It is estimated that less than 20% of young people worldwide are receiving the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day (Riley, Lubans, Holmes, & Morgan, 2014). Delaware and many other states around the country use FITNESSGRAM to assess students' overall physical fitness. The FITNESSGRAM® is a physical…

Background: Although physical literacy is explicitly defined and integrated into Canadian provincial physical education curricula, limited empirical evidence substantiates the development of physical literacy in elementary physical education. Despite physical education curricular expectations, developing and assessing physical literacy in students…

Background: Physical activity (PA) is associated with positive health outcomes. However, children's access to physical activities they enjoy may be limited. Purpose: To evaluate second-grader's PA against the U.S. DHHS goals to see if a before-school, play-based dance program contributed to these goals. Operational feasibility was evaluated using…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a seven-month curriculum prescribed physical activity (PA) intervention (the Active Smarter Kids [ASK] intervention) on executive functions in 10-year-old Norwegian children. A linear mixed model was used to analyze data from 971-1,123 fifth grade children at 28 intervention schools and 29…

Background: Public health professionals advocate school-based and community physical activity (PA) interventions as an effective method to increase PA levels and improve physical fitness. Purpose: This evaluation independently assessed a school-community linked PA intervention by exploring the provision, process, and impact of the program and its…

With childhood obesity on the rise and the need for American children to be academically successful compared to peer nations, it is imperative that physical activity become part of the typical school day for all elementary aged school children. There is an understanding that physical activity not only benefits physical fitness and health, but that…

Background: Motor competence, defined as a person's ability to execute different motor skills, is directly associated with children's physical, mental, and social development and may be essential in encouraging an active lifestyle in childhood. Although health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children has been described as an individual's…

We aimed to assess the impact of Project Spraoi: a school-based physical activity (PA) and nutrition intervention that reached 473 primary school children and 43 school staff in Cork (Ireland). Four primary schools (2 intervention, 2 control) with similar characteristics participated and for 2 school years, intervention schools were assigned an…

According to SHAPE America, quality physical education promotes physical literacy by addressing five core standards: motor skills, knowledge, health-related fitness, personal and social behavior, and values. The purpose of this article is to introduce a physical literacy index, identify resources that could be used to assess physical literacy, and…

The purpose of this research was to contribute to the childhood obesity mitigation literature by determining the PA preferences of obese/overweight (o/o) elementary students who participated in Club Fit!, a school-based PA program designed to engage the students in developmentally appropriate, moderate-vigorous PA and enhance their regard for PA…

Physical activity (PA) has been shown to increase cognitive function, with higher test scores being reported for students engaged in higher levels PA. Additionally, the integration of the Common Core content into physical education allows for more Common Core content practice while students meet physical education objectives. Integration can be…

Background: Preventing overweight and improving physical fitness in primary school children is a worldwide challenge, and physically active intervention programs usually come with the cost of academic instruction time. This study aimed to investigate effects of physically active academic lessons on body mass index (BMI) and physical fitness in…

Background: Approximately one third of California school-age children are overweight or obese. Legislative approaches to assessing obesity have focused on school-based data collection. During 2010-2011, the Chula Vista Elementary School District conducted districtwide surveillance and state-mandated physical fitness testing (PFT) among fifth grade…

This study examined the initial effects of a participatory-based, competency-/skill-building professional development workshop for physical education (PE) teachers on the use of physical activity (PA) promotion practices (e.g., eliminating lines, small-sided games) and students' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). A total of 823…

Background: Currently, obesity is one major pressing health concern for children, with physical inactivity being one main contributor. Schools are an excellent venue to provide pupils with opportunities for physical activity; however, schools are in need of user-friendly intervention programs that increase pupil activity and healthy behavior…