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SPARK K-2 Physical Education Curriculum Design

The SPARK Physical Education program is designed to encourage maximum participation during class time. Active participation and practice in a positive, non-threatening atmosphere, are the means for improving children's physical skills, fitness, social development, and personal enjoyment.

SPARK Physical Education for primary grades offers instruction and practice in a realistic number of diverse skills and activities appropriate for kindergarten through second grade children. The curriculum is designed to take best advantage of developmentally appropriate activities without overwhelming students or teachers.

SPARK includes only activities that can be realistically implemented in a variety of school settings, including those that have limited space, equipment, and supplies. SPARK activities have been tried and tested with intact kindergarten through third grade classes. Only activities that are manageable in diverse settings and produce substantial opportunities for children to actively engage in learning through movement are included. Inactive games and drills, as well as activities requiring specialized equipment (e.g., formal gymnastics), are excluded. The curriculum has been implemented successfully by both physical education specialists and classroom teachers.

SPARK promotes quality, daily, physical education for children. However, due to the time constraints of classroom teachers, and the reduced role of many physical education specialists, SPARK suggests the following minimum: three days a week, for at least thirty minutes a class, throughout the entire school year.

The first unit in the SPARK K-2 Physical Education Curricula is "Perceptual Power." This unit establishes class environment, behavioral expectations of students, management and organizational protocols, and teaches concepts, principals, and techniques which provide the foundation of physical development.

The major objectives of the following units are:

Instructional Units Physical Parameters Developed Perceptual Power Body and special awareness, directionality, non-locomotor and locomotor skills Great Games Agility, locomotor skills, fleeing, chasing, dodging, tagging Beanbag Boogie Small object manipulation, grasping, throwing, catching Parachute Parade Non-locomotor and locomotor skills, strength, creative movement Happy Hoops Large object manipulation, general coordination, rhythm and balance Jumping For Joy Balance, rhythm, strength, endurance Having A Ball Small and large object manipulation, catching, throwing, dribbling Let's Hit It Striking; general, hand-eye, and foot-eye coordination Dance With Me Rhythm, balance, creative movement, general coordination, agility Superkid Stunts Strength, general coordination, creative movement, agility

SPARK K-2 Physical Education
Sample Yearly Plan
Traditional Calendar

*Be sure to finish entire Perceptual Power unit before moving on; protocols for all other units are established in this unit.

Note: Although this yearly plan suggests a monthly unit change scenario, using lesson from different units on a weekly or daily basis is acceptable and in many ways advantageous.