What is Physical Education?

Physical education, also known as PE, is a type of education that focuses on physical activity and physical fitness. It is typically offered as a school course designed to help students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. Physical education can include various activities, such as sports, fitness, dance, and outdoor education. In addition, physical education aims to help students develop physical literacy, which is the ability to understand, appreciate, and participate in physical activity for a lifetime. Physical education can also help students develop social skills, self-esteem, and teamwork skills and promote overall physical and mental well-being.

The fitness-related health factors of muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, joint flexibility, and body composition must contribute to the health goals of physical education. Performance-related components of fitness include power, balance, coordination, agility, and speed of movement. Body awareness, spatial awareness, directional awareness, synchrony, rhythm, and sequence are examples of perceptual-motor elements included in physical education.

The physically literate person exhibits competence in various motor abilities and movement patterns.

Standard 2: The physically literate person utilises their understanding of ideas, rules, plans, and techniques connected to performance and movement.

Standard 3: The physically literate person exhibits the knowledge and abilities needed to reach and sustain a level of physical activity and fitness that benefits their health.

Physically literate people demonstrate appropriate social and personal behaviour that respects themselves and others.

Standard 5: The physically literate person understands the importance of physical activity for self-expression, enjoyment, challenge, and social engagement.