Page 181 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9-12: Health and Physical Education, 2015 - revised

A2.3 describe the benefits of school and community physical activity and sports programs for themselves and for society (e.g., increased opportunity for participation; increased fitness and better overall health; decreased stress, higher self-esteem, better mood, and generally improved mental health and well-being; better cognitive functioning; better school spirit; increased community cohesion; lower crime rates; lower health care costs; better workplace performance; decreased absenteeism)
Teacher prompt: “With rates of inactivity and obesity rising among some children
and youth, the role of schools, communities, and governments in promoting healthy, active living is becoming increasingly important. A healthy school has a learning environ- ment that promotes and supports not just academic success but also the development of the whole child and student – cognitively, emotionally, socially, and physically. Think about a school that provides multiple opportunities for healthy and inclusive activity, with a wide range of health and physical education courses, many intramural programs, and a broad choice of school sports. What impact would this have on you personally? How would it affect others in the school? What would the overall impact be on the well- being of your school community? What insights do your conclusions provide about the benefits and importance of having healthy schools in our community?”
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Teacher prompt: “The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Youth provide recom- mendations about how much physical activity is generally needed to achieve health benefits. How can school courses and activities and community programs help young people achieve the recommended standards in these guidelines?”
Student: “The guidelines provide information about the different types of activity you need – moderate to vigorous activity, strength-building activity, and general daily activity – as well as the amount. The amount and kind of activity you get at school will depend on the courses you are taking and the activities that you are involved in. For most people, these will provide part but not all of the activity they need. Community programs can provide additional activities, and there are also many ways of being more active at home. The important thing is to look at everything you do and take advantage of opportunities to be physically active at school, at home, and in the community.”
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Teacher prompt: “Canada also has guidelines for sedentary behaviour, which provide recommendations to Canadian children and youth on how they can reduce health risks by limiting sedentary behaviour during their free time. What can you do to limit sedentary behaviour?”
Student: “You can begin by monitoring your recreational screen time, as well as other sedentary activities, such as riding in cars and buses. Look at the amount of time you spend indoors throughout the day too, because that may involve a lot of sitting. You can then make decisions about substituting active alternatives, such as doing things outdoors, participating in school or community recreation programs, or using active transportation – for example, walking or biking to get where you want to go.”
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORT IN SOCIETY
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Introductory Kinesiology
PSK4U