Grade 4 • Physical Education Overview

Grade 4 Physical Education

Overview

Physical Education Overview

The goal of The Howard County Public School System’s Physical Education program is to help prepare students for college and career readiness by developing physically-literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity. Students are encouraged to question, integrate, analyze, communicate, and apply cognitive, psychomotor, and affective concepts helping them gain a wide multicultural view of the world through physical education learning experiences. It is our hope that through positive experiences students will value physical activity and acknowledge its contributions to a healthful lifestyle.

A physical education program will be provided each year for all students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. The elementary school master schedule will reflect an average of 90 minutes of physical education per week. The middle school master schedule will reflect 50 minutes of physical education every other day. In grades nine through twelve, program offerings will be provided to enable students to meet graduation requirements and to select physical education electives. Students with disabilities will be provided equal opportunities to participate in the HCPSS mainstream physical education program.

Physical Education Standards

The HCPSS physical education curriculum is based upon the national standards set forth by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America and the Maryland State Physical Education curriculum. The focus of the HCPSS physical education program is to ensure that all students will:

• Demonstrate competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns that are needed to perform a variety of physical activities.
• Apply knowledge of concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics related to movement and performance.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.
• Exhibit responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others.
• Recognize the value of physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.