Course Outline

Students in grades primary–6 develop fundamental movement skills through a skills-and-movement-concepts approach. The development of fundamental movement skills is critical to establishing the competence and confidence to participate in many sports and physical activities throughout a person’s lifetime.

Students in grades primary–3 are given opportunity to apply strategy skills that are age- and developmentally appropriate during different types of physical activities. These strategies begin very concretely in the earliest grades and increase in the complexity of decision making required as grades progress throughout these school years.

Physical education provides a unique opportunity to teach life skills to students. Physical education curriculum includes outcomes that are to be taught while students are participating in a diverse range of physical activities in order to support their personal, social, and emotional growth. Students in grades primary–6 will focus on behaviours that consider the well-being of themselves as well as their classmates, and show respect for equipment, their environment, themselves, others, and apply the elements of fair play.

Physical education contributes to the development of mental health literacy through reinforcement of motivation principles that encourage positive feelings associated with physical activity thus highlighting physical activity’s connection to improved mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health, alongside its better-known relationship to chronic disease prevention.

There are four diverse movement categories that define physical education curriculum. All outcomes are taught through a balance of experiences within these categories. These categories include dance, educational gymnastics, games, and active pursuits.

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Updated November 18, 2020