By Tara Hauck
In today’s digital environment, getting enough physical activity each day takes planning.
The motivation to move is improved by getting out of the house and going to a designated workout location.
Students at Seven Summits Centre for Learning enjoy the brisk walk to the local gym for a variety of exercise programs. The physical education workshops are facilitated to incorporate big ideas from the B.C curriculum, active learning, and exposure to new skills.
The local fitness facility offers an exciting atmosphere and functional equipment to support an effective workout.
“We are learning about cardiovascular fitness, strength training, and flexibility training,” said Valen Diplock, a Grade 8 student. “So far since September we have done a bunch of different exercises like golf, tennis, basketball, disk golf, skating, curling and now the gym- it’s just fun to learn while we feel like we’re playing.”
The students benefit from the introduction to new types of exercise and the program offers interesting and innovative sports to keep their attention. To date, attendance has been almost perfect.
Students are not skipping physical education, and they are showing up to support each other on teams and in games.
“PE is a chance to get moving and reduce stress. At 7S we are academically focused, so having an active break that is also intellectually stimulating fits our culture,” said Tanis Shippy, the centre administrator.
For many, physical education would seem like an easy credit; however, the learning doesn’t stop just because we are out moving around the community.
Anatomy, physiology, psychology, team spirit, good sportsmanship, and sport protocol are the focus in each activity plan as well as key vocabulary and expected learning outcomes.
Students follow the mnemonic T.R.U.E: T for try, R for respect, U for understanding, and E for etiquette.
Expectations are consistent even though the monthly physical focus changes. Students thrive by participating and perhaps find new types of exercise that they can excel at doing.
“Often I use the example of a 7S alumni who learned to cross country ski in PE and now is burning up the Nordic Race Circuit,” said the workshop facilitator Tara Hauck.
Physical education is critical in these formative years, especially when students are deciding who they are and what they are ‘good’ at. Sports need to play a part in that equation for a lifelong engagement and better health.
“Attention is maintained through offering intriguing options of sports to support basic kinetic movement,” explained Hauck.
“For example, the September focus on the locomotor swing movement was taught through golf and tennis, the October focus on throwing was experienced through basketball, disc golf, corn hole, ladder golf, and darts. November’s lessons taught slide and glide movements through skating and curling.
“Now in December they are learning how to put it all together with human movement science, like yoga.”
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