MIDDLETOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Elementary Physical Education Program
Elementary Physical Education Overall Goal
The overall goal of
Physical Education is that the student will achieve optimum growth and
development. Through physical activity, one will team skills, attitudes
and behaviors that are conducive to a healthy lifestyle. All activities that
are taught at the elementary school level are season related. Activities can
vary widely, from basic locomotor movements such as walking, running,
skipping, hopping, jumping, leaping, galloping and sliding, to non-locomotor
movements such as bending, swinging, turning, twisting, pushing, pulling,
fleeing, chasing, and tagging. Many activities that are worked on are
manipulative type activities. These are complex motor patterns, and stages
of development can be observed through young students performance.
Manipulative activities are throwing, catching, kicking and striking.
Students work on both individual and team type activities. All activities
can be adapted for a wide variety of special students. Skills are stressed
at the elementary level, "back to basics" is a central idea for skill
development. At the elementary level emphasis is not placed on winning,
it is placed on having a positive experience!
Some short-term goals are:
- Using physical education to learn or emphasize colors, shapes, sizes and letters.
- Learning about space, boundaries and direction.
- Knowledge: Learning and understanding concepts in each activity.
Some long-term goals are:
- Better muscle tone.
- Increased flexibility and (ROM) Range of Motion.
- Improved cardiovascular fitness.
- Greater speed and muscular endurance.
- To increase students awareness of the health benefits they receive
through physical education.
Middletown Content Standards in Physical Education
- Demonstrates competency in many movement forms and proficiency in a few
movement forms.
- Applies movement concepts and principles to the leaming and development
of motor skills.
- Exhibits a physically active lifestyle.
- Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
- Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical
activity settings.
- Demonstrates understanding and respect for differences among peoples in
physical activity settings.
- Understands that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment,
challenge, self-expression, and social interaction.
Daily Requirements in Physical Education
- Demonstrates competency of strategy in a specified activity.
- Respects their teacher, classmates and themselves.
- Follows directions the first time given.
- Exhibits a basic understanding of "safety".
- Adequate participation and effort during the activity.
Both the Content Standard or Standards related to the activity as well as
the Daily Requirements must be met by all students for the class to exceed
the standard. The various standard levels used in physical education are:
work in progress, meet the standard and exceed the standard.
Because of our scheduling, classes earn their mark as a whole unit due to
the amount of instructional time, and the amount of students being serviced.
Concepts Discussed
Specific ideas that are discussed and reinforced through
Physical Education are:
| Dedication |
Team Work |
Physical Fitness |
Honesty |
Word of the Week
Words that are taught in association with athletics and positive attitudes.
| Pride |
Imagination |
Believe and Succeed |
Do It Now |
| Perseverance |
Possibilities |
Champion |
Determination |
| Opportunity |
Excellence |
Commitment |
Courage |
| Dream |
Leader |
Efficient |
Self-Confidence |
Body Awareness
Muscles and Bones are taught so that students can learn and appreciate their physical self.
Students at the elementary level learn these through repetition!
| Deltoid |
Pectoralis Major |
Bicep |
Tricep |
Latissimus Dorsi |
| Rectus Abdominus |
Quadricep |
Hamstring |
Gastrocnemeius |
| Cranium |
Spine |
Clavicle |
Sternum |
Humerus |
| Rib Cage |
Ulna |
Radius |
Pelvis |
Femur |
| Tibia |
Fibula |
Tarsals |
Metatarsals |
The exercises that are apart of the Physical Education classes are too numerous to list.
They are done at the beginning of each class and address the physical fitness component and
Content Standard # 4. Exercises change every two classes.
This occurs for variety and also teaches students how they can move through "levels" in space (low, medium, and high).
The activities that are taught are grade level appropriate and are designed to challenge and stimulate students.
Activities are also too numerous to list. Activities are also seasonal in nature. Vocabulary Bank Ideas that are discussed
which directly correlate with the activity being taught are:
| Reaction Time |
Fitness/Conditioning |
Cooperate |
Participate |
Anaerobic Activity |
| Aerobic Activity |
Body Composition |
Self-Confidence |
Body Awareness |
Credits: Dynamic Physical Education for Elementary School Children; Victor P. Dauer, Robert P.Pangrazi - Ninth Edition,
McMillan Publishing Company