By Leanne Byle, Primary PE Teacher and Elisabeth Ruiz, Primary PE Coordinator
Physical Education lays the groundwork for students to apply the skills they develop in PE to real-life situations – challenging themselves, building resilience, and discovering their potential through movement. In our PE lessons, our focus is to empower students to make meaningful connections between their learning and physical development, while providing learning engagements they enjoy and can progress in.
In each lesson, students are learning skills that will help them in everyday life, like managing their time, working well with others, and thinking critically. For example, in our Health-Related Fitness unit, students set personal fitness goals and track their progress. We see this as an opportunity for students to take charge of their own well-being journey and learn the importance of staying active.
A parent said, "I had no idea they covered so much in PE! I love how they connect what they learn in the classroom to their activities in PE, and how it all prepares them for the future."
During Athletics and Gymnastics, we encourage students to explore their personal strengths and challenges. We aim to foster self-directed learners and we give the students time to reflect and further develop these skills.
A Grade 3 student said “I like gymnastics because there is a lot of challenge.”
We love seeing these moments of growth and where students push their limits and celebrate their achievements, no matter how big or small.
Teamwork and communication are big focuses in our Adventure Challenges and Games units. Whether they are figuring out a strategy in a game or working through a challenge, students learn to listen to each other and solve problems together. Furthermore, they are developing their critical thinking skills, becoming more reflective, analytical and capable of making informed decisions during PE activities. These skills go beyond Physical Education, helping students in the classroom and in life.
One Grade 4 student, who had just finished playing in the ISSL Basketball tournament, said “We played so well for our first tournament. We now know what we are good at, so we can change our strategies and play even better in the next one (tournament)”.
We feel incredibly fortunate in our positions, where it is our responsibility to create a safe, enjoyable environment where everyone can move, learn, and grow together. Our goal is for students to leave each lesson feeling more confident, thoughtful, and prepared to take on any challenge.
