The focus of the Health and Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum is to help students develop a commitment and a positive attitude to lifelong healthy active living and the capacity to live satisfying, productive lives. Health and physical education teachers have the opportunity to help students develop critical living skills that will make a long-lasting impact.
At the heart of the Health and Physical Education Curriculum are the goals that students will:
- Experience the joy of movement;
- Maintain and improve physical fitness which results in improved learning in all subject areas;
- Understand that making healthy choices leads to living a full and balanced life;
- Develop a personal commitment to daily physical activity;
- Develop skills to support life-long participation in physical activity.
The Ontario Curriculum, Health and Physical Education (grades 1-8, 9-10, 11-12 policy documents) provides the framework for Health and Physical Education programs at the elementary and secondary levels.
Source:
- The Ontario Curriculum, grades 1-8 Health and Physical Education, 1998
- The Ontario Curriculum, grades 9-10 Health and Physical Education, 1999
- The Ontario Curriculum, grades 11-12 Health and Physical Education, 2000
As the joint subject associations for Health and Physical Education, Ophea (Ontario Physical and Health Education Association) and the Ontario Association for the Supervision of Physical and Health Education (OASPHE) provided input to the development of the existing Health and Physical Education curriculum that was released from 1998 to 2000. Since then, Ophea has worked in partnership with OASPHE as well as government, non-government and private sector organizations to support the implementation of the Health and Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum particularly through the Curriculum and School Based Health Resource Centre which was established in 2001 as part of the Ontario Health Promotion Resource System. Support has been far reaching, including the development of the Ophea binders and the delivery of many workshops through the Ophea Master Trainer.
In 2003, the Ministry of Education established an ongoing cycle of curriculum review (currently on a 7-year cycle). The review is not a development of a completely new curriculum, but is intended to ensure that the curriculum remains current and relevant and is age-appropriate from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The review process for the Health and Physical Education Grades 1-12 was launched in Fall of 2007 with the intention of releasing a revised Health and Physical Education Curriculum for elementary students in the Fall of 2009 and a revised Health and Physical Education Curriculum for secondary students in the Fall of 2010.
The major components of the review are summarized in the chart below:
| Component | H&PE Review Status |
| Research | - Being completed by an Ontario Faculty of Education
- Study of H&PE curricula across Canada and around the world
- Study of current and future trends that could impact the H&PE curricula
|
| Benchmarking | - detailed comparison of the Ontario H&PE curriculum to identified curricula across Canada and internationally
|
| Technical Analysis | - five days in November
- representatives selected with the assistance of subject / division associations and representing all regions of the province and expertise at all levels – Grades 1-12
- completed an intensive line by line review of the curriculum
- considered a variety of lenses (e.g., curriculum coherence, special education, aboriginal perspectives, anti-discrimination, assessment and evaluation, environmental education standards, English Language Learners) to ensure the revised curriculum will reflect all learners – and the “learner of 2021”
- developed recommendations for revision
|
| Province-wide Focus Groups with teachers, administrators, board consultants, and coordinators | - 14 focus groups held in 6 different regions across the province
- Ministry of Education Education Officers attended all sessions and heard feedback from participants
- Participants commented on strengths, areas for improvement and recommendations re: the curriculum
- Received detailed reports with suggestions and comments from each focus group
|
| Stakeholder Consultation | January – March 2008 Consultation with a number of groups including: - Government stakeholders and groups
- Health stakeholders
- Environmental and Sustainable Education stakeholders
- Colleges, Universities, Faculties of Education
- Parent Groups
- Students
- Other groups as needed/identified
|
| Synthesis and Analysis | - March – June 2008
- Considering all input
- Developing final recommendations to guide summer writing
|
| Revision writing | - Summer 2008 (3-5 weeks in July, 2008)
- Applications for summer writers were received via recommendations from School Boards and Subject Associations
|
| Feedback Consultation | - Fall 2008 (Elementary and Secondary)
- Secondary consultation will carry on longer, including more work with colleges and universities
|
| French/English alignment | - Ongoing
- Began in September 2007
- English and French curriculum will need to be aligned
|
| Editing and Fact Checking, Production | - Winter/Spring 2009 for Elementary
- Winter/Spring 2010 for Secondary
|
| Implementation | - September 2010 – Elementary
- September 2011 – Secondary
|
Ophea and OASPHE have been working with the Ministry of Education to support the curriculum review process. This work has included soliciting applications from current classroom teachers and subject experts and nominating candidates to participate in the Technical Analysis and Summer Writing Process.
In addition, both Ophea and OASPHE have submitted formal recommendations for the Ministry to consider as part of review. Click on the links below to see these responses:
A strong Health and Physical Education curriculum provides a solid foundation for learning within a healthy school environment. We understand that a good curriculum is just one piece that contributes to our learners becoming healthy and active for life. It is a first step. Together with high quality instruction and resources, a healthy environment, and family, school and community support, we have the opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of children and youth. Ophea and OASPHE are pleased to be supporting this work to help the curriculum be as strong as it can be as a foundation for learning.
For more information about the curriculum review process, please contact:
Myra Stephen, Education Officer, Elementary Health and Physical Education Curriculum Review
Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch
Ministry of Education
myra.stephen@ontario.ca
Debra Courville, Education Officer, Secondary Health and Physical Education Curriculum Review
Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch
Ministry of Education
debra.courville@ontario.ca
