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Physical Education: Middle School

Courses

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The middle school physical education program focuses on health-related fitness, movement skills and concepts, and personal and social responsibility. Each physical education unit challenges students to better understand the benefits   of physical activity toward fitness, fundamentals of efficient movement in physical activity and sport, and the essentials of responsibility in a movement setting. The learning tasks in physical education emphasize and teach problem-solving and decision-making skills. Students participate in games and activities that promote fitness, develop tactical awareness, and build social qualities.  Physical Education aligns with Be Well 365 emphasizing lifelong positive health-related attitudes and behaviors that promote self-reliance and self-regulation.

PE Grade 6 (HPE1003)

By the end of Grade 6, students should know and be able to do the following:

HEALTH-RELATED FITNESS

  • Define and compare the health-related fitness components, including aerobic capacity/cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility.
  • Define the exercise principles of overload, specificity, and progression.
  • Develop a personal fitness plan using the Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type (FITT) formula.
  • Define and calculate target heart rate.

MOVEMENT SKILLS AND CONCEPTS

  • Perform fundamental movement skills essential to physical activity and sport.
  • Demonstrate creative skill combinations, such as tumbling sequences and dances.
  • Create a personal movement (practice) plan.

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Perform tasks effectively with others in physical activity settings.
  • Acquire and maintain relationships that develop a sense of community in physical activity settings.
  • Establish and modify personal goals.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The middle school physical education program focuses on health-related fitness, movement skills and concepts, and personal and social responsibility. Each physical education unit challenges students to better understand the benefits   of physical activity toward fitness, fundamentals of efficient movement in physical activity and sport, and the essentials of responsibility in a movement setting. The learning tasks in physical education emphasize and teach problem-solving and decision-making skills. Students participate in games and activities that promote fitness, develop tactical awareness, and build social qualities.  Physical Education aligns with Be Well 365 emphasizing lifelong positive health-related attitudes and behaviors that promote self-reliance and self-regulation.

PE Grade 7 (HPE1004)

By the end of Grade 7, students should know and be able to do the following:

HEALTH-RELATED FITNESS

  • Apply exercise principles to the health-related fitness components to develop and modify a personal fitness plan.
  • Calculate and apply methods for measurement of target heart rate and healthy fitness zone.
  • Compare the relationship between nutrition and physical activity.

MOVEMENT SKILLS AND CONCEPTS

  • Apply basic movement concepts related to defense and offense in personal development and tactical games activities.
  • Design and demonstrate creative skill combinations.
  • Develop and modify a personal movement (practice) plan.

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Identify conflict-resolution skills and negotiation tactics to promote a healthy physical activity setting.
  • Perform tasks effectively with others in physical activity settings.
  • Apply effective time-management strategies to improve movement skills and fitness levels.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The middle school physical education program focuses on health-related fitness, movement skills and concepts, and personal and social responsibility. Each physical education unit challenges students to better understand the benefits   of physical activity toward fitness, fundamentals of efficient movement in physical activity and sport, and the essentials of responsibility in a movement setting. The learning tasks in physical education emphasize and teach problem-solving and decision-making skills. Students participate in games and activities that promote fitness, develop tactical awareness, and build social qualities.  Physical Education aligns with Be Well 365 emphasizing lifelong positive health-related attitudes and behaviors that promote self-reliance and self-regulation.

PE Grade 8 (HPE1005)

By the end of Grade 8, students should know and be able to do the following:

HEALTH-RELATED FITNESS:

  • Apply exercise principles to the health-related fitness components to develop, analyze, and refine a personal fitness plan.
  • Apply and analyze methods for measuring target heart rate.
  • Distinguish between nutritional needs that maintain the average healthy body and those for athletic performance

MOVEMENT SKILLS AND CONCEPTS

  • Apply and analyze concepts related to defense and offense in personal development and tactical games activities.
  • Develop, perform, and analyze creative skill combinations.
  • Create, analyze, and refine a personal movement (practice) plan based on a variety of feedback.

PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  • Resolve conflicts and make healthy decisions that promote a sense of community and respect for others in physicalactivity settings.
  • Apply, analyze, and refine effective time-management strategies to improve movement skills and fitness levels.

Physical Education in Middle School

Middle School physical education curriculum has been updated for the 2023-2024 school year. This completed the sequence of curriculum for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Middle School students will still learn and experience physical education that focuses on three main themes - movement skills and concepts (MSC), health enhancing fitness and physical activity (HEFPA), and personal and social responsiblity (PSR).

INTRODUCTION

Physical education plays a critical role in educating the whole child as part of a well-rounded education. Like other academic courses of study, physical education is based on rigorous State and national standards that define what students should know and be able to do. Physical education is unique to the school curriculum as it is the only program that provides students with opportunities to learn motor skills, develop fitness, and gain an understanding of the importance of physical activity. 

THE GOAL OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION 

Physical education aims to develop physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity. To pursue a lifetime of healthful physical activity, a physically literate individual: 

  • Has learned the skills necessary to participate in a variety of physical activities, 
  • Knows the implications and the benefits of involvement in various types of physical activities,
  • Participates regularly in physical activity, 
  • Is physically fit,
  • And values physical activity and its contributions to a healthful lifestyle. 

— National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education (SHAPE America, 2014).

Resources

Middle School Physical Education Overview 

Curriculum Overviews

If your student has an injury or illness that may limit their physical participation in physical education please contact their physical education teacher. Read more about what to do when your student has a short-term illness

State Documents

Intramural Programming in Middle School

The middle school intramural program is an extension of the regular physical education instructional program, involving physical activity conducted before and/or after school among students in the same school. All intramural activities are treated equally in terms of resources, facilities, selection of staff , and allocation of supplies and equipment.