Physical education is an integral part of promoting health and wellness for children. Through PE, kids exercise and develop their motor skills while having fun with their classmates. The World Health Organization has even suggested that kids and adolescents aged 5-17 should spend an average of one hour per day doing physical activities with moderate-to-vigorous […] The post Tips for Keeping Outdoor PE Classes Sun-Safe appeared first on SPARK PE ..read more

How do you bring the WOW factor when teaching the fundamentals? How do you capture the focus of the youngest wiggliest learners while maintaining educational accountability?  One answer is to tap into their propensity to learn by doing. Exercising students’ gross and fine motor skills can be an engaging, magical, and effective way for early […] The post The ABC’s and 123’s of Literacy, Math and Physical Education for Early Childhood appeared first on SPARK PE ..read more

SHAPE America has just released their brand new National Physical Education Standards. We are excited to announce that SPARK has updated all of the K-12 curriculum to reflect these new standards.  So what is important to know about the national standards, what are the updates and how can you access the SPARK lesson with the […] The post SPARK K-12 Curriculum Aligned with the NEW 2024 SHAPE America National PE Standards appeared first on SPARK PE ..read more

Physical education is more than just a mandatory class on the curriculum; it’s an integral component of a well-rounded education that contributes to holistic student development. While many associate PE with sports and games, the role of the PE teachers is fostering skill development, promoting physical fitness, and nurturing lifelong habits of health and wellness. […] The post <strong>Enhancing Physical Education: The Crucial Role of Skill Development</strong> appeared first on SPARK PE ..read more

Physical education is an integral part of a well-rounded education, fostering not only physical fitness but also essential life skills. Among the various activities that make PE engaging and enjoyable, target games stand out as a bullseye for promoting teamwork, strategic thinking, and overall physical development. Here we will talk about the significance of target […] The post Target Games in Physical Education appeared first on SPARK PE ..read more

SPARK has just announced Round 2 of the SPARK Equity Awards. These grants are offered through the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University. This award was established by Dr. Thom McKenzie and Dr. Jim Sallis — the two principal investigators who started SPARK in 1989. Funding is available to bring SPARK […] The post SPARK Equity Award Grants Round 2 appeared first on SPARK PE ..read more

In recent years, game-based learning (GBL) and gamification have become major trends in physical education. These strategies increase student motivation in PE classes, even making theoretical content more appealing to young learners. This is not surprising, considering how popular games like Dance Dance Revolution and Just Dance have long been proven to encourage greater movement among users. Exercise-related games or exergames are now […] The post <strong>Enhancing PE Learning Outcomes with Technology</strong> appeared first on SPARK PE ..read more

Physical Education (PE) classes are often associated with energetic activities, competitive sports, and a lot of movement. However, amidst all the action, there is one skill that is often overlooked but plays a critical role in a student’s success in PE – listening. Listening is not just about following instructions; it’s about understanding the purpose […] The post <strong>The Importance of Active Listening in Physical Education</strong> appeared first on SPARK PE ..read more

Physical education is vital to children’s school experiences. These are opportunities to learn new skills, interact with classmates, and get some much-needed exercise. As recommended by World Health Organization, children and adolescents should get an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity— making physical education classes a prime time to move away […] The post <strong>Preventing Injuries in Physical Education</strong> appeared first on SPARK PE ..read more

What are standards and why are they a critical component of physical education? Standards establish well-defined and measurable objectives that encompass the skills and knowledge that students need in order to maintain a healthy and physically-active lifestyle. Standards provide consistency and guidance to teachers in developing programs, and when assessing grade-level outcomes, provide evidence of effective instruction. Standards-based assessment communicates evidence of student progress to students and parents, and provides accountability and transparency to administrators on program effica ..read more