Teaching Physical Education

Teaching Physical Education

Teaching Tip: Promote physical activity in

We want our students to enjoy physical

fitness and make it a lifelong habit.

your lessons not just specific sports.

Back to Top

The Multigrade Classroom

Physical Education in the
Multigrade Classroom

Physical education in the multigrade setting incorporates a wholistic approach. While older students assist younger students, everyone is learning teamwork and the importance of being healthy and active.

Adventist Education takes a holistic approach to physical education. This approach integrates the spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of the learner while preparing each student to serve others.

SPARK Physical Education is the curriculum that is to be used in all Seventh-day Adventist schools; and the goal of this curriculum is to improve the health of students and adults. There are five domains which are covered by this curriculum: motor skills, performance application, physical fitness, responsible behavior, and values health.

NAD Multigrade Physical Education, Grades 1-4 provides lessons structured to teach one physical education class to all four primary grades. NAD Multigrade Physical Education, Grades 5-8 provides lessons to teach one physical education class to the upper grades. The content is based on the SPARK 3-6 materials and is available as a download on the North American Division Physical Education website. In addition to the multigrade manuals, teachers will need to order SPARK Physical Education, Grades 3-6 (on order form Set #3).

Teachers in one-teacher schools will choose to implement either the grades 1-4 or grades 5-8 manual based on which band reflects the greatest number of students enrolled. The lessons in the alternate manual will be used to support instruction. For example, if there are 3 students in grades 1-4 and 8 students in grades 5-8, it would be best to plan from the NAD Multigrade Physical Education, Grades 5-8 document.

In multigrade classrooms that include kindergarten, teachers have the option of using the kindergarten level of the NAD adopted textbooks or Kindergarten Stepping Stones which is the NAD integrated kindergarten curriculum.

K-2 BRIDGE is an integrated curriculum currently in development for K-1 or K-2 multigrade classrooms.

The Physical Education Standards are broken down into five domains: Motor skills, performance application, physical fitness, responsible behavior and values health.

Just as standards for student learning do not describe in full the students’ learning journey, they also do not alone give meaning to student learning. The big ideas and essential questions of life are developed from many sources. Beyond the classroom, family and significant others in a young person’s life influence the student’s personal beliefs and values. A personal worldview is formed by students when they integrate the knowledge learned at school and from other sources into a coherent understanding of the learner’s world. A worldview also gives the learner a vision for how to use the skills acquired to participate in their community and improve themselves. Ultimately, a meaningful, productive life depends on a student’s core beliefs and values from an emerging worldview equipping them to assess the authenticity and relevance of their learning, and to intelligently utilize the knowledge and skills learned.

NAD Adopted Textbooks and Multigrade Organizational Resources

SPARK Physical Education | Grades K-8

The SPARK Physical Education materials are designed to involve all students, create a more active environment, incorporate social skills, and emphasize health-related fitness and skill development.

The SPARK curriculum contains a planning manual, music CD, and SPARKfolio activity cards.

Order Form

Physical Education Microsite | Grades 1-8

Adventist Education takes a wholistic approach which includes a focus on the integrative nature of spiritual, mental, physical, and social development.

Find resources, curriculum, and standards on this microsite.

BRIDGE (2018) | Grades K-2

BRIDGE is an integrated curriculum currently in development for K-1 or K-2 multigrade classrooms. This curriculum uses Stepping Stones and Pathways , and embeds all other subjects. Units 1–10 are now available. As other units are completed, they will also be available online.

Multigrade PE Curriculum | Grades 1-8

The selected physical education program is SPARK Physical Education, Grades 3-6. Visit the microsite for instructional manuals designed for multigrade situations.

One-teacher schools will choose to implement either the grades 1–4 or grades 5–8 manual based on which band reflects the greatest number of students enrolled.

Union Created Resources

Atlantic Union Conference

Teacher Bulletin (2000–2015)

How-to Videos

The NAD Elementary Summer PE Committee shares the K-8 Physical Education Standards document and discusses the accompanying Small Schools Multigrade Manual and additional P.E. resources

Join the Adventist Multigrade Facebook group.