How to Make PE More Inclusive
When gym class is a place where all students feel welcome, phys ed has the power to help kids develop lifelong habits of well-being.
Though the positive link between exercise and learning is clear, PE (physical education) can instill a feeling of dread in many students. If movement is essential to learning, how can we shake off the negative reputation of gym class and encourage kids to take full advantage of the brain benefits that come with physical activity? Explore four ways to reimagine PE and get kids moving and engaged—from giving more choice in kinds of activities to offering noncompetitive and competitive options.
To read the research cited in the video, check out the links below:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) framework for schools on increasing physical education and activity (2019)
- Harold W. Kohl III and Heather D. Cook’s report on educating the student body by taking physical activity and physical education to school (2013)
For more information on how PE is evolving around the country, see Paige Tutt’s Edutopia article “How Schools Are Reframing Gym Class to Be More Engaging,” which was based in part on Linda Flanagan’s reporting for KQED/MindShift in the article “Six Ways Schools Improved PE to Prioritize Student Interests and Motivation.” And find more resources about integrating physical education with wellness in the Edutopia video Making Physical Education More Well-Rounded.