Physical Education Department

Essential Knowledge and Skills

Fitness for Life is an individualized, concepts-based, one-semester course designed to give students the knowledge and skills necessary to self-assess, create, conduct, evaluate, and redesign personal fitness programs. It is required of all students and there are no substitutions, including participation in athletics. Fitness for Life may be taken anytime during grades nine through twelve, but it is strongly recommended that students take the class in either the ninth or tenth grade year. The course is a combination of classroom and activity-based learning activities with a focus on proper nutrition and the mastery of skills and concepts necessary for students to become accomplished monitors of their personal lifetime fitness. Through participation, students learn to compare the fitness benefits in a variety of individual and team activities. Students become proficient in the use of a variety of assessments, measurement devices, exercise equipment, web and community resources, and computer software. Assigned reading and writing assignments, which include activity journals and portfolios, broaden the physical education experience and contribute to the literacy of students.

Indicators of Student Learning

Upon the completion of this course, students will:

• Students will achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.

• Demonstrate competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.

• Demonstrate basic competence in a variety of activities that contribute to improvement of overall fitness.

• Participate in recreational activities offered through community agencies.

• Participate in a variety of individual and group activities appropriate for enhancing physical fitness both during and after school hours.

• Students will achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.

• Recognize how physical activities impact a person's physical, emotional, social, and intellectual well-being.

Assessment

Upon the completion of this course, students will:

• Review the elements of physical fitness.

• Describe the mental, social, and psychological benefits of physical activity.

• Demonstrate acceptance of others regarding varying skills, abilities, limitations, and cultural backgrounds.

• Take an active role in helping others achieve success.

• Recognize that physical activities offer a positive environment to meet and interact with people of varying interests and ability levels.

• Explain the concepts related to muscular endurance, e.g., high repetitions with low resistance, sport specificity, and the work/rest ratio.

• Explain the principles of warm-up and cool-down as they relate to proper stretching, active vs. passive recovery, and injury prevention and rehabilitation.

• Demonstrate maturity and self-control in conflict situations.