Physical Education Goals

The purpose of physical education is to help students acquire the knowledge, processes, skills, and confidence needed to engage in meaningful physical activity both in the present and for a lifetime. The practice of leading a physically active lifestyle will bring about personal enjoyment, challenge, satisfaction, and a health-enhancing level of personal fitness. As a result of physical education instruction, the student will be able to do the following:

1.   Demonstrate competence in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities. (Skilled Movement)

This goal focuses student learning on the development and demonstration of competence in motor skills and a variety of movement forms, increasing the likelihood of participation in physical activities. Movement competence is defined as the development of sufficient skill and ability to assure successful performance in a variety of physical activities. In the elementary years, students develop maturity and adaptability in the use of fundamental motor skills and patterns that are then further refined and combined during the middle school years. As motor patterns become more refined and proficient throughout the middle years, they can be transitioned into specialized skills and patterns and used in more complex learning settings. High school students will demonstrate a level of competence in several physical activities that they are likely to continue beyond graduation.

2.   Apply movement principles and concepts to learning and developing motor skills and specialized movement forms. (Movement Principles and Concepts)

This goal focuses student learning on understanding and using movement concepts and principles to improve motor skills. While the skilled-movement goal involves learning how to perform physical activities skillfully, this goal directs students toward learning about movement. Concepts and principles from various fields of study support skillful movement performance. These fields of study include motor control, exercise physiology, biomechanics/kinesiology, sport psychology, and sport sociology. Elementary students establish a movement vocabulary and use simple concepts as they develop their movements. Middle school students learn and apply more complex concepts of movement. High school students develop a working knowledge of a variety of concepts and principles, enabling them to independently apply concepts in order to acquire new skills or enhance existing skills.

3.   Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of personal fitness. (Personal Fitness)

This goal focuses student learning on the achievement of a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. Elementary students become aware of health-related fitness components (aerobic capacity, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition) while engaging in a variety of physical activities. Middle school students continue to learn about the components of fitness—how they are developed and improved, how they interrelate, and how they contribute to overall fitness. High school students plan, implement, evaluate, and modify a personal, goal-driven fitness plan that enables them to achieve and maintain a level of fitness that allows them to meet their personal goals for various work-related, sport, and leisure activities.

4.   Demonstrate responsible personal and social behaviors in physical activity settings. (Responsible Behaviors)

This goal directs students toward responsible behaviors that lead to personal and group success in physical activity settings. These behaviors include practicing safety, understanding and accepting different characteristics in others, adherence to rules and procedures, etiquette, cooperation, ethical actions, and positive social interaction. Elementary students recognize and use rules and procedures, focus on safety, realize similarities and dissimilarities, and cooperate with others. Middle school students participate cooperatively with others and understand reasons for rules and procedures. High school students initiate and exhibit responsible behaviors and positively impact the behavior of others in physical activity settings.

5.   Demonstrate a physically active lifestyle, including activity within and outside of the physical education setting. (Physically Active Lifestyle)

The intent of this goal is for students to lead a physically active lifestyle, both in and outside of school. This goal connects what is taught in school with students’ choices for physical activity outside of school. Elementary, middle, and high school students will identify and pursue various out-of-school opportunities to participate in regular physical activity at home, in their neighborhoods, and in their communities. Students will recognize physical inactivity as a primary risk factor for many chronic health conditions, and identify the many physical, social, and mental benefits associated with a physically active lifestyle that will enhance workplace skills and quality of life.

The combination of these five goals lead students toward being able to lead an active, healthy lifestyle skillfully, knowledgeably, responsibly, and vigorously.

---Virginia Standards of Learning