Weigh the pros and cons of physical education being an elective class.
Read opposing viewpoints and take a side; evaluate the role of physical education in helping teens learn and practice healthy behaviors
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Read opposing viewpoints and take a side; evaluate the role of physical education in helping teens learn and practice healthy behaviors
HEALTH ED STANDARDS
NHES 2: Evaluate ways that school can affect personal health
CASEL COMPETENCY: Social awareness
KEY VOCAB
mandatory
motor skills
Lesson Plan: Should Phys Ed Be an Elective?
Weigh the pros and cons of physical education being an elective class.
1. Preparing to Read
Before you read the debate “Should Phys Ed Be an Elective?”, ask your students the following pre-reading question:
What are the pros and cons of requiring phys ed classes during the school day?
2. Reading and Discussing
Have your students read the debate, “Should Phys Ed Be an Elective?” independently; read the article out loud to them; or have one student read one side of the debate and another student read the other side.
Close-Reading Questions
The following questions can be shared in printable or interactive form from the Resources tab.
Critical-Thinking Questions
3. Building Comprehension and Vocab
Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:
Quiz
Vocab Builder
4. Expanding SEL Opportunities
Continue the learning journey with the following extension activity:
In A BRIEF HISTORY OF PHYS ED, your students get the chance to do some more digging on the historical origins of P.E. classes, including the surprising truth about why the class was originally created in the U.S. If you wish, you can scaffold their investigation by providing this article for them to read beforehand. An answer key is included on the second page of the activity. Once students have shared their answers with one another, have them take a final position in the debate and vote in our live poll.
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