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Off-Canvas

Physical Education

All Students. Our Students.
Vision: The Joseph Sears School is committed to achieving the four tenets of our Portrait of a Sears Graduate for all students: Fearless Learner, Creative Thinker, Compassionate Citizen, and Courageous Advocate.

Academic Achievement Mission: Using an integrated system of teaching and learning, develop experiences rooted in best practices that foster the growth of all students to achieve the Portrait of a Sears Graduate.

Philosophy

Physical Education is a vital discipline that empowers students to flourish at their own pace and empowers them to unleash their full potential across the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains. Through the utilization of Priority Standards adopted by the District, students embark on a journey toward mastery tailored to their unique abilities. We believe that an approach centered on standards-based education enables each student to attain mastery while instilling a sense of responsibility for their own learning, ultimately fostering independence as lifelong learners. Our objective is to cultivate the growth of Fearless Learners, Courageous Advocates, Creative Thinkers, and Compassionate Citizens through a hands-on, collaborative, and fun Physical Education and Health program. 

Standards

Students will master Priority Standards and skills using the following goals:

  • Acquire movement and motor skills and understand concepts necessary to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity.
  • Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness based on continual self-assessment.
  • Develop skills necessary to become a successful member of a team by working with others during physical activity.
  • Understand the principles of health promotion and the prevention and treatment of illness and injury.
  • Understand human body systems and factors that influence growth and development. 
  • Promote and enhance health and well-being through the use of effective communication and decision-making skills. 

Resources

  1. Illinois PE and Health Standards
  2. Priority & Supporting Standards by Content Area and by Grade-Level
  3. Grade Level Outcomes by grade level and standard (PE)
  4. Grade Level Outcomes by grade level and standard (Health)

Program Description

Physical Education 
SPARK is dedicated to creating, implementing, and evaluating research-based programs that promote lifelong wellness. SPARK strives to improve the health of children and adolescents by disseminating evidence-based physical activity and nutrition programs that provide curriculum, staff development, follow-up support, and equipment to teachers of Pre-K through 12th-grade students. SPARK is committed to providing outstanding customer satisfaction through timely delivery and exceptional service. SPARK believes in fostering a positive working environment that values professional growth, upward mobility, and opportunities for people to work together toward common goals. 


SPARK focuses on developing healthy lifestyles, motor skills, movement knowledge, and social & personal skills.

It is expected that SPARK Physical Education/Physical Activity students will:

  • Enjoy and seek out physical activity.
  • Develop and maintain acceptable levels of physical fitness.
  • Develop a variety of basic movement and manipulative skills, so they will experience success and feel comfortable during present and future physical activity pursuits.
  • Develop the ability to get along with others in movement environments (e.g., share space and equipment, employ the “golden rule” of competition: be a good sport and demonstrate cooperative behavior).
  • Curriculum aligned with National Standard & Grade-Level Outcomes, that addresses movement, fitness social-emotional skills and concepts along with supplemental materials (bilingual skill/task cards, assessments, videos, and music)
  • Inclusive Physical Education
  • Supplemental guide to support a variety of student needs
  • Skill adaptations and sample activities. 
  • Modified lesson plans
  • Recommendations for equipment, class management, and assessments.

Aligned with

Health
Recently, the CDC completed the latest revision of its Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool or HECAT. CDC’s panel of health experts focused on nine main health content areas and identified the important healthy behaviors within each of these areas. These are the behaviors they want to see adolescents practicing by the time they graduate from high school. The panel determined what concepts students would need to know (Knowledge Expectations) and what skills they would need to be able to practice (Skill Expectations) in order to achieve these Healthy Behavior Outcomes. The Healthy Behavior Outcomes defined in the HECAT—the things students should be able to do by the time they graduate in order to be health literate—drive the instruction and lesson objectives in HealthSmart for all grades K through 12.

  • Meets the Health Education Standards for Grades K–8.
  • Aligns to the CDC’s Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT).
  • It focuses on the key risk areas confronting children today, as identified by the CDC.
  • Draws on the cultural strengths of children and their families to support healthy behaviors and establish healthy social norms and expectations.
  • Tailored to the developmental capabilities of students at each grade level.
     

Department Resources