Page 16 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9-12: Health and Physical Education, 2015 - revised

THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9–12 | Health and Physical Education
been shown to have an impact on reducing behaviours among adolescents that can lead to harm or injury. Moreover, by becoming involved in healthy, active living with their children, parents benefit as well.
Parents can help to show their children the value of their learning in health and physical education by taking an interest in the curriculum topics and helping to make connections at home and in the community as students apply their learning. Such an interest encourages students and promotes a positive attitude about healthy, active living. Helping students apply their learning might involve creating or facilitating opportunities for healthy activities as well as discussing various health-related topics, including possible activity choices, the benefits of adopting healthy eating habits, the importance of balancing all aspects of life, and the rewards of an active life as an engaged citizen. Through discussion with their children, parents also have an opportunity to learn about new approaches in physical activity and about emerging health issues.
By recognizing the achievements of their children in health and physical education, parents can help them develop confidence. Parents’ involvement in their children’s education also gives them an opportunity to promote the safety practices that their children learn in the health and physical education program (e.g., using hands-free devices while driving, eating a balanced diet based on the Canadian Food Guide, having regular physical exams, using sunscreen).
For healthy growth and development, the Canadian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines6 recommend that youth increase daily physical activity time and reduce sedentary time. While participation in sports and organized activities is beneficial, adolescents need to know that sports are not the only way to be active. Organized sports are not available in all communities, and some adolescents prefer to be active in other ways. Parents can encourage their children to be active by providing opportunities for hiking, outdoor activities, cycling, walking, gardening, and doing household chores. Parents are also encouraged to give adolescents opportunities to see and try new activities and to make use of community facilities such as parks, rinks, pools, and hiking and snow trails. Such opportunities help adolescents build confidence and experience and develop their appreciation of being active.
Teachers
Teachers and students have complementary responsibilities. Teachers develop appropriate and effective instructional strategies to help students achieve the curriculum expectations, as well as appropriate methods for assessing and evaluating student learning. Teachers bring enthusiasm and varied teaching and assessment approaches to the classroom, addressing individual students’ needs and ensuring sound learning opportunities for
every student. Teachers reflect on the results of the learning opportunities they provide, and make adjustments to them as necessary to help every student achieve the curriculum expectations to the best of his or her ability.
Using a variety of instructional, assessment, and evaluation strategies, teachers provide numerous opportunities for students to develop and refine their critical-thinking, problem- solving, and communication skills as they engage in health and physical education activities, projects, and exploration. These activities should give students opportunities to relate their
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6. Available at www.csep.ca/cmfiles/guidelines/csep_guidelines_handbook.pdf.