Teaching Personal Development, Health and Physical Education in primary school is about teaching the practical skills, theory and knowledge that students need to achieve the K-6 PDHPE Syllabus. The K-6 PDHPE syllabus aims to achieve the following outcomes that will assist students for the future: Students gain an understanding of themselves and others. Students are involved in physical activities that will lead to a better understanding of how to live a healthy lifestyle. Students will develop communicating, moving, decision making, interacting and moving skills that will assist them in everyday life.
As a teacher it is my aim to teach in a non-directive teaching style that is “to value and believe in inclusivity that commit to actions and pedagogies that recognise and celebrate students diversity, ultimately inviting engagement with critical theory and critical pedagogies” (Garrett &Wrench, 2006, p.200) A non directive teaching style gives students the opportunity to take control of their own learning. All students from every stage in the primary school can achieve the necessary Personal Development, Health, skills and knowledge necessary to achieve the PDHPE syllabus, in a way that interests them. The content students will achieve: Active lifestyle: Components of an active lifestyle. Ways to be active. Effects of physical activity. Dance: Non loco-motor skills. Loco-motor skills. Elements of Dance. Composition. Dance styles. Games and Sports: Non loco-motor skills. Loco-motor skills. Manipulative skills. Games. Athletics. Aquatics. Playing the game.
Growth and Development: Personal identity. The body. Human sexuality. Changes. Values. Gymnastics: Non loco-motor skills. Loco-motor skills. Elements of movement. Composition. Interpersonal relationships: Relationships. Communication. Families. Peers. Groups. Personal Health choices: Making decisions. Nutrition. Health services and products. Drug use. Environmental Health. Preventive Measures. Safe living: Personal safety. Home and rural safety. School and play safety. Road safety. Water safety. Emergency procedures.
The aim of teaching PDHPE is for students to achieve the five PDHPE skills: Communication skills. Decision making skills. Moving skills. Problem solving skills Interacting skills Developing these skills throughout K-6 students will be well equipped for life. According to Young (1998) “the assertion by Sociologists is that all knowledge is Socially produced for particular contexts” (Beckett, 2006, p. 17). students will have the understanding of how to live a life full of health, physical activity and will know how to interact in a appropriate way with their peers.