Objective: To examine the impact of circus arts instruction in physical education (PE) on the physical literacy of children in Grades 4 and 5. Methods: A clustered, quasi-experimental design was used comparing children in schools with circus arts instruction in physical education (n = 101) with children in socioeconomic status-matched schools…

The provision of regular physical activity opportunities has the potential to have positive health benefits for children. This study used qualitative interviews and focus groups to examine the experiences of two Irish primary school communities as they worked to attain an Active School Flag. The data suggest that engagement in this formal physical…

Background: The primary school age group (aged 5-11 years) is acknowledged as a critical period in the development of physical activity patterns and healthy lifestyle behaviours. Furthermore, high quality physical education (PE) is crucial for the development of lifelong physical activity behaviours and is highly dependent on the interaction…

Background: When compared to their hearing peers, Deaf pupils are likely to experience fewer activities and participate less often in physical education (PE), be less physically active, lag in motor skill development, and are more likely to be overweight or obese. While the reasons for these differences are nuanced and complex, established…

The conceptual framework for this study was the Five Core Propositions of the National Board Certification (NBC) for teachers. This study evaluated teaching effectiveness and the decision-making processes employed by NBC and non-NBC physical education teachers. Process measures of teaching effectiveness were used (e.g., Academic Learning…

This purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of positive behavior interventions and support (PBIS) in a summer camp. The camp provided physical activity opportunities to underserved children attending a summer program at a local, rural public school. Certified physical education teachers led activity stations. Participants in…

Early childhood (3 - 5 years) is a critical time for establishing healthy behaviours and attending to early areas of development associated around physical literacy (PL), social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and cognitive skills (CS). Alarmingly, recent international research has identified that many young children do not display acceptable and…

Adolescents with overweight and obesity are at risk for future health problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and initial efficacy of a weight management intervention to help adolescents develop healthy nutrition and physical activity behaviors and improve their anthropometrics. This study used a single-group repeated…

Objectives: Many school-aged children do not meet the daily minimum recommendations for accruing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and spend much of their day sedentary. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of teacher-delivered classroom-based physical activity (CBPA) on students' MVPA and sedentary behaviors.…

Gender in physical education (PE) traditionally enacts discourses of hegemonic masculinities where girls are frequently positioned as the 'problem' regarding their disengagement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of mostly ethnic minority and low-socioeconomic status elementary school girls enrolled in an urban…

One of the goals of physical education, according to The Society of Health and Physical Educators, is for children to establish "patterns of regular participation in meaningful physical activity." However, participation alone in physical education classes is not enough for students to reach daily recommended levels of physical activity.…

The purpose of this article is to provide support for middle school physical education programs that meet the developmental needs of students while providing for student choice. With its health and physical education program called Creating Healthy Active Minds for Personal Success (CHAMPS), Moscow Middle School is striving to cultivate student…

Objective: The authors examined the end of semester outcomes (December, 2017) on the Wellness Inventory and demographics among college students taking a Physical Education (PED 101) course at a university in the southeast United States. Participants: College students were assessed at the end of the semester for health and well-being outcomes…

Competition is a ubiquitous component of American culture and in many US physical education programs. In this article, five myths associated with competition are dispelled: (1) Everyone likes competition, (2) Competition is motivational, (3) Competition is fun, (4) Competition promotes physical activity, and (5) Competition prepares children for…

A comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) is a multi-component whole-school approach designed to assist schools in targeting opportunities for students to be more physically active and help students achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity (PA) each day. A CSPAP consists of five components (1) quality physical…