Physical and Health Education

Physical and Health Education

The aims of Physical and Health Education are to enable students to:

• develop a holistic understanding and appreciation of movement, sport and wellness
• develop a range of transferable skills promoting physical, intellectual, emotional and social development
• develop an understanding and appreciation of sport and physical activity as well as an ability to compete, analyze and lead in these settings
• think conceptually about their learning and its place in real world situations
• encourage present and future choices that contribute to life-long healthy living

Grade 6
Students in Grade 6 PHE build upon the foundations of physical skills, concepts, knowledge, and attitudes introduced in the Physical Education course of the PYP. There is an emphasis on concept development as well as a range of games/disciplines and sports. Students explore the concept of change through the elements of fitness required for sports activities and creating a jump rope performance. Through Striking and Fielding and Net Games, students inquire into the concepts of “relationships” and “adaptation” to develop their knowledge and understanding of game concepts. Developing interpersonal skills is a major focus throughout the year in order to build positive relationships with classmates. Students learn how to apply their knowledge, develop their motor skills, plan for improvement, and reflect on their performance. The PHE program contributes to a student’s personal and social education and provides opportunities for cooperation, peer/self-reflection, teamwork, thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving throughout the year.

Grade 7
In Grade 7, students engage in concepts through a wide range of familiar and unfamiliar games and sports. Students  explore various invasion games and the relationships that make these games possible. Students continue to improve their ability to work in teams, through the development of their interpersonal skills and will be able to accurately reflect on their strengths and weaknesses. They also explore the concept of refinement as students inquire into how developing and refining components of fitness can improve performance in areas such as invasion games and dance. The course also allows students to inquire into how decision making and choice can impact the outcome of striking and fielding games. Students explore the impact of their decisions, and apply their knowledge in an authentic, real-time analysis of the game around them. The PHE program is fun, high energy and full of opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate skills through a concept-based program.

Grade 8
Students in Grade 8 inquire into a variety of concepts such as communities, development and creativity. They explore various attacking and defending principles of play and have opportunities to share their knowledge and expertise through group coaching and feedback practices. They will also inquire into data, and how this can play an important role in developing performance in Net Games. Students develop the skills necessary to analyze and interpret the data to improve their performance and the performance of others through coaching. To understand the  importance of  aesthetics and community, students choreograph a group aesthetic movement performance that draws from their experience of learning various dance styles. The Grade 8 course is meant to challenge students to think conceptually, and to develop a deeper understanding of the many ways that performance can be developed. Students carry out their own journey of reflection and improvement by setting achievable goals, and reflecting on performance. Each student is expected to have ownership over their learning and be able to successfully work towards personal improvement.