Personal Development/Health/Physical Education

1. Personal Development/Health/Physical Education

2. What does PD/H/PE involve? The main aim of PD/H/PE in schools involves the teaching and understanding of : Physical, social, cognitive and emotional growth and development patterns; The development and maintenance of positive interpersonal relationships; The factors influencing personal health choices; Living and learning in a safe secure environment The adoption of an active lifestyle Fundamental movement patterns and coordinated actions of the body; skills that enable action for better health and movement outcomes. Taken from the 2006 K-6 PD/H/PE syllabus

3. Why is PD/H/PE important in schools? • It is important to teach the fundamentals of PD/H/PE in schools to develop in each student the knowledge and understanding , skills and values and attitudes needed to live healthy, active and fulfilling lives in the future. • Objectives are important to fulfil learning outcomes for students to ensure that they develop the required knowledge and understanding . Objectives in the PD/H/PE syllabus for students are: • Values and attitudes- appreciation of and a commitment to healthy and socially just ways of living. • Skills- making, communicating and acting upon health decisions - moving with competence and confidence - forming and maintaining positive relationships • Knowledge- ways to enhance personal and community health and wellbeing - the composition, performance and appraisal of movement.

4. How can PD/H/PE be implemented in schools? • Subject matter is way that certain fundamental skills and knowledge are taught to students and implemented in schools. In the PD/H/PE syllabus subject matter involves: • Active lifestyle- examining the components of a balanced lifestyle , explore options for recreation and develop the skills and attitudes necessary for an active lifestyle. • Dance- developing awareness of the ways their bodies move, the space in which they move, the time and quality of their movements and their relationship to each other and objects. • Games and sport- developing fundamental movement skills, processing to more games and sport specific skills in non-competitive environments that foster positive feelings of success and enjoyment. • Growth and development- developing each students understanding of their own physical, social, cognitive and emotional development in the context of increasing awareness of changes that occur throughout the cycle of people’s lives.

5. Gymnastics- students investigate and succeed in a wide variety of movement experiences and challenges, developing skills, demonstrating control and exploring the ways in which the body can move. • Interpersonal relationships- developing an understanding of the nature of relationships by developing skills for building positive responsible relationships, and practise their application to be use effectively in their lives. • Personal health choices- considers personal health decisions that students make about their lives relating to nutrition, hygiene, consumerism, drug use, the environment and disease prevention. • Safe living- concerned with the protection of individuals through the promotion of safe environments and practices by developing in students a commitment and an ability to act in ways that will keep themselves and others safe from harm.

6. Conclusion • As seen in the previous slides their are many beneficial factors for teaching skills and knowledge within the PD/H/PE syllabus. Each stage has different specific outcomes to fulfil in ensuring a certain level of knowledge and skills are learnt and applied to the appropriate age group. • PD/H/PE is not just about physical wellbeing it also encompasses emotional and social attributes of wellbeing i.e nutrition, relationships etc. Teaching children the benefits of an active lifestyle and healthy eating choices at a young age will only benefit there understanding in the future. All the principles of PD/H/PE are and can be applied to everyday life situations reinstating the importance and beneficial factors the content has upon the children. Its not so much what you teach but how you teach certain principles that will have an impact upon children. • Overall the benefits of PD/H/PE are positive and necessary to teach children of any age. It is important to encourage out children to apply the principles of PD/H/PE to everyday life to ensure healthy future and educate future generations.

7. Reference: • Board of studies New South Wales Personal Development, Health and Physical Education K-6 Syllabus 2006.