Welcome to Physical Education in the 21st Century! While some things may have changed since you, as a parent, were in school, many things have remained the same. Today, Physical Education has a heavy emphasis on teamwork, movement patterns, traditional and modified sports, as well as components of general fitness.
Today’s physical education teachers in Georgia take our guidance from the State identified Performance Standards. These standards identify specific skills and concepts at each grade level that are designed to help students develop and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Most of the skills revolve around central themes of movement patterns, throwing, catching, kicking, and striking that build into both traditional and modified games. You may hear your children talk about their ‘form running’ or a game of ‘Star Wars’ that they played that day. While you may not be familiar with the activities, both are designed to be fast paced, active opportunities that allow students to work on individual skills that can be transferred to other games, sports, or activities.
Many of you may remember the old Presidential Fitness Test from way back. That test, instituted in the early to mid 70’s included things like pull ups or the flexed arm hang, sit ups, and a running test. Students were asked to meet an identified standard and those exceeding the standard received a recognition certificate. The ‘new’ fitness test that your child will participate in is called the FitnessGram. This test is designed to measure the main components of fitness including body composition, muscle strength, muscle endurance, and cardiovascular endurance. While there are general identified ‘standards’ students are encouraged to look at all areas of their fitness and make informed decisions about how they can become healthier as individuals. All students in grades 3 - 12 that are in a physical education class are required to take the test each year.
So what does a great PE class in the 21st century look like? Hopefully, you will see students moving with multiple opportunities to practice various skills; working in small groups; playing modified games; and all in an encouraging and positive environment. Great PE, regardless of the grade level, is the one area where most of the time students will work in an unstructured setting successfully with others. They have the opportunity to test their physical limits; demonstrate control of themselves, a piece of equipment, or a situation; and learn how their individual actions may impact their own as well as a team’s opportunity for success.
Today’s PE is designed for every child, those that love sports, and those that don’t. It is an opportunity for students to develop a healthy understanding about how their bodies move in space, what they can do to keep their bodies healthy, and how it feels to find both personal as well as team success. So the next time your child comes home from school, ask them, “What did you do in PE today?” and then, let them show you!