michigan): (1) The building should be an activity-oriented rather than a spectator-oriented facility; (2) it should maintain tremendous flexibility in meeting its functions; and (3) it should have a maximum amount of usable space. (JN)

The nature of intramural programming has changed over the years; competitive leagues do not dominate the schedule of events as they once did. Strategically placed throughout the year are at least four other programming options, which include self-paced programs, challenge activities, social events, and club sports. This handbook provides the…

Most of the activities in this booklet have been developed around skills related to the outdoors and, in particular, to the logging industry and forest fire fighting. The activities attempt to develop muscles, coordination skills, and teamwork. They also give the students (junior high school or high school) and staff the opportunity to do…

Empirical research on the role of school recess is reviewed. Effects of child-level and school-level variables on recess behavior and the impact of recess on classroom behavior and social and cognitive competence are discussed. It is concluded that recess has important educational and developmental implications. (SLD)