At Arcadia Elementary School, it is my goal to implement a physical education program designed to help children to develop physical competence, leading to self-confidence and participation in activities which will benefit all students for a lifetime. The emphasis on physical education at Arcadia is on successful lifetime recreation, fitness, teamwork, and goal setting. The goals of the program are to give students the knowledge to possess skills which will allow for an enjoyment of many physical activities for now and the rest of their lives. If children enjoy and value the experiences of being active, their fitness and healthy self-esteem will follow.
Statement of Philosophy
The mission of physical education at Arcadia Elementary School is to develop and improve students’ personal fitness and motor skill level by providing developmentally appropriate activities through purposeful, creative and enjoyable instruction. By incorporating challenging yet achievable tasks, the student can attain positive lifelong attitudes about physical activity and movement.
Why Physical Education?
With the increases amount of obesity in today’s young people, the benefits of quality physical education class are endless. Not only can it be fun but the following can be gained as well:
o Increased fitness levels
o Development and encouragement of creativity
o Positive self-esteem
o Improved motor, social and emotional skills
o Increased muscular endurance and flexibility
o Increased body awareness
What happens in Physical Education?
1. Manipulative Skills: kick, throw, strike, catch
2. Locomotor Skills: run, walk, hop, skip, jump, leap, gallop, slide
3. Non-locomotor Skills: swing, sway, balance, turn, twist, stretch
4. Fitness: muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance
5. Dance: combining locomotor and non-locomotor movements
6. Cooperation: working together to solve problems
