Physical Education

The vision of Harambee’s physical education program is to develop fit and healthy children who can be successful not only in the physical education or athletic setting, but also children who have a functional and practical fitness and wellness that will allow them success in the classroom and in life; and to provide every child with an active, enjoyable, and successful physical education experience from a multicultural perspective; one where learning, respect for each other, and fun are emphasized rather than winning at any cost.

Units of Instruction

There is a central core of approximately 20 essential motor skills. If an individual can master these skills, she/he will have the skills necessary to be successful in both the competitive and recreational fitness and athletic settings: walk, run, hop, jump, skip, gallop, leap, slide step, underhand throw, overhand throw, catch, hand dribble, basketball shoot, foot dribble, foot trap, forward punt, kick, forehand strike, sidearm strike, underhand strike, forward roll, backward roll.

Core Units of Instruction

Soccer: Kick, Forward Punt, Foot Trap, Foot Dribble
Tumbling/Gymnastics: Forward/Backward Roll
Floor Hockey: Forward Strike, Backhand Strike
Jump rope: Rhythmic Movements, Jump, Hop, Leap
Track & Field: Walk, Run, Hop, Leap, Jump
Racquet Sports: Overhand/Underhand/Sidearm Strike
Volleyball: Underhand/Overhand Strike
Basketball: Catch, Throwing, Hand Dribble, Slide Step, Basketball Shoot.
Softball: Catch, Overhand/Underhand Throw, Forward Strike
Rhythms/Dance: Basic Locomotor Movements, Rhythmic Movements

These essential skills are taught in a variety of ways. At Harambee, they are taught in the context of various sport or movement units and gender-neutral activities. By teaching these essential skills within the framework of a familiar sport, incentive and motivation to learn is built in. It is important to remember that the sport or activity is not the goal of the instruction. The sport or activity is the tool through which the essential skills are taught.

Other units like martial arts, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, lacrosse, cup stacking, golf, football, cooperative games, multicultural games, and recreational games are also rotated into the curriculum. The students also use Polar heart rate monitors to learn about their hearts and the effects of physical activity on their bodies. These units stress the essential skills listed in the core curriculum as well as activity specific skills. A unit’s length is determined by the amount of skill mastery displayed by the students. Games are used, not to establish a winner or a loser, but to give the children opportunity to work cooperatively and socially within a team or unit. Teams are formed in ways that preserve the self-esteem, ego, and self-concept of the children.

The units generally follow a seasonal theme. This is done for several reasons. First, students watching high school, college, and professional events can complement the units. Second, the weather is generally most conducive in the season that it is played. Third, scheduling the units in this way can add motivation for learning.

Fitness Testing

Fitness testing is an important part of the Harambee physical education program. Fitness can be broken down into five biomotor abilities: flexibility, strength, agility, muscular endurance, and cardiovascular endurance. Each child will be tested in these areas each year using the presidential fitness test. The results will be shared with parents at progress report time and the student’s progress can be tracked throughout his or her time at Harambee. Steps are taken to ensure a non-competitive environment and emphasis is placed on doing ones best rather than comparing ones self to others. The results will be used by the students to set fitness goals and work to achieve them. The Presidential fitness test offers three kinds of rewards. If a student’s scores in all five tests are in the 85th percentile, the student can earn the presidential award. If the student scores in the 50th percentile, a national award is earned. If a student's scores fall below the 50th percentile in one or more of the tests, the student earns the participation award if good effort is given in all five tests. The main purpose of this testing is to offer parents and students feedback about how the student compares to peers in the five areas of physical fitness.

Harambee Physical Education Standards