2. Why are we testing fitness?
• State Law started in 2011
• All students in grades 1-12 must
participate
• 4th-5th graders have 5 tests
• Testing must occur every year
“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”
- John Wooden
3. Why do we need a law?
Childhood obesity is a national crisis, in
Georgia…
• 14.8% of kids are overweight
• 12.4% of kids are obese
• Only 23.7% of kids meet exercise recommendations
• 39.2% of kids watch 3+ hours of TV on
school nights!
5. What is Fitnessgram?
• National fitness assessment tool for youth
• Health related
• 5 different testing activities
• “HFZ” & “Criterion Referenced”
• Tests all aspects of personal fitness
• Provides individual feedback
6. What tests will I have to do?
Test = Assessment
PACER - aerobic
capacity
Curl-ups–
abdominal
strength
Push-ups–
upper body
strength
Sit and reach
– flexibility
Height/weight–
body composition
7. What is the PACER?
• Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run
• Students run as many laps as possible
• Course is 20 meters
• Must stay on pace
• Pace starts slow, gets faster each minute
• Score is total number of laps ran on pace
8. Curl-ups
• Similar to sit-ups, tests core strength
• Curl-ups are done to a cadence
• Max score is 75
• Promotes good posture
• Emphasis on proper technique
9. Push-ups
• Measures upper body strength and
endurance
• Strength/endurance important for daily life
• Done to a cadence
• Max score is 75
• Emphasis is on proper technique
10. What is the Sit and Reach?
• Measures flexibility in legs, back and core
• Flexibility is key to participate in athletics
• Reduces sport-related injuries
• 12 inches is max score
• Emphasis on proper technique
11. Height and Weight
• Measures body composition
• Scores reported by Body Mass Index =
BMI
• High levels of body fat inhibit daily
activities
• Increased risk of major health concerns
• Height and weight taken privately
12. What is the Healthy-fitness zone?
• Ideal healthy range of scores
• Criterion-referenced standards
• Evaluates fitness performance
• 3 classifications
– HFZ
– Needs Improvement – some risk
– Needs Improvement – high risk
13. Why is assessing my fitness
important?
• Physical fitness is based on good health
• Better fitness = more productive student
• Long-term tracking of personal fitness
• Recognition of personal fitness needs
• Helps set fitness-related goals
14. Fitnessgram Score Report
• Student score report sent home at end of
year
• Report show how student compares to HFZ
• Provides suggestions for improvements
• Aerobic capacity
– Combines BMI and PACER score
– Most important score
Student score report example
15. FAQ’s
• How do we take the tests?
• Will my scores be compared to my friends?
• Can I fail the Fitnessgram?
• Do my fitness scores affect my PE grade?
• Are the fitness tests hard?
• How can I prepare for the Fitnessgram?
