Health and Physical Education

Physical Education I

Grade: 9   Credits: .5   Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: None

Physical Education I is required for freshmen and must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in a physical education elective course. This course focuses on the five components of physical fitness, strength training, and the value of physical fitness in one's life. Students assess their fitness level and learn how to maintain and/or improve this through lifelong participation. Students also engage in a variety of cooperative activities that help enhance social development, communication skills, and problem solving strategies. They apply these skills in individual, dual, and team activities such as soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and badminton.

Text and materials: No text required, study guides will be provided to students.

Expectations: Students are expected to treat each other with respect and participate at a high level at every class. Effort and attitude are more important for a student's participation score than skill level. Tests are given for each unit. All students are required to have appropriate attire for each class.

Fitness through Movement

Grades: 9-12   Credits: .5    Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: Physical Education I

Fitness through Movement is designed to give students the opportunity to learn low impact fitness concepts and conditioning techniques. This course touches on basic fundamentals of strengthening and aerobic training using a less intense approach. Examples of activities include body resistance training, brisk walking, yoga, and plyometric exercises. Through this course, students gain the experience necessary to analyze and track progress, meet challenges, and develop positive behaviors in movement activity for a lifetime.  Students will also participate in a variety of team concept activities to help enhance social development. 

Text and materials: No text required, study guides will be provided to students.

Expectations:  Students are expected to remain actively engaged throughout each class, show a sense of comprehension and execution in both skills and knowledge of the activities.   Written exams and skill assessments will be used to evaluate the standards. 

Group Activities

Grades: 9-12   Credits: .5   Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: Physical Education I

Group Activities is a one-semester course designed to improve cooperation, communication, and leadership skills amongst a group setting. A variety of traditional competitive activities such as basketball, soccer,  volleyball, floor hockey and ultimate frisbee are taught. Students learn the proper biomechanics of a variety of movements. Evaluation includes written tests and projects on the kinesiology and biomechanics of certain skills or movements.

Text and materials: No text required, study guides will be provided to students.

Expectations: Students are expected to treat each other with respect and participate at a high level at every class. Effort and attitude are more important for students' participation score than skill level. Tests are given for each unit. All students are required to bring appropriate attire to each class.

Recreational Activities

Grades: 9-12   Credits: .5   Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: Physical Education I

Recreational Activities is a one-semester course designed to improve cooperation, communication, and leadership skills. A variety of less traditional activities such as badminton, tennis, volleyball, softball, disc golf, and pickleball are taught. Students learn the proper biomechanics of a variety of movements within each unit. Evaluation includes written tests and projects on the kinesiology and biomechanics of certain skills or movements.

Text and materials: No text required, study guides will be provided to students.

Expectations: Students are expected to treat each other with respect and participate at a high level every class. Effort and attitude are more important for students' participation score than skill level. Tests are given for each unit. All students are required to bring appropriate attire to each class.

Personal Fitness

Grades: 9-12    Credits: .5    Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: Physical Education I

Personal Fitness emphasizes the principles of lifelong personal fitness. Students engage in activities to improve their cardiovascular endurance, strength, balance, agility, speed, flexibility, and core strength. Instructions include proper use of fitness equipment and proper form for a variety of exercises. Students learn the proper biomechanics of running as well as other movements. Evaluation includes knowledge testing, fitness testing, and projects on the kinesiology and biomechanics of certain movements.

Text and materials: No text required, study guides will be provided to students.

Expectations: Students are expected to participate at a high level every class. Written tests, performance tests, and projects are given. All students are required to bring appropriate attire to each class.

Outdoors Activities*

Grades: 9-12   Credits: .5   Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: Physical Education I

Outdoor Activities emphasizes lifelong participation in a variety of outdoor pursuits such as soccer, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Students learn to appreciate the variety of activities that can be pursued in the Maine outdoors. They also learn the dangers of frostbite, hypothermia, heat stroke, dehydration, and heat exhaustion. This class is only offered in the fall semester.

Text and Materials: No text required, study guides will be provided to students.

Expectations: Students are expected to treat each other with respect and participate at a high level every class. They are required to bring appropriate attire to each class. Winter jacket, hat, gloves or mittens, and winter boots are necessary equipment. Students are given written tests.

*Offered fall semester only

Dance 

Grades: 9-12  Credits: .5 (fine art or PE)     Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: None

For all active students looking for fine arts or physical education credit. This course includes studying technique in different styles of dance, creating choreography, and learning some dance history. Dancers, athletes, gymnasts, cheerleaders, or any other movers may take this class regardless of previous experience. Performing is required. Course may be audited. You may take this course multiple times.

Text and materials: No text required.                          

Expectations: Grades are based on individual improvement and achievements during the semester, participation, comprehension and effort being the most important factors. Students are expected to wear clothing they can move in (sweats, shorts, t-shirts, etc) - dance clothing is not expected.  Students will have to perform for fellow students and complete written peer reviews and self reflections.

Health/Physical Education/Recreation Assistant

Grade: 12    Credits: .5    Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: Physical Education I, 1 PE elective, and teacher approval    

The student assistant works with each teacher in all areas of instruction; examples include equipment distribution and set-up, visual demonstrations, instruction of skills and/or drills. 

Expectations: Students must have appropriate attire for each class. They must be respectful, enthusiastic, focused, and willing to work with other students on a daily basis.

Health

Grades: 10-12    Credits: .5   Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: None

Health education's goal is to create confident, capable, self-assessing, lifelong learners who understand how to apply health concepts and work independently, interdependently, and collaboratively. Students learn to understand health promotion and disease prevention concepts; to acquire valid information about health issues, services, and products; to reduce health risks through practicing healthy behavior; to understand how media techniques, cultural perspectives, technology, peers, and family influence behaviors that affect health; and to communicate skillfully and see how that can contribute to health, to setting personal goals, and to making decisions for better health. Areas of study include mental health and illness, risk behaviors, decision-making and goal-setting, self esteem, stress management, teen suicide prevention and intervention, nutrition, eating disorders, substance abuse, communication, refusal skills, family and peer relationships, dating violence, growth and development, sexual health, HIV/AIDS and STDs, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual assault prevention, and lifespan developmental health concerns.

Text and materials: Primary source research from nationally reputable data sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institute of Drug Abuse, and National Association of Mental Illness; guest speakers and teacher-created materials

Expectations: Students are expected to be prepared with all materials. Projects as well as formative and summative assessments are used.

Advanced Topics in Health

Grades: 11-12   Credits: .5     Expectation Level: 3

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Health

This course is designed for upperclassmen to go into further depth on several topics discussed in Health Education and provide students with practical, real-world health and life skills essential for successfully navigating adulthood.  The focus will be on mental, social, physical and financial health related competencies.  Through a mix of hands-on activities, interactive lectures, and real-world scenarios, students will develop the knowledge and skills to confidently manage their health and responsibilities as they transition into adulthood.

Text and materials: School-issued laptop

Expectations: Students are expected to be prepared with all materials. Projects as well as formative and summative assessments are used.