Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference

Hear about a research study conducted with grade 5 students regarding the impact of an evidence-based physical education program and/or an after school activity in relationship to cardiovascular endurance fitness assessments and fundamental motor skill proficiency. A 12-week study was conducted in a southern Maine school, with 95 grade 5 students. The students had physical education one time per week, for a 40 minute class. Time was a factor that could not be altered in terms of physical education in this district and students were not performing according to state and national standards on their cardiovascular assessments and motor skill proficiency. The researcher sough to discover whether a change in curriculum and/or the implementation of an after school program could improve student performance on cardiovascular fitness assessments and fundamental motor skills. A control group, that was taught using a sports-based district curriculum, was compared to three intervention groups: 1) a grout that utilized the district curriculum and participated in an after school activity program, 2) a group that was taught with the SPARK evidence-based physical education curriculum only, and 3) a group that utilized the SPARK evidence-based physical education curriculum and participated in the after school program. The results from this study will be presented, in addition to how the results will impact planning for upcoming school year. (Presenter(s): Carolyn Gross, Elementary Physical Education Specialist, RSU 6)