Physical Education

The Lower School Physical Education program teaches good habits of physical fitness as well as fundamental sports skills; teamwork and good sportsmanship are also key features of the program. To teach good habits for physical fitness that can last a lifetime, all our Lower School classes feature routine exercises, stretching, and light running. In addition, students take the President’s Challenge Fitness Test twice each year, which measures flexibility, endurance, abdominal strength, agility, and upper body strength (with some of the tests adapted for younger classes).

 

 

Activities Designed for Particular Grade Levels

In the lower grades (grades K-2), games and activities especially geared toward developing gross motor skills are emphasized, and basic skills for various team sports (dribbling basketballs, swinging a bat, running bases) are also introduced. In the upper grades (grades 3-5), the focus is more on sports skills and teamwork. While still developing coordination (by stressing the use of non-dominant as well as dominant hand and foot) and motor skills, activities focus on fine motor skills and team activities, including soccer, football, basketball, floor hockey, kickball, and ragball.