Physical education (PE) plays an integral role in the school curriculum, mainly because the activities and lessons included in PE classes encourage children to live a healthy lifestyle. These fast-paced, action-packed classes give energetic students an opportunity to stay active during the school day, but they are also an opportunity to teach children important values and essential life skills that they will need now and in the future.
Values that can be Taught Through Physical Education
On the surface, it may seem like physical education is a class where students learn about the fundamentals of sports, the rules of various games and the exercises they can do to stay healthy, fit and active. However, one of the many benefits of physical education lessons is the capability to teach human values like empathy and cooperation that all children can benefit from, laying the groundwork for important life skills and moral education.
The Intersection of Physical and Moral Education
PE lessons are one of the best ways to encourage the holistic development of students, combining physical skills with moral education on integrity, teamwork and perseverance. Through team sports and by overcoming individual challenges, students experience firsthand the rewards of collaboration and the importance of staying resilient in the face of obstacles.
This instils in them the 5 values of physical education necessary for success both inside and outside the classroom, preparing them to tackle life’s challenges with confidence and respect for others.
1. Respect
Respect is the first of the 5 values of physical education. It emphasises the importance of treating others with dignity and acknowledging their worth. This core value is crucial not just for sports but in all aspects of life, teaching students the importance of appreciating the efforts of peers, coaches and opponents alike.
In practical applications with PE, respect manifests through sportsmanship. Competition is a part of life, and it’s imperative that children learn the values of sportsmanship from an early age. In physical education classes, students celebrate their accomplishments without bragging about them or putting others down in the process. If they are on the losing side, they congratulate the winners and reflect on how they can perform better the next time.
2. Responsibility
Responsibility in physical education is all about personal accountability and the collective duty within team settings. This value teaches students the importance of reliability and understanding that one’s actions directly influence the team’s success.
Practical application of responsibility in PE is evident when students take care of the equipment they use, showing respect for shared resources. Additionally, being responsible involves students actively participating in team activities, where they learn the importance of showing up, putting in the effort, and supporting their teammates. When students work in a team setting, they learn how to divide tasks, assist one another and work toward a common goal. In addition, they learn that there are multiple paths toward success and that individual and group goals are important.
3. Fairness
Fairness is the third out of the 5 values of physical education, focusing on treating everyone equally and playing honestly. It ensures that all students understand and appreciate the importance of playing by the rules and respecting each other’s rights to equal opportunities. Fairness sets the stage for an inclusive culture in schools where merit and effort determine success.
PE lessons incorporate fairness by emphasising unbiased play and consistent rules, no matter if the game is for fun or a competition. This level playing field teaches students the critical lesson of honesty and the value of fair competition. Such lessons in physical education serve as the perfect groundwork for understanding the broader implications of fairness in everyday life. By competing with integrity and respecting the game’s rules, students internalise the value of working hard to achieve their goals, laying a foundation for moral education through physical education.
4. Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness is the development of reliable and dependable relationships among peers and between students and teachers. It emphasises the importance of being someone others can count on, whether in collaborative tasks or in competitive settings.
Trustworthiness as a value of physical education shows up when students consistently attend practices and put forth their best effort in every task. Trust is also built when students support each other through challenges, whether it’s a disappointing loss or a hard-won victory, showcasing resilience and the understanding that bouncing back from setbacks is part of growth.
5. Citizenship
Citizenship as a value of physical education is all about civic-mindedness and helping out the community. It teaches students that being a part of a team or a group is more than just winning games, it’s about working together, helping each other out and, most importantly, making everyone feel included.
In a physical education class, it’s going to be apparent that some children are natural athletes while others may struggle with specific skills. Therefore, it’s a perfect opportunity to point out that, despite any differences, children can and should be kind to one another. Teachers who incorporate moral education in PE lessons ensure everyone cheers each other on, no matter if they’re the fastest or strongest. This helps students see how important it is to be a good citizen, helping and respecting each other, and being a part of something bigger than themselves.
Challenges in Teaching Values Through PE
A diverse student body can make it challenging to teach morals and good values through physical education. Cultural and personal differences can lead to varied interpretations of concepts like fairness or teamwork, making it difficult to ensure lessons have a uniform impact across the student body.
Another hurdle is the varying levels of physical ability within a class. While inculcating the values of citizenship can go a long way to bridge this gap, different levels of athletic abilities can lead to varied levels of engagement in PE activities, which might affect the reception of the values being taught.
Strategies for Educators
Teaching values through physical education classes can be challenging, but there are clear ways teachers can make it work.
Setting clear expectations is a crucial first step for PE teachers aiming to integrate moral education into their lessons. By clearly defining what behaviours and attitudes are valued right from the beginning, educators can create a shared understanding among students. This approach ensures everyone is aware of the importance of values like respect, fairness, and teamwork from the start.
Modelling positive behaviour is another powerful strategy. When teachers exemplify the virtues they’re teaching, such as patience, integrity, and cooperation, they become role models for their students. This real-life demonstration of values in action helps students learn through observation, making the lessons more impactful.
Lastly, creating an inclusive learning environment is essential. By adapting activities to ensure all students can participate, regardless of their physical abilities or backgrounds, educators can foster a sense of belonging and community.
How We Teach Values Through PE at OWIS
Our innovative physical education curriculum promotes a healthy, active lifestyle among our students and instils in them important values. We do this in numerous ways, such as:
- Encouraging our students to play team games – Through different team sports, we teach our students a variety of physical skills and the core values mentioned above. Cooperative, team building games offer the opportunity for children to build a community, work according to other people’s styles and get to know each other by working towards a common goal.
In our Early Childhood programme, our youngest learners begin their adventures in physical education by throwing a ball back and forth to one another and through other fun games.
By International Primary School, they have the opportunity to participate in a variety of team sports, including floor gymnastics, court games, team games, Outdoor Adventurous Activities (OAA), striking and fielding, basketball, tennis, football, t-ball/rounders, tag rugby, floorball and futsal.
When they get to International Secondary School, they are prepared for more advanced sports, such as badminton, volleyball, hockey, handball, softball, track and field, gymnastics, table tennis and basketball. All these games in the outdoor field or the Multi-purpose Hall encourage cohesion, collaboration and communication and build a sense of togetherness amongst classmates. After-all, there is no “I” in the word “team”.
- Planning sports events – Our Sports Days are exciting events that bring the entire school community together. On Sports Days, the houses come together to cheer each other on and compete in a variety of different events. Most students report that Sports Days are their favourite days of the year, largely because there is a collective sense of teamwork that everyone on campus enjoys.
- Modelling kindness – Through role-play and the use of real-life examples and demonstrations, our Physical Education educators impart the value of compassion. They make use of teachable moments during lessons to guide students to develop the spirit of sportsmanship not just in PE classes, but as part of their deportment.
At OWIS, students in all grades learn many positive attributes in their sports and fitness lessons that carry over into their overall academic performance. For example, in PE class, we teach positive values, such as sportsmanship, teamwork and honesty, and skills such as striving for best personal performance, positive self-esteem and group participation. We believe that learning values and skills important in one area of study can help another. For example, good sportsmanship is taught in all PE classes, and is also extremely beneficial in all other academic areas, especially when working in teams.
We also see that participating in team sports is a good way of building self-esteem and confidence. In all grades, self-esteem is very important for students to do their best thinking and to increase interactions with teachers and other students. Students who believe in themselves seem far more able to ask more questions, and are willing to work hard to find the answers when needed.
At OWIS, we are proud of the fact that we offer a well-rounded, rigorous curriculum at both our Nanyang and Suntec campuses. With experienced physical education teachers as their guides, our students enjoy the time that they spend in PE lessons. They also learn the 21st-century skills they will need to succeed in their other goals.
For more information about our well-rounded curriculum at OWIS, please join our school tour.
