Teaching Diversity Activities in Physical Education

The benefits of physical activity are both physical and mental, immediate and long term. It provides reserve strength for emergencies and it helps people look and feel good. Wellness is the ability to live life fully, with vitality and meaning. Behaviors that promote wellness not only include healthy diets, maintaining healthy body weights, managing stress and avoiding alcohol and tobacco but also includes the use of physical activities/exercises as part of one's daily lifestyle. 

Physical Education teachers and students need to know the essential components of a quality physical education program. They need to know what are critical elements that should be included to ensure that they give and students receive a quality physical education experience. A quality program is driven by a set of content standards. These standards are defined by a number of competencies children are expected to accomplish.

The general educational program that contributes to the total growth and development of each child, primarily through movement experiences. It is influenced by cultural and educational factors related to games, sports, fitness, educational movement, perceptual-motor competency as well as values and attitude development.

Jump Rope

Manipulative Skills Using Playground Balls

Movement skills and concepts - Twisting, Turning, stretching and relaxing movements

Movement skills and concepts - Running

Process 1

Students jump in place to a tom-tom beat without rope. Students will then start jumping the rope one turn at a time - gradually increasing the number of turns. 

The two basic jump rhythms will then be introduced. Slow-time rhythm and fast-time rhythm.

Introduction of some basic variations

Alternate-foot Basic Step

Individual Rope jumping 

Rope jumping with partner  

Process 2

From a sitting position with the ball between feet practice tossing up and catching the ball with both hands

Learning to keep the ball in the air with feet and different body parts 

Laying on the floor and twisting two parts of the body at the same time 

Learning to twist one part of the body in one direction and another in a different 

Learning how to turn the body left and right using quarter and half turns 

Turning the body clockwise and counterclockwise while on the floor or standing 

Practicing to hold your breath and then expelling air and then relaxing 

Moving forward, stopping suddenly in tense position then relaxing and repeating the activity

Process 3

Students will be involved in physical activities and: 

Learn and practice how to jog in a circle 

Learn and practice the concepts of striding  

Learn and practice the concept of sprinting 

Learn about Distance Running as an exercise

Learn about the importance of exercise to one's health and wellness

Learn about the essential components in physical education.

Growth patterns are generally controlled by genetic makeup at birth. However an unhealthy environment can have a negative impact on proper growth and development. Physical activity impacts this growth and development. It is therefore important for students to understand the relationship between physical activity and the development of muscular strength and endurance as well as skeletal growth.

It is also critical that children understand their body composition and its relationship to the health and well-being of an individual. They need to comprehend the basic principles of wellness and should be able to apply concepts that enable them to make meaningful decisions that positively impact their health and wellness.

Through physical activity, students will demonstrate empathy, understanding and respect for the numerous differences exhibited by people. This should also lead them in developing positive social interactory skills. The overall intent of physical education therefore lies in the promotion of a lifetime of improved personal health and wellness. 

Pangrazi, R. (2004) Dynamic Physical Education for Elementary School Children (14th ed.) Pearson Education.