Page 12 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9-12: Health and Physical Education, 2015 - revised

5. Learning in health and physical education is balanced, integrated, and connected to real life.
Health and physical education is balanced in that it addresses both the physical and cognitive needs of students. It also addresses their psychological and social needs. It is important for teachers to provide adequate time and resources for all aspects of the program, and not to allow any one aspect to be emphasized at the expense of others. Learning in health and physical education is integrated because the connections between the various elements of the program – active living, movement competence, healthy living, and living skills – are always recognized. Understanding these connections provides the foundation for health and physical literacy, overall well-being, and lifelong healthy, active living. Finally, health and physical education is highly relevant to students’ present and future lives in a complex, global, technology-rich, and rapidly changing world, and students need to understand this if they are to develop the comprehension, commitment, and capacity to participate in and promote healthy, active living.
THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9–12 | Health and Physical Education
FOUNDATIONS FOR A HEALTHY SCHOOL
Students’ learning in health and physical education helps them make informed decisions about all aspects of their health and encourages them to lead healthy, active lives. This learning is most authentic and effective when it occurs within the context of
a “healthy” school. The implementation of the health and physical education curriculum is a significant component of a healthy learning environment that supports well-being.
The Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School (www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/ healthyschools/foundations.html) identifies five interconnected areas that together inform a comprehensive approach to developing a healthier school. (The five areas align closely with the K−12 School Effectiveness Framework.) This comprehensive approach ensures that students learn about healthy, active living in an environment that reinforces their learning through policies, programs, and initiatives that promote healthy, active living. The five areas are as follows:
• Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning
• School and Classroom Leadership
• Student Engagement
• Social and Physical Environments
• Home, School, and Community Partnerships
Curriculum,Teaching,and Learning
The implementation of the health and physical education curriculum provides students with a wide range of opportunities to learn, practise, and demonstrate knowledge and skills related to healthy and active living. Instruction and implementation of the curriculum can lay the foundation for students to make choices that support healthy, active living outside instructional time. In order to ensure effective health and physical education programs, it is important for teachers and school administrators to participate in focused professional learning opportunities.
School and Classroom Leadership
School and classroom leadership focuses on creating a positive classroom and school environment by identifying shared goals and priorities that are responsive to the needs
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