Physical Education & physical Activity
Did you know there’s a difference between ​PHYSICAL EDUCATION and PHYSICAL ACTIVITY?

Both PHYSICAL EDUCATION and opportunities for PHYSICAL ACTIVITY are important for the physical, cognitive and social emotional growth of all students. Research has proven Physical Education and physical activity breaks during the school day enhance student concentration, focus and successful learning while reducing behavior problems. Physical Education and physical activity promote student health and do not compromise academic learning.
​PHYSICAL EDUCATION and PHYSICAL ACTIVITY benefits include: 
  • Reduces the risk for being overweight, diabetes and chronic diseases 
  • Assists in improved academic performance 
  • Helps children feel better about themselves 
  • Reduces the risk for depression and the effects of stress
  • Helps children prepare to be productive, healthy members of society
  • Improves the overall quality of life
Graphic courtesy of Active Living Research

so what's the difference?

​PHYSICAL EDUCATION is the best opportunity to provide physical activity to all children and to teach them the skills and knowledge needed to establish and sustain an active lifestyle. PE is taught by a highly qualified physical education teacher, taught through a well-defined curriculum with planned sequential instruction, which promotes lifelong physical activity. Physical Education, by RI law and RI Department of Education regulation, is required in grades 1 – 12. Students should receive an average of 100 minutes per week of health/physical education with a school PE curricula aligned with the standards and performance indicators in The Rhode Island Physical Education Framework.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY is bodily movement of any type and may include recreational, fitness and sport activities such as jumping rope, playing soccer and lifting weights, as well as daily activities such as walking to the store, taking the stairs or raking the leaves. Schools should provide physical activity opportunities before, during and after school to enhance the PE curriculum. Recess, intramurals, interscholastic sports, classroom activity breaks and walk/run and bike programs can be offered at schools. 
Physical Education
SHAPE website
Society of Health and Physical Educators has developed helpful tools for school administrators, principals and teachers to assist in the development of a quality Physical Education Program and the evaluation of a physical education program or class:  
     SHAPE Physical Education Program Checklist 
     SHAPE Administrator’s Observation Checklist 

​​RIAHPERD website
RI Association of Health, PE, Recreation & Dance
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Active Schools website
Includes on-line assessment & planning tools for school Physical Education and physical activity

Presidential Youth Fitness Program website
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​Rhode Island Physical Education Framework
Framework for standards-based PE curriculum.
Physical Activity
Physical Activity Guide for Parents 2018 (US Dept. of Health & Human Services)

​CSPAP website
Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program is a multi-component approach by which schools use all opportunities for students to be:
  • physically active before, during, and after school 
  • meet the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day
  • and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. 
​     CSPAP  Resource List 

Fuel Up to Play 60  website
Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council and NFL, in collaboration with the USDA, to help encourage today's youth to lead healthier lives.

​RI Kids Count Obesity & Physical Activity
This page on the RI Kids Count website provides information about increasing physical activity in schools as a way to fight childhood obesity, including links to policy briefs they have produced on this topic, as well as links to other resources
Recess
Classroom Activity Breaks
Before/After School Programs
Academic Research