In this research a number of approaches were used with pre-service physical education teachers in an attempt to foster inclusive and critical approaches to teaching physical education. Physical experiences, storytelling and lab school were used to highlight the multifaceted processes around students' engagement in physical education and relationship to physical activity. Pre-service physical education teachers were asked to respond to these activities as they developed knowledge around teaching and learning. Findings suggest that the strategies employed allowed insights into the intricate relationships that occur between school, culture and physical activity and worked to develop greater awareness of the variety of "lived" experiences, around physical education. Opportunities to connect theory to practice through lab-school were also found to be useful in developing practices and ways to make physical education a safer and happier place.