2. PDHPE is often over-looked in favour of more ‘traditional’
subjects in terms of academic value.
HOWEVER, PDHPE aims to encourage students to
develop knowledge and positive attitudes towards health,
wellbeing, and physical, social, spiritual and mental
health (Board of Studies, 2007).
Why teach PD/H/PE?
3. PDHPE allows students to explore their health and
well-being, as well as those of others, and encourages
and promotes communication, positive interpersonal
relationships and skills, positive decision making,
confidence, problem solving skills and makes
physical activity fun and rewarding.
PE in our classroom is taught using a Game Sense
Approach.
4. WHAT IS
GAME
SENSE?
Game Sense is a slight variation of TGfU (Teaching
Games for Understanding).
It is a student-centered approach to physical
education of games and sports (Wright & Forrest,
2007).
It promotes inclusivity, problem-solving and decision-
making within games and sports.
Game Sense encourages students to be more game-
aware and to develop skills within a fun and more
realistic atmosphere (Pearson, Towns, Rowland &
Webb, 2004).
5. Why use a Game Sense approach?
A Game Sense approach will be used in our
classroom due to its inclusive and
modifiable capabilities in sports and game
education. This means that games and sports
in the classroom are designed to challenge
each student individually.
Game Sense places the emphasis on play, and
ultimately encourages students to have fun
at all times!
6. Fundamental
Movement Skills
If we can help students develop
these skills in Primary School, it will
allow students to further develop their
skills in adolescence and later
learning.
These are the building blocks of ALL
movement. It improves the
opportunities for students to continue
sports in later life.
By the end of Year 6, ALL students
should be able to complete all of
these movements.
NSW DET (2000).
7. References
• Board of Studies. (2007). Personal Development, Health and Physical
Education K-6 Syllabus. Board of Studies New South Wales.
• NSW Department of Education and Training. (2000). GET SKILLED:
GET ACTIVE; A K-6 resource to support the teaching of fundamental
movement skills. NSW Department of Education and Training. 1-111.
• Pearson, P. J., Towns, J., Webb, P. I. & Rowland, G. S. (2004). Game
sense online - Utilising the web for the professional development of
physical and health education teachers. In R. Light, K. Swaby & R.
Brooker (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2nd international conference:
Teaching Sport and Physical Education for Understanding. Melbourne:
University of Melbourne. 62-70
• Wright, J., & Forrest, G. (Sept 2007). A social semiotic analysis of
knowledge construction and games centred approaches to teaching.
Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. 12(3). 273-287
