​By Tine Parker, Grade 5 Elementary Teacher

Over the past 8 years, physical literacy (PL) has become an increasingly important concept that is taught at school from K-12.

“Physical Literacy is moving with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities in multiple environments that benefit the healthy development of the whole person and use their skills and confidence to be active and healthy" (Sport for Life, Canada).

With children spending more and more time inside, they are not exposed to moving, which hampers their physical development for life. As a result, children do not have the basic fundamental movement skills they need to explore a variety of everyday activities. 

School is the perfect place to help children learn fundamental movement skills such as running, hopping, jumping, catching, throwing and falling. When a person has confidence in their abilities, they are more willing and able to enjoy physical activities, join teams, get out into nature and live a healthy life.

This past year, Highlands Elementary took the challenge and initiated a school-wide focus on physical literacy. The administration and teachers were supportive of increasing the presence of PL on the school property by installing a variety of stations for developing skills. Painters created footsteps, dots, sprint and curved lines, hopscotches and four-squares throughout the school grounds.

Each week, and before the school day began, teachers participated in 30-minute sessions to professionally develop their own PL skills. They learned specific technical areas to focus on, practiced these skills and were given activities and games to teach and reinforce skills right away.

Physical literacy is taught outdoors, where there are endless opportunities to teach fundamental movement skills on the school grounds and in nature. Teachers are encouraged to work with their class on specific skills. When lessons have been more technically advanced, a PL leader will co-teach the lesson. Together, the two teachers are able to better assist students' fundamental movement skills. This has allowed classroom teachers to gain confidence in understanding the skills and how to incorporate them within their daily lessons.

Highlands also focused on resources for teachers to use in physical literacy. Each classroom has their own cones, beanbags, balls (soccer, bouncy and basketballs), and pinnies (vests) to abide with COVID-19 regulations. In addition, there are cards describing how to use the painted areas with focus on skill development. Resources are essential, but education and learning with a dedicated PL teacher has been the greatest reason for the program's success.

How do we know it is working? Students are now cheering when they hear physical literacy is on the schedule. They can see their own skills improving and are taking this success with them outside for recess, lunch, weekend activities, community sports and evening play.