Learning to keep fit is essential to a lifetime of great health. The Middle School physical education program at Concordia is specifically designed to engage students in beginning to manage their own fitness while simultaneously developing an appreciation for physical activity. Our Physical Education department benefits from using state-of-the-art facilities to engage our students creatively in Physical Education. Special features of our program include a Climbing Wall, Weight Room, Dance studio, dedicated Gymnastics equipment and two full-size gymnasiums.
Our curriculum also seeks to emphasize fitness over raw athletic ability. Our Physical Education faculty often incorporate the use of heart rate monitors and pedometers, which gives the instructors an accurate picture of the intensity of their workout. Simple visual assessment of student’s activities often can present misleading and sometimes dangerous information. With heart-rate monitors, teachers have objective data to know how hard the student is actually working. In addition, the immediate feedback improves the students’ understanding of how to manage and improve their own fitness level.
Grades 5 and 6 students are introduced to a variety of different cooperative games, individual and team sports, and work to build their loco motor and non-loco motor skills.
In Grades 7 and 8, intermediate game strategies and sport skills are introduced. Healthy competition is encouraged with a strong emphasis on teamwork and sportsmanship. Academic subjects are integrated into physical education lessons whenever appropriate and meaningful connections can be made.
Health education is incorporated into the physical education curriculum. The health unit is designed to provide students with basic health content with a brief introduction to health and wellness, mental and emotional health, stress management, nutrition, conflict resolution, and personal health. Learning to become effective communicators, problems solvers, and understanding how to make healthy choices is an important component of this curriculum.
Concordia meets or exceeds the US National Standards for physical activity. The purpose of the National Standards document is to provide the framework for a quality physical education.
Standard 1: Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.
Standard 2: Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities.
Standard 3: Participates regularly in physical activity.
Standard 4: Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
Standard 5: Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.
Standard 6: Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction.