No Excuses! - A Documentary about Quality Physical Education
QUALITY PHYSICAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY
EFFECTIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES
TEACHER RESOURCES
The Importance of Physical Education
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Of the many subjects children study in school, there may be none more important than physical education. However it must be of high quality and aligned with state/national standards and guidelines. A high quality physical education program offers children opportunities to develop the skills, concepts, and dispositions needed to be physically active for life. Sufficient, regular physical activity not only helps prevent major diseases but it also promotes learning; reduces stress, anxiety, and depression; and improves overall student wellness. It doesn’t matter if the child excels in every other subject in school and grows up to become a successful doctor/lawyer/engineer/etc., with poor health any professional achievement becomes secondary.
There are many factors that contribute to the ease of implementing and sustaining a quality program, including the involvement of the administration, parents, and community. However it ultimately comes down to the willingness of the physical education teacher(s) to do their best no matter the situation (our REAL Teacher’s Pledge states this clearly). That being said, REAL teachers still need our support and appreciation. This can be in the form of equipment (every jump-rope, pedometer, heart-rate monitor, and home-made scoop catcher counts), classroom assistance, time and funding for professional development, and by advocating for quality physical education at the local, state, and national level.
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Videos on the Benefits of Physical Education |
Our Documentary - No Excuses! |
What is Physical Literacy and Why is it Important?
Research indicates that one of the leading factors for participating in physical activity is one's confidence and self-efficacy (competence in one's abilities to perform a specific skill). This finding supports the need for attaining physical literacy in order to have the best chance at leading an active lifestyle. With each skill mastered, new opportunities for physical activity are opened. The table below lists some of the most utilized skill themes and what percentage of popular physical activities require them (table is based on Children Moving: A Reflective Approach to Teaching Physical Education, 2007).
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Additional Resources on Physical Literacy
National Guidelines and Recommendations for Physical Education
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According to the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), physical education is now part of a "well-rounded education."
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Position STATEMENTS on PHYSICAL EDUCATION
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DATA ON HEALTH IN THE U.S.
Research articles on the benefits of physical education
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EDITORIALS ON THE BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Top 10 Reasons for Quality Physical Education
"This article presents the reasons that account for the need for quality physical education given the current trends of obesity and physical inactivity among youths and adults. The reasons presented are intended for physical educators to use when communicating the profession's scientific base to the general public."
"This article presents the reasons that account for the need for quality physical education given the current trends of obesity and physical inactivity among youths and adults. The reasons presented are intended for physical educators to use when communicating the profession's scientific base to the general public."
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1. Regular Physical Activity Helps Prevent Disease
2. Regular Physical Activity Promotes Lifetime Wellness 3. Quality Physical Education Can Help Fight Obesity 4. Quality Physical Education Can Help Promote Lifelong Physical Fitness 5. Quality Physical Education Provides Unique Opportunities for Activity |
6. Quality Physical Education Teaches Self-Management and Motor Skills
7. Physical Activity and Physical Education Promote Learning 8. Regular Physical Activity Participation Makes Economic Sense 9. Physical Education Is Widely Endorsed 10. Quality Physical Education Helps to Educate the Total Child |
The Relationship Between Physical Activity & Academic Performance - Infographics
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE - SPARK by Dr. John Ratey
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SPARK: "A groundbreaking exploration of the connection between exercise and the brain’s performance that shows how even moderate exercise will supercharge mental circuits to beat stress, sharpen thinking, enhance memory, and much more."
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE - RESEARCH ARTICLES
- Active Education: Growing Evidence on Physical Activity and Academic Performance
- Be Smart, Exercise Your Heart: Exercise Effects on Brain and Cognition
- Before-School Running/Walking club: Effects on Student On-Task Behavior
- Effect of Classroom-Based Physical Activity Interventions on Academic and Physical Activity Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Healthy and Academic Achievement
- Healthy and Ready to Learn
- Health-Related Behaviors and Academic Achievement Among High School Students — United States, 2015 (CDC)
- High-Intensity Training Enhances Executive Function in Children in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Independent and Combined Influence of the Components of Physical Fitness on Academic Performance in Youth
- Is There a Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement? Positive Results from Public School Children in the Northeastern United States
- Justifying Physical Education Based on Neuroscience Evidence
- Physical Activity, Fitness, Cognitive Function, and Academic Achievement in Children: A Systematic Review
- Physical Activity Promotes Academic Achievement and a Healthy Lifestyle when Incorporated into Early Childhood Education
- Physical Education, School Physical Activity, School Sports and Academic Performance
- Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement in Third- and Fifth-Grade Students
- Relationships of Physical Activity to Brain Health and the Academic Performance of Schoolchildren
- The Association Between Aerobic fitness and Language Processing in Children: Implications for Academic Achievement
- The Effect of Physical Activity on Sleep Quality, Well-Being, and Affect in Academic Stress Periods.
- The Effect of Physical Activity Interventions on Children's Cognition and Metacognition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- The Influence of Daily Structured Physical Activity on Academic Progress of Elementary Students with Intellectual Disabilities
- Whole Brain Volumetric Approach in Overweight/Obese Children: Examining the Association with Different Physical Fitness Components and Academic Performance
What About Course Substitutions?
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Since physical education is standards based and much more than just physical activity (see What Does Quality Physical Education Look Like?), it should NOT be substituted UNLESS the replacing course addresses the same standards.
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Additional Documentaries promoting physical activity
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