This report puts forth the position of the Ministry of Education of Alberta, Canada, with respect to the physical development of the elementary school student as the basis for his or her cognitive, emotional, social, and moral development. The report describes normal physical development during the first 10 years of life in the domains of perceptual, structural, and motor development. For each domain, the report explains the normal changes that occur from infancy to preschool ages, during elementary grades, and during adolescence. Perceptual development is considered not only in terms of the five senses, but also in terms of the ability to concentrate, discriminate, accomplish tasks, and distinguish figures from their context. Physical growth is addressed in terms of height, weight, proportion, and gender. Factors affecting the development of motor skills, and the particular locomotor and fine motor skills developed during each of the periods of childhood, are discussed. Each section includes a discussion of instructional implications. The report concludes that the development of perceptual and fine motor skills is the responsibility of all instructors, and that understanding students' skill levels is an important step in establishing goals. (AC)