Understanding the Difference
IS IT PHYSICAL EDUCATION OR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY?
With heightened attention on childhood obesity prevention efforts, there
seems to be some confusion between the terms "physical education" and
"physical activity." Often the words are used interchangeably but they
differ in important ways. Understanding the difference between the two
is critical to understanding why both contribute to the development of
healthy, active children. I believe every child at our school deserves
both a quality physical education and physical activity program.
Our school physical education program offers the best opportunity to
provide physical activity to all children and to teach them the skills
and knowledge needed to establish and sustain an active lifestyle.
Physical education teachers assess student knowledge, motor and social
skills, and provide instruction in a safe, supportive environment. The
National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends
that schools provide 150 minutes of instructional physical education for
elementary school children, and 225 minutes for middle and high school
students per week for the entire school year. Based on sequence of
learning, physical education should not be compared to or confused with
other physical activity experiences such as recess, intramurals, or
recreational endeavors.
A quality physical education program
provides learning
opportunities, appropriate instruction, meaningful and challenging
content for all children, and should include: =20
Opportunity to Learn:
Instructional periods totaling 150 minutes per week
(elementary) and 225 minutes per week (middle and high school)
Qualified physical education teachers providing a
developmentally appropriate program
Teacher/student ratio in physical education no greater than
1:25 (elementary) and (1:30 middle/high) for optimal instruction
(similar to other classroom settings)
Adequate equipment and facilities for all students to be
active at the same time
Appropriate Instruction:
Full inclusion of all students
Maximum participation and ample practice opportunities for
class activities
Well-designed lessons that facilitate student learning
Out of school assignments that support learning and practice
of learned skills
Appropriate discipline and class management (physical
activity should never be used as punishment)
Use of regular assessment to monitor and reinforce student
learning
Meaningful Content:
Instruction in a variety of motor skills that are designed to
enhance the physical, mental, and social/emotional development of every
child
Fitness education and assessment to help children understand,
improve and/or maintain their physical well-being
Development of cognitive concepts about motor skill and
fitness
Opportunities to improve emerging social and cooperative
skills through physical activity and gain a multi-cultural perspective
Promotion of recommended amounts of physical activity now and
throughout life
Physical activity is bodily movement of any type and may include
recreational, fitness and sport activities such as jumping rope, playing
soccer, lifting weights, as well as daily activities such as walking to
the store, taking the stairs or raking the leaves. Similar health
benefits to those received during a physical education class are
possible during physical activity bouts when the participant is active
at an intensity that increases heart rate and produces heavier than
normal breathing. NASPE recommends school-age children accumulate at
least 60 minutes and up to several hours of physical activity per day
while avoiding prolonged periods of inactivity.
Opportunities to accumulate physical activity
during the
school day include time spent in physical education class,
classroom-based movement, recess, walking or biking to school, and
recreational sport and play that occurs before, during, and after
school. Parents and grandparents are urged to get active with their
children. The benefits of regular physical activity include:
Reduces the risk for overweight, diabetes and other chronic
diseases
Assists in improved academic performance
Helps children feel better about themselves
Reduces the risk for depression and the effects of stress
Helps children prepare to be productive, healthy members of
society and
Improves overall quality of life.
This school year I would like to encourage everyone to visit your
child's physical education class, the cornerstone of an active lifestyle
for all students. You will see children participating in developmentally
appropriate activities that help increase their physical competence,
self-esteem, and enjoyment of physical activity no matter what their
physical abilities may be. I want every child to embrace physical
activity!
