GRADES K-5
Standard 1. Demonstrates competence in many different movement forms and proficiency in a few forms of physical activity
Sample Benchmarks:
- Travel, in different ways, in a large group without bumping into others or falling.
- Toss a ball and catch it before it bounces twice.
- Continuously jump a swinging rope held by others.
- State guidelines and behaviors for the safe use of equipment and apparatus.
- Jump and land using a combination of one and two foot take-offs and landings
- Continuously dribble a ball, using the hands or feet, without losing control.
- Strike a ball repeatedly with a paddle.
- Balance, with control, on a variety of moving objects (e.g., balance boards, skates, scooters).
- Demonstrate competence in basic swimming strokes and survival skills in, on, and around the water.
- Distinguish between compliance and non-compliance with game rules and fair play.
Standard 2. Applies concepts and principles of human movement to the learning and development of motor skills.
Sample Benchmarks:
- Kick a stationary ball, using a running approach, (without hesitating or stopping) prior to the kick.
- Identify selected body parts, skills, and movement concepts.
- Recognize that skill development requires practice.
- Demonstrate the difference between an overhand and underhand throw.
- Identify ways movement concepts can be used to refine movement skills.
- Describe essential elements of mature movement patterns
Standard 3. Designs personal fitness programs to achieve and maintain physical fitness
Sample Benchmarks:
- Can sustain moderate physical activity.
- Is aware of their heart beating fast during physical activity.
- On the playground or during lunch/recess engages in vigorous physical activity.
- Can describe to a partner what happens to their heart during vigorous physical activity.
- During physical education, the student participates in activities that are designed to develop chasing and fleeing skills
- Can move each joint through a full range of motion.
- Manages own body weight while hanging and climbing.
- Participates in organized after school activities that promote physical fitness. (e.g., gymnastics club, boys and girls club baseball/softball).
- Use time outside of school to engage in vigorous physical activity (e.g., jogging with dog; biking with parents; inline skating; skate boarding)
- Supports, lifts and controls body weight in a variety of activities.
Standard 4. Identifies the benefits and costs of regular participation in physical activity.
Samples benchmarks are now under development.
Standard 5. Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings.
Sample benchmarks:
- Can take turns using a piece of equipment.
- Can follow directions given to the class for an all class activity.
- Transfers rules of the gym to “rules of the playground”.
- Reports a score honestly when the teacher asks students to raise their hands if they can strike a ball more than five times in a row without losing control.
- Chooses to use a lighter ball when he/she cannot be successful with the heavier ball.
- Refrains from choosing his/her friend as a partner when they have a history of off task behavior.
- When given the opportunity arranges gymnastics equipment safely in a manner appropriate to the task.
- Works productively with a partner to improve the process characteristics of the overhand throw pattern for distance.
- Accepts the teacher’s decision regarding a personal rule infraction without displaying negative reactions toward others.
- Can assess their own performance problems without blaming others.
Standard 6. Understands that participation in physical activity promotes inclusion and understanding of differences among people
Sample benchmarks:
- Enjoys participation alone and with others.
- Appreciate the benefits that accompany cooperation and sharing.
- Be considerate of others in physical activity settings.
- Appreciate differences and similarities in others’ physical activity.
- Respect persons from different backgrounds and the cultural significance they attribute to various games, dances, and physical activities.
Standard 7. Understands that physical activity provides the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and communication
Sample benchmarks:
- Identify feelings that result from participation in physical activities.
- Look forward to physical education lessons.
- Appreciate the benefits that accompany cooperation and sharing.
- Accept the feelings resulting from challenges, successes, and failures in physical activity.
- Identify activities that contribute to personal feelings of joy.
- Describe healthful benefits that result from regular and appropriate participation in physical activity.
- Design games, gymnastics, and dance sequences that are personally interesting.
- Enjoy feelings resulting from involvement in physical activity.
- Celebrate personal successes and achievements and those of others.
Standard 8. Participates regularly in health enhancing physical activities
Sample benchmarks:
- Participates regularly in vigorous physical activity.
- Recognizes that physical activity is good for personal well- being.
- Identifies feelings that result from participation in physical activities.
- Demonstrate safety while participating in physical activity.
- Participate in a wide variety of activities that involve locomotion, non locomotion, and manipulation of objects.
- Willingly completes physical education activity “homework” assignments.
- Describe healthful benefits that result from regular and appropriate participation in physical captivity.
- Enjoy feelings resulting from participation in physical activity.
GRADES 6-9
Standard 1. Demonstrates competence in many different movement forms and proficiency in a few forms of physical activity.
Sample benchmarks:
- Consistently strike a ball, using a golf club or a hockey stick, so that it travels in an intended direction and height.
- Design and perform gymnastics and dance sequences that combine traveling, rolling, balancing, and weight transfer into smooth, flowing sequences with intentional changes in direction, speed, and flow.
- Design and play small group games that involve cooperating with others to keep an object away from opponents (basic offensive and defensive strategy)(e.g., by throwing, kicking, and/or dribbling a ball).
- Design and refine a routine, combining various jump rope movements to music, so that it can be repeated without error.
- Explore introductory outdoor pursuits skills (e.g., backpacking, rock climbing, hiking, canoeing, cycling, ropes courses).
- Perform a variety of simple folk, country, and creative dances.
- Analyze offensive and defensive strategies in games and sports.
Standard 2. Applies concepts and principles of human movement to the learning and development of motor skills.
Sample benchmarks:
- Leap; roll; balance; transfer weight; bat; volley; hand and foot dribble; and strike a ball with a paddle, using a mature motor pattern.
- Demonstrate proficiency in front, back and side swimming strokes.
- Identify principles of training and conditioning for physical activity.
- Identify proper warm-up, conditioning, and cool-down techniques and the reasons for using them.
- Practice in ways that are appropriate for learning new skills or sports on his/her own.
- Assess personal motor fitness status.
- Desire to improve physical ability and performance.
Standard 3. Designs personal fitness programs to achieve and maintain physical fitness. Sample benchmarks:
- Keeps a record of heart rate prior to, during, and after vigorous physical activity.
- Participates in organized physical activities, outside of school (e.g., gymnastic clubs, community sponsored youth sports)
- Engages in physical activity at the target heart rate for a minimum of 20 minutes.
- Correctly demonstrates activities designed to improve and maintain muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory functioning.
- Correctly demonstrates various weight training techniques.
- Plans a formal circuit weight training program to meet physical fitness goals
Standard 4. Identifies the benefits and costs of regular participation in physical activity.
Sample benchmarks are under development.
Standard 5. Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings.
Sample benchmarks:
- Makes suggestions for modifications in a game or activity that can improve the game.
- Remains on task in a group activity without close teacher monitoring.
- Chooses a partner he/she can work with productively.
- Can distinguish between acts of “courage” and reckless acts.
- Will practice for good technique even though the success of the movement may not be as consistent.
- Includes concerns for safety in self-designed activities.
- Insures that all members of a working group or squad have an equal opportunity to participate.
- Walks away from a peer wanting to fight.
- Accepts the controversial decision of an official.
- Practices the forehand stroke against the wall when given the opportunity to choose a skill for independent practice.
- Has fewer than 5 fouls in a basketball game.
Standard 6. Understands that participation in physical activity promotes inclusion and understanding of differences among people
Sample benchmarks:
- Recognize the role of games, sports, and dance in getting to know and understand others of like and different cultures
- Seek out, participate with, and show respect for persons of like and different skill levels.
- List long-term physiological, psychological, and cultural benefits that may result from regular participation in physical activity.
- Respect physical and performance limitations of self and others.
Standard 7. Understands that physical activity provides the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and communication
Sample benchmarks:
- Identify benefits resulting from participation in different forms of physical activities.
- Describe ways to use the body and movement activities to communicate ideas and feelings.
- Seeks physical activity in informal settings that utilizes skills and knowledge gained in physical education classes.
- List long-term physiological, psychological, and cultural benefits that may result from regular participation in physical activity.
- Describe personal and group conduct, including ethical behavior, appropriate for engaging in physical activity.
- Feel satisfaction on days when engaging in physical activity.
- Enjoy the aesthetic and creative aspects of performance.
Standard 8. Participates regularly in health enhancing physical activities
Sample benchmarks:
- Choose to exercise at home for personal enjoyment and benefit.
- Participate in games, sports, dance and outdoor pursuits both in and out of school based on individual interests and capabilities.
- Identify opportunities in the school and community for regular participation in physical activity.
- Identify benefits resulting from participation in different forms of physical activities.
- Participate in an individualized fitness program.
- Recognize the effects of substance abuse on personal health and physical performance.
- List long-term physiological, psychological, and cultural benefits that may result from regular participation in physical activity.
- Feel satisfaction on days when engaging in physical activity.
- Enjoy the aesthetic and creative aspects of performance.
- Desire to improve physical ability and performance.
GRADES 10-12
Standard 1. Demonstrates competence in many different movement forms and proficiency in a few forms of physical activity.
Sample benchmarks:
- Demonstrate intermediate, or advanced competence in at least one activity from three of the six following categories: aquatics, dance (e.g., modern folk, country, ballet); outdoor pursuits (e.g., hiking, biking, canoeing); individual activities/sports (e.g., golf, cycling); dual activities/sports (e.g., tennis, racquetball); team activities/sports (e.g., soccer, softball). [Grade 12]
- Participate in a variety of game, sport, and dance activities representing different cultural backgrounds.
Standard 2. Applies concepts and principles of human movement to the learning and development of motor skills.
Sample benchmarks:
- Demonstrate basic competence in physical activities selected from each of the following categories: aquatics; self-defense; dance; individual, dual, and team activities and sports; and outdoor pursuits.
- Apply biomechanical concepts and principles to analyze and improve performance of self and others.
- Apply scientific principles to learning and improving skills.
- Use scientific knowledge to analyze personal characteristics and participation in physical activity.
- Feel empowered to maintain and improve physical fitness, motor skills, and knowledge about physical activity.
Standard 3. Designs personal fitness programs to achieve and maintain physical fitness.
Sample benchmarks:
- Assesses aerobic endurance using the one mile walk test.
- Monitors body composition by body circumferences measures.
- Records results of informal testing and compares status relative to personal physical fitness goals.
- Participates in physical activity with carry over value on a regular basis (e.g., tennis, badminton, back packing, swimming, hiking, walking, cycling).
- Monitors exercise and other behaviors related to healthful lifestyle.
- Maintains appropriate levels of cardiovascular and respiratory efficiency, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition necessary for a healthful lifestyle.
- Uses the results of fitness assessments to guide changes in his/her personal program of physical activity.
- Willingly participates in games, sports, dance, outdoor pursuits and other physical activities which contribute to the attainment of personal goals and maintenance of wellness.
Standard 4. Identifies the benefits and costs of regular participation in physical activity.
Sample benchmarks are under development.
Standard 5. Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings.
Sample benchmarks:
- Participates in vigorous activity outside of school at least three times a week.
- Slides into second base in a manner that avoids injury to the person playing second base.
- Chooses an activity because they enjoy it and not because all their friends are in it.
- Volunteers to replay a contested shot in tennis.
- Walks away from verbal confrontation.
- Acknowledges good play from an opponent during competition. en meter board after a friend completes the jump.
- Uses the proper warm-up procedures prior to activity.
- Creates a safe environment for their own skill practice (e.g., looks behind them before using a striking instrument).
- Takes a supportive role in an activity
- Plans and conducts their own fitness program outside of the school day.
Standard 6. Understands that participation in physical activity promotes inclusion and understanding of differences among people
Sample benchmarks:
- Discuss the historical roles of games, sports, and dance in the cultural life of a population.
- Enjoy the satisfaction of meeting and cooperating with others during physical activity.
- Identify the effects of age, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic standing, and culture upon physical activity preferences and participation.
Standard 7. Understands that physical activity provides the opportunity for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and communication
Sample benchmarks:
* Identify participation factors that contribute to enjoyment and self-expressions.
- Derive genuine pleasure from participating in physical activity.
- Enters competition/activity voluntarily.
Standard 8. Participates regularly in health enhancing physical activities
Sample benchmarks:
- Participate cooperatively and ethically when in competitive physical activities.
- Participate in several outdoor pursuits indigenous to the geographic area.
- Analyze and compare health and fitness benefits derived from various physical activities.
- Analyze and evaluate personal fitness profile.
- Enjoy the satisfaction of meeting and cooperating with others during physical activity.
- Monitor exercise and other behavior related to a healthful lifestyle.
- Willingly participate in games, sports, dance, outdoor, pursuits, and other physical activities which contribute to the attainment of personal goals and the maintenance of wellness.
- Accept differences between personal characteristics and the idealized body images and elite performance levels portrayed by the media.
- Accept the ways in which personal characteristics, performance styles, and activity preferences will change over the life span.
- Feel empowered to maintain and improve physical fitness, motor skills, and knowledge about physical activity.
- Make a commitment to physical activity as an important part of one’s lifestyle.
Reprinted with the permission of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education from the draft standards document, Content Standards and Assessment Guide for School Physical Education. Copyright September 1994 by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
