The author explores the advantages and disadvantages of integrated curriculum in the middle school setting. She reviews several models for integrated curriculum and guidelines for creating a successful integrated curriculum. A ready-to-use middle school unit on the American Revolution is also presented. Nine complete lessons are provided for…

The after-school leadership program described in this article is designed to provide positive growth experiences to middle school youngsters. Participants in this program include students who are recommended by school staff because they are at or below the academic average of the school. These kids are frequently ignored because they neither excel…

Background: This study examined physical activity opportunities and barriers at 36 geographically diverse middle schools participating in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls. Methods: Principals, physical education and health education department heads, and program leaders were interviewed to assess policies and instructional practices that…

The Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) combines social ecological and social marketing approaches to promote girls' participation in physical activity programs implemented at 18 middle schools throughout the United States. Key to the TAAG approach is targeting materials to a variety of audience segments. TAAG segments are individuals…

Physical education has been in decline because of the mistaken belief that the body and mind are separate and thus PE does not have much to contribute to mental function (Landers, Maxwell, Butler, & Fagan, 2001). Landers et al. theorized that sports and games present opportunities to develop thinking and reasoning skills because children are…

In order to prepare outstanding teachers, it is essential to provide opportunities for teacher candidates to use the theory learned in the college classroom in a "real physical education class." It is difficult to accomplish this when the university has so many physical education teacher education (PETE) majors that they overwhelm a…

Communication Challenge Softball is a developmentally appropriate game for middle school students. The game allows them to develop new communication skills using American Sign Language (signing). Traditional softball has been a part of physical education for years, and remains a popular sport played by children in community leagues throughout the…

Because of the perceived lack of youth physical fitness and/or concerns for increased obesity, physical education teachers are interested in youth fitness and physical activity levels. Statewide mandates are being developed that require school-based teachers to complete physical fitness testing. Data from the nationally representative School…

The fields of academics and physical education used to exist in two separate universes. However, these days, the demarcation between mind and body, between academic education and physical education, is wavering. Physical educators in school such as North Laurel Elementary School in Laurel, Delaware are adding academic elements to their lessons. In…

The Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) is a randomized, multicenter field trial in middle schools that aims to reduce the decline of physical activity in adolescent girls. To inform the development of the TAAG intervention, two phases of formative research are conducted to gain information on school structure and environment and on the…

Enjoyment and mood affection are considered to be main targets of intervention to promote physical activity (PA). Health education based on PA is seeking to explore the factors that affect children to foster and retain healthy habits. This study recognizes that the teaching methodology is crucial and attempts to investigate the effect two…

Efforts to design the most appropriate learning environments for adolescents frequently lead to discussions of separate-sex versus coeducational schooling. Arguments and research supporting both types of schooling have been made, particularly as they relate to academic, socioemotional, and interpersonal development. The conduct of physical…

Writing in physical education can enhance student performance in at least four ways: (1) writing to learn, which stimulates the gathering and organizing of ideas; (2) writing to motivate, which stimulates a sense of adventure, curiosity, and creativity; (3) writing to assess, which allows both teacher and student to evaluate progress; and (4)…

This study was the result of an action research project between a local urban school system and the Physical Education faculty at a nearby college. The faculty and the teachers worked together to design, administer, and analyze a student survey that would give voice to middle and high school student perspectives on physical education. Over 5000…

Practical and engaging, this book contains 21 case studies that help students apply curriculum theory to classroom reality. Each case is authored by an in-service teacher, reflecting on ways to improve instruction by making changes to various aspects of the curriculum. These real-life examples investigate up-to-date curricular issues ranging from…