Physical Education

Cunningham Park Elementary School

The primary purpose of the grades K through 6 physical education programs is to enable younger students to develop competence in fundamental movement skills by providing a wide variety of developmentally appropriate movement experiences and practice opportunities. Learning experiences are designed to use skill themes and movement concepts. Physical fitness, rhythms, educational gymnastics, and games/activities for practice of fundamental movement skills are fully integrated into the curriculum.

At Cunningham Park, we believe in having the maximum number of children active for the maximum amount of time. Our goal is for all students to feel good about themselves by doing their best and trying to improve on what they have done in the past. We strive to instill in students an appreciation for physical activity and promote the “joy of effort” while providing an element of fun and enjoyment through participation.

Physical education is an important and unique part of the daily instructional program. Not only does it contribute to the overall goals of education, but also contributes to the development and maintenance of fitness, motor skills, social skills, health, and brain development. Physical activity is a method by which learning takes place.

Two before-school programs, Fitness is Fun and Rise and Stretch, have been implemented to promote increased physical fitness and activity in students. Fitness is Fun is a fitness program geared towards creating and improving cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength training. Fitness is Fun runs every Tuesday before school. Rise and Stretch is a fitness program that has students perform PE related activities and muscular strength conditioning to help improve physical well being. Rise and Stretch runs every Monday and Wednesday before school. Both programs provide children a fun and safe way to perform fitness related activities before the start of school.

Listed below are some tips for exercise and physical health success for families:

• Have the whole family get involved in the "Trekking Across the Globe (T.A.G.)" program at Cunningham Park by keeping your own set of running cards and see how far you as a family can run or walk each month.

• Make exercise fun by planning family trips to nearby parks or recreation centers for exploration walks or hikes.

• Turn ordinary household chores into a physical fitness activity by listing what muscles are used when performing them. For example - mowing the lawn uses your leg and arm muscles. Cleaning your bedroom uses your leg, arm, and back muscles. Challenge yourself more by learning what the correct scientific name for each of these muscles are.

• Get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning and go for a walk with the family, then sit down together and have a healthy breakfast together.

Did you start this year resolving to lose weight and get into shape? Was your child’s New Year’s resolution to stay active and be physically fit? For an increasing number of children, weight is becoming as big a threat to their health as it is to adults. The Center for Disease Control estimates that approximately 15% of America’s children are obese, and many more are overweight. Carrying excess weight on children increases their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and overall limiting their chances of a healthy life. There are many causes of obesity or excess weight in children, including lack of physical activity and poor eating habits.

There are many things you can do to help your children develop healthy habits while they are young. Encourage any type of physical activity for your child. Your child is involved in the Trekking Across the Globe (T.A.G.) program in P.E. at Cunningham Park, which requires students to run, walk, or perform physical activities to achieve distance goals. Encourage your child to increase their miles for T.A.G., which will not only help them in P.E., but also improve their physical fitness. Make healthy food choices with your children, such as fruit and vegetables instead of ice cream and candy, and limit trips to fast food restaurants, as tempting and convenient as they may be. To improve children’s current and future health, parents should focus on both diet and exercise. It’s never too late to start!