Health and Physical Education

Health Education and Physical Education are integral parts of the total education of every child from kindergarten through grade 12. Therefore, every student should have the opportunity to participate in a quality health and physical education program.

It is the role of quality health education programs to provide young people with the knowledge and skills they need to become successful learners and healthy and productive adults. To help students adopt and maintain healthy behaviors, health education should contribute directly to a student’s ability to successfully practice behaviors which protect and promote health and avoid or reduce health risks.

It is the role of quality physical education programs to help students develop health-related fitness, physical competence in movement activities, cognitive understanding, and positive attitudes toward physical activity so that they can adopt healthy and physically active lifestyles. Quality programs are also important because they provide learning experiences that meet a student’s developmental needs, which in turn helps to improve the mental alertness, academic performance, readiness, and enthusiasm for learning.

Good health and academic success are directly related. Healthy children are better students and better students become healthy, successful, productive adults.

UPDATES

O.C.G.A. §22-2-777 Annual fitness Assessment program

Flexibility will waive the administration of, and related requirements for, state fitness assessments.

Resources for Health and Physical Education Teachers

HealthMPowers

HealthMpowers is a Georgia SHAPE partner and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes healthy habits and transforms environments where children live, learn and play. HealthMPowers is providing virtual learning resources for teachers and families that adress healthy eating, hand washing, and physical activity designed to enhance health and fitness.

HMPowers Resources

Grades: All

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nutrition Education Resources

Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Teaches children the four simple steps to food safety: "Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill."

Resource: Food Safety Mobile Coloring Book

Grades: Elementary

Food and Nutrition Service.

Provides interactive computer game for children ages 6 to 11. Presents children with the ability to make food choices and select the best fuel for their rocket ship to reach Planet Power.

Resource: Blastoff Game

Grades: Elementary