Curriculum Overview
Source: http://www.northallegheny.org/academics/health-physical-education/curriculum-overview
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Curriculum Overview
Skip To Main Content
SHAPE America (Society for Health And Physical Education) believes that every student in our nation's schools, from Kindergarten through grade 12, should have the opportunity to participate in quality physical education. It is the unique role of quality physical education programs to develop the health-related fitness, physical competence, and cognitive understanding about physical activity for all students so that they can adopt healthy and physically active lifestyles. Today's quality physical education programs are important because they provide learning experiences that meet the developmental needs of youngsters which help improve a child's mental alertness, academic performance, readiness to learn and enthusiasm for learning.
According to SHAPE America guidelines, a high-quality physical education program includes the following components: opportunity to learn, meaningful content and appropriate instruction. Each of these areas is outlined in detail in SHAPE America's quality physical education (QPE) documents which range from the National Standards for Physical Education to Appropriate Practice Documents, Opportunity to Learn Documents and the Assessment Series. Books can be ordered online at
shapeamerica.org
Opportunity to Learn
Instructional periods totaling 150 minutes per week (elementary) and 225 minutes per week (middle and secondary school)
Qualified physical education specialist providing a developmentally appropriate program
Adequate equipment and facilities
Meaningful Content
Instruction in a variety of motor skills that are designed to enhance the physical, mental, and social/emotional development of every child
Fitness education and assessment to help children understand, improve and/or maintain their physical well-being
Development of cognitive concepts about motor skill and fitness
Opportunities to improve their emerging social and cooperative skills and gain a multi-cultural perspective
Promotion of regular amounts of appropriate physical activity now and throughout life
Appropriate Instruction
Full inclusion of all students
Maximum practice opportunities for class activities
Well-designed lessons that facilitate student learning
Out of school assignments that support learning and practice
No physical activity for punishment
Uses regular assessment to monitor and reinforce student learning
Powered by Finalsite
Skip To Main Content
SHAPE America (Society for Health And Physical Education) believes that every student in our nation's schools, from Kindergarten through grade 12, should have the opportunity to participate in quality physical education. It is the unique role of quality physical education programs to develop the health-related fitness, physical competence, and cognitive understanding about physical activity for all students so that they can adopt healthy and physically active lifestyles. Today's quality physical education programs are important because they provide learning experiences that meet the developmental needs of youngsters which help improve a child's mental alertness, academic performance, readiness to learn and enthusiasm for learning.
According to SHAPE America guidelines, a high-quality physical education program includes the following components: opportunity to learn, meaningful content and appropriate instruction. Each of these areas is outlined in detail in SHAPE America's quality physical education (QPE) documents which range from the National Standards for Physical Education to Appropriate Practice Documents, Opportunity to Learn Documents and the Assessment Series. Books can be ordered online at
shapeamerica.org
Opportunity to Learn
Instructional periods totaling 150 minutes per week (elementary) and 225 minutes per week (middle and secondary school)
Qualified physical education specialist providing a developmentally appropriate program
Adequate equipment and facilities
Meaningful Content
Instruction in a variety of motor skills that are designed to enhance the physical, mental, and social/emotional development of every child
Fitness education and assessment to help children understand, improve and/or maintain their physical well-being
Development of cognitive concepts about motor skill and fitness
Opportunities to improve their emerging social and cooperative skills and gain a multi-cultural perspective
Promotion of regular amounts of appropriate physical activity now and throughout life
Appropriate Instruction
Full inclusion of all students
Maximum practice opportunities for class activities
Well-designed lessons that facilitate student learning
Out of school assignments that support learning and practice
No physical activity for punishment
Uses regular assessment to monitor and reinforce student learning
Powered by Finalsite