The Physical Education Curriculum

PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN

In pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, the main focus is on developing and expanding motor skills through various movement and apparatus exercises and activities. The goal is to introduce students to a variety of activities emphasizing hand-eye coordination, foot-eye coordination, spatial awareness and group interaction and cooperation. Students will demonstrate control in traveling, weight-bearing, and balance activities on a variety of body parts. The fitness levels of the children are not stressed at the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten level, but increase with many of the activities in class. Many of the basic skills and movement fundamentals needed to participate in sports are also introduced at this level.

The locomotor skills taught at the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten level include walking, running, skipping, hopping, jumping and leaping. The non-locomotor skills taught at this level include bending, turning, swinging, stretching, rising and curling. Manipulative game skills taught at this level are tagging, starting, stopping, dodging, chasing, kicking, throwing and catching. Balance, flexibility, agility and coordination are included in every class. Skills that are added at the kindergarten level include hanging, climbing, lifting, carrying, pulling, shaking, lunging and pushing. Hand-eye coordination, foot-eye coordination and spatial awareness are very important at the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten level.

FIRST AND SECOND GRADE

The main focus of the first and second grade physical education program is to improve, refine and enhance motor development through various activities and movement skills. The activities are designed to increase the fitness level of the children while reinforcing the basic skills necessary to participate in sports and other athletic activities. Improving overall physical fitness is an additional goal at this level. At the first and second grade level the fundamentals needed to participate in a wide range of activities and sports are also introduced. Students will also gain the knowledge to be able to explain fitness concepts in relation to aerobic capacity, muscular strength and endurance and body composition. Students will also gain self-dicipline and positive attitudes about physical activity and hte benefits they will gain both physically and mentally.

The skills taught at the first and second grade level build upon those taught at the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten level. These skills include running, jumping, hopping, skipping, bending, swinging, stretching, dodging, starting, stopping, rolling, striking, throwing, catching, kicking, tagging, curling and leaping. At this level resistance skills such as hanging, climbing, lifting, carrying, pulling, shaking, lunging and pushing are also expanded upon. Additionally, a running program is introduced. Fitness areas such as balance, agility, flexibility, endurance and cardio-vascular training are stressed more at this level. Sociological skills such as cooperation, sportsmanship, respect, group membership, teamwork and interaction are all stressed.

THIRD, FOURTH, AND FIFTH GRADE

In third, fourth, and fifth grade, the main focus is to improve physical fitness, acquisition of specific skills needed to enhance participation and prepare students for sport or athletic pursuits, and to gain and build confidence in using their bodies for athletic pursuits as well as life-long fitness. A goal at this level is to prepare students for organized sports so they can participate at a higher level of their chosen activity and become responsible for their personal health and fitness.

The skills at the third, fourth, and fifth grade level also build upon those taught in previous years. Students demonstrate locomotor, non-locomotor and manipulative skills for performance outcomes (ex: hitting targets). At these levels, strength, coordination, balance, agility, flexibility, endurance and cardiovascular training are improved and enhanced. An intense running program is emphasized, increasing at each level. Game and sport skills such as starting, stopping, dodging, kicking, catching, throwing, swinging, blocking, striking and pulling are improved and enhanced. Sociological skills such as cooperation, sportsmanship, respect, group membership, teamwork and interaction are stressed and reinforced.