ERIC Number: EJ1219522
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 5
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1930-4595
EISSN: N/A
Project Fit America's Impact on Youth Fitness Levels: Second Year Curriculum
Deutsch, Joe; Waldera, Roman; Mahoney, Sean; Martinez, Michelle
ICHPER-SD Journal of Research, v10 n2 p28-32 Spr-Sum 2019
Background: Project Fit America (PFA) curriculum was initiated in 1990 with a mission to provide opportunities for all American children to be fit with unique lessons and outdoor fitness equipment. Purpose: In this study, the physical education (PE) fitness testing scores of elementary school students were examined to determine the effect of PFA curriculum inclusion. Methods: A total of 72 (M= 31, F=41) 4th and 5th grade students participated. Students were divided into one of four groups: males experiencing (EM) or not experiencing (NEM) the PFA curriculum and females experiencing (EF) and not experiencing (NEF) the PFA curriculum. At this school, fitness testing was completed twice a year as part of regular PE assessment and included the following activities: cadence push-ups, cadence curl-ups, sit and reach, and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) test. Findings: The EM group showed significant increases in their post-test scores for both curl-ups (t(20) = -2.348, p = 0.029) and PACER (t(19) = -2.806, p = 0.011) while the EF group showed significant increases for average sit and reach (t(25) = -2.518, p = 0.019) only. The NEM group showed significantly greater post-test scores for curl-ups (t(9) = -2.427, p = 0.038). The NEF group showed no significant increases for any of the four tests. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that PFA inclusion serves to improve student's physical fitness measures.
Descriptors: Physical Fitness, Outdoor Education, Equipment, Elementary School Students, Grade 4, Grade 5, Curriculum, Program Effectiveness, Gender Differences, Muscular Strength, Exercise Physiology, Physical Education
International Council for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport, and Dance. 1900 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 703-476-3462; Fax: 703-476-9527; e-mail: ichper@aahperd.org; Web site: http://www.ichpersd.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Grade 5; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A