Teaching elementary aged students about the importance of fair play and being a good sport is becoming a much more difficult task. Professional athletes, once touted as positive role models, have become increasingly poor examples for children. So, while physical educators often deal with issues of fair play in their classes, it has become a larger…

In an earlier issue of "TEPE" (January, 2005) the "Research to Practice" column examined the effects of a developmental curriculum on elementary-aged children's performance. Pappa, Evanggelinou, and Karabourniotis (2005) found support for a line of research suggesting that curricular programming should place a specific focus on development of…

"Stressed out" has become a way of life for many Americans. For children, stress comes from a variety of situations such as bullying, divorce, high stakes testing, and peer pressure. Because many children are not exposed to stress management techniques, stressful situations often result in unhealthy coping mechanisms such as overeating, "acting…

This article discusses ways in which classroom teachers can use "life skill" games to facilitate classroom management by giving student opportunities to practice desirable behaviors. There is also usually a reduction in behavior problems when children are allowed to occasionally move. In addition, research has demonstrated that periodic movement…

This article presents an interview with Tom Dewell, a professional physical educator with 28 years of experience and a fixture in Dallas physical education. Dewell has melded a background in movement education and adapted physical education with early childhood theory, including Montessori. The bulk of his experience has been in private, parochial…

Summer break is almost here for most elementary teachers and students. Warmer weather and additional free time to make choices create more opportunities to be physically active, whether home alone or out with friends and family. This article describes ways by which physical education specialists can encourage students' physical activity by…

This article describes First Week Movement Activities, an activity-based series of lessons designed to help teachers get to know the students, and the students to know each other. This breaks down barriers students may have with each other. Getting to know one another creates an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and sharing for the rest of…

It's no secret that America's youth are now more out of shape than ever before. Study after study documents the sad saga of childhood obesity. Quick-fix remedies such as "Atkins for Kids" and child-friendly aerobics classes are proliferating. There are fat camps for kids and low-fat "candy." Still, an inescapable fact remains: As a nation, and…

What to do during physical education when it is raining or the gym is not available is a problem that confronts many physical education teachers. The problem is compounded when teachers do not have the equipment needed to carry out instruction due to budget limitations. A related concern is making sure children with special needs, who attend PE…

Children's fitness levels are decreasing at an alarming rate. The Centers for Disease Control has determined that approximately 33% of children do not regularly engage in vigorous physical activity (CDC, 2002). As a result, childhood obesity has increased 100% since 1980 in the United States due to physical inactivity (CDC, 2004). A well-planned…

In this article, the author presents a number of ways to integrate academic content with physical activities. Among the activities are: (1) Paint the Alphabet, where students use different body parts (arms, legs, and head) as large paint brushes to paint the entire alphabet on an imaginary canvas; (2) Sequence Race, where students are placed into…

This article describes both individual and team cooperative and fitness activities that can be played with scooters. The activities include but are not limited to: (1) Traffic Jam; (2) Chariot; (3) Crab Walk; (4) Pom Pom Pull Away; (5) Clothespin Hustle; (6) Four Corners; (7) Spider; (8) Carousel; (9) Amoeba; (10) Caterpillar; (11) Centipede; (12)…

Disc activities are an excellent elementary content area for both skill and fitness enhancement. They may occur through progressive skill and drill practice, small sided-game examples, modifications of traditional disc activities appropriate to large groups, and with adjustments designed to increase activity and fitness levels. For games in this…

This article focuses on cardio-kickboxing, one of the hottest fitness trends sweeping the nation's fitness centers. The activity moves beyond the basics of kickboxing and provides participants with skills and techniques that help to enhance form, speed, power, and balance. Cardio-kickboxing is fun because it deviates from more conventional…

Volleyball, by its very nature, is a difficult game to play. Players at all ages have a hard time hitting the ball to their intended targets, resulting in rallies that rarely last more than one or two hits. The resulting game, then, is slow paced and boring, with a lot of standing around and little activity time. In an attempt to ease the…