Physical Education Curriculum

Physical activity in school is important for various reasons. For starters, it keeps child active and healthy. Additionally, a physical education curriculum can get students into a workout routine, which can stay with them throughout life. Not surprisingly, many students dislike physical education. Throughout high school and middle school, students are typically required to dress-out for physical education classes. What’s more, they must pass basic physical education requirements. Gym class is not simply a place to run and exercise. Rather, the purpose is to ensure that children receive the exercise that contributes to good health.

In most cases, school districts outline a specific physical education curriculum, and it is the responsibility of teachers to implement the curriculum into the classrooms. Throughout elementary school, the curriculum is very simple. Young children spend the majority of the class period playing games. Even so, exercise is incorporated into the education. They’ll likely jump rope, play catch, or run around the gym. With older grade levels, physical education teachers introduce additional sports such as dodge ball, soft ball, basketball, and more. The physical education curriculum requires that students learn the fundamentals of popular sports. Meanwhile, students enjoy a daily workout.

Once students move into middle school and high school, the physical education curriculum becomes a bit more detailed. For example, students will likely spend entire weeks learning the rules of various sports such as volleyball, baseball, basketball, flag football, and much more. In additional, students will alternate between physical education and health education. Aspects of the health portion include good nutrient, CPR, fitness training, and sex education. In many school systems, a driver’s education program is also incorporated into the physical education curriculum. For approximately six to eight weeks, students substitute gym classes with driver’s education. Since students typically complete their physical education requirement in the eleventh grade, driver education is normally offered in the tenth grade.