At the Helm of Physical Education

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

KENDRA L. BATES SPOKE WITH DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION MARILENA CANUTO ABOUT THE POWER OF PLAY IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

What does the power of play mean to you?

It means making connections between your brain and your body. Play helps kids stretch their imaginations and gives them the freedom to explore and find new ways to solve problems. Play helps kids develop independence as well as cognitive, physical, and mental skills. Students learn how to build relationship skills, life skills, resilience, how to solve problems individually and within a group, and develop dexterity that helps to promote physical activity. These are all important skills they will use throughout their lives.

How is play integrated into physical education? How does it differ from grade to grade?

Students in early elementary grades associate ‘play’ with ‘fun.’ This belief can be reinforced by incorporating popular music and current themes (such as Star Wars , Marvel, etc.) into daily classes. Early elementary students are given a lot of open-ended tasks to see what they can do with a piece of equipment. As we increase grade levels, we layer more structure into play in an effort to refine skill. Older elementary-age students are learning how to work as a team. They are learning about small-sided games and how to work together. Play allows middle school to high school students to foster creative thinking, problem-solving, independence, and perseverance. It addresses teenagers’ developmental needs for greater autonomy and ownership in their learning, opportunities for physical activity, and creative expression.

What are the common misconceptions of play in a physical education setting?

One is that we just roll out the ball and let kids play. We need to teach kids how to play safely physically, emotionally, and mentally. Physical education is learning about the what, why, and how of movement. What are we learning? Why are we learning the skill and how does it relate to other skills/games? How will I know when I learned the skill? These questions are asked every day in everything that we cover in PE.

How does physical education support learning in traditional classroom settings?

Physical education supports a collaborative relationship between teachers and students. We can integrate what the classroom teacher is doing in a movement form. Students are excited about movement and they often learn better when they are moving. Collaborating with the classroom teachers/unified arts teachers helps students make meaningful connections between content across different subject areas. Physical activities and exercise boost stamina, which can increase confidence, motivation, academic achievement, and self-esteem.

How can families and teachers support play in relation to physical education outside of class?

By having their student be active for 60 minutes a day of moderate physical activity. Families can role model healthy behaviors at home by participating in activities together. Have them design a game, play outside with friends, explore the woods, or have an adventure. Play an active game outside with your family. Children learn from their families first at home. If you are active, they learn healthy behaviors that are encouraged or discouraged by you.

How do you think your students would differentiate between play and physical education?

I hope my students would say they are coming to PE to learn how to be active, play new games, make new friends, learn how to show proper sportsmanship, and have fun. My goal is to make them want to have fun and be active for the rest of their lives.

What are the social-emotional benefits of comprehensive physical education?

Social-emotional learning activities in physical education can deepen the experiences by building awareness of how physical health impacts us. Exercise can promote psychological wellbeing as well as improve quality of life. There are many benefits of physical education and movement. It improves body image, increases feeling of energy, improves confidence in your physical abilities, and decreases symptoms associated with depression.

How important is nature-based play/learning in physical education?

Students who are hiking or running on uneven ground are gaining strength and developing different muscle groups. They improve balance, agility, and core strength beyond what they would experience by moving on a flat floor. They get to feel nature, breathe fresh air, and move with the different terrain under their feet.

How does having access to an 80-acre campus impact students’ ability to play?

Having an 80-acre campus is amazing. I love the variety of environmental options afforded to us. We have such a beautiful campus that teaching anywhere on it is wonderful. When the weather is nice, we are outside, either on the fields or in the woods. If a larger space is needed, the field house (Blue Gym) is phenomenal. The Wood Gym is great for a more structured setting to introduce new concepts. In the winter, I take my classes into the woods for snowshoeing, orienteering, and storywalks.