Elementary physical education is based on a Skills Building Approach. The Skills
Building Approach incorporates a wide range of movement concepts. It allows for
a developmentally appropriate progression of movement concepts to become the
base for more advanced skills and activities. The movement concepts can be
focused on in many activities and through any of the motor skills. As the learners'
abilities progress throughout elementary school the movement concepts are
continuously revisited in more complex activities so they remain developmentally
appropriate. The movement concepts and motor skill are listed below.
Building Approach incorporates a wide range of movement concepts. It allows for
a developmentally appropriate progression of movement concepts to become the
base for more advanced skills and activities. The movement concepts can be
focused on in many activities and through any of the motor skills. As the learners'
abilities progress throughout elementary school the movement concepts are
continuously revisited in more complex activities so they remain developmentally
appropriate. The movement concepts and motor skill are listed below.
Movement Concepts
Space Awareness
- Personal space in the space inside of each of our “bubbles” and no one can pop anyone else’s when moving through general space (all of the space in between our bubbles).
Pathways
– Straight, Curved, Zigzag
Levels
– Low, Middle, High
Directions
– Up/Down, Forward/Backward, Right/Left
Extension
– Large/Small, Far/Near
Time
– Fast, Slow
Force
– Strong, Light
Relationships
- Of body parts (round, narrow, wide, twisted, symmetrical, nonsymmetrical),
- with objects and/or people (over/under, on/off, near/far, in front/behind,
along/through, meeting/parting, surrounding, around, alongside),
- and with people (leading/following, mirroring/matching, unison/contrast, behind groups,
groups, partners, solo, alone in a mass)
Skill Themes
Locomotor Movements
– Walking, Running, Hopping, Jumping, Skipping, Galloping, Sliding, Chasing, Fleeing, Dodging
Non-manipulative
– Turning, Twisting, Rolling, Balancing, Transferring Weight, Jumping and Landing, Stretching, Curling
Manipulative
– Throwing, Catching, Collecting, Kicking, Punting, Dribbling, Volleying, Striking with rackets, Striking with long-handles