MYP: Connecting to Physical & Health Education 

YEAR 7

Statement of Inquiry - PE: Improving the function of the human body is part of maintaining a balanced life.

Statement of Inquiry - Health: Making informed choices helps to minimise harm.

While still at school, at the beginning of Term Three, students began a Gymnastics unit which focused on the skill of collaboration in team performances. However, as lockdown was extended through the term, students also used time to enjoy practical activities off the screen. This included taking pets for walks, taking photos of nature, mapping their exercise using apps, utilising trampolines and practising ball skills.

The Better Health Channel states that:

*     People who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional wellbeing, and lower rates of mental illness.

*     Exercise is important for people with mental illness – it not only boosts our mood, concentration and alertness, but improves our cardiovascular and overall physical health.

*     Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous, structured or take a long time.

*     Experts suggest 30 minutes of exercise, at least five days a week, can make a big difference.

YEAR 8

Statement of Inquiry - PE: Perspectives can change in an environment consisting of equal opportunities.

Statement of Inquiry - Health: Analysing the issues that arise in sports broadens insight into the perspective of others and acts like a lens on society.

Students have been doing a critical analysis of Culture, Diversity, Ethics and Sport including race, religion, disability, gender and/or sexuality. We researched the effects on athletes and young people caused by hypermasculinity, sexism, funding, salaries, media coverage and homophobia. We also looked at the agencies monitoring discrimination and protecting fair competition within organisations, tournaments and between the athletes themselves. Students then moved to the more active Fitness in Lockdown project to help them become more active and improve their wellbeing during remote learning. 

YEAR 9

Statement of Inquiry - PE: Continuous adaptation and refinement of skills assists in the development of innovative strategies to improve performance.

Statement of Inquiry - Health: Interactions assist populations to establish fair and respectful societies.

Students commenced a Sex Ed unit which included the very funny English YouTube video 'Tea and Consent' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZwvrxVavnQ. This humorous video helped students understand the modern day issues of consent, as seen in the media recently. Students then moved to the more active Fitness in Lockdown project to help them become more active and improve their wellbeing during remote learning. 

YEAR 10

Statement of Inquiry - PE: Continuous adaptation and refinement of skills assists in the development of innovative strategies to improve performance.

Statement of Inquiry - Health: Individuals and groups create identities that are heavily informed by the media they consume.

Year 10 students started a unit ‘Pornography: Harmless or Harmful?’ where they researched the legalities of peer pressure, sending and viewing explicit images on social media. They also looked into the challenges of consent. Students then created amazing positive health campaigns in the 'Raise Your Voice' task, in which they could choose their own area of positive health/wellbeing messaging, and completed a Lockdown Fitness task.

Rose Fearon, Beth Alvarez, Kris Austin &

Emily Nancarrow

teachers of MYP Physical & Health Education

rose.fearon@preshil.vic.edu.au

beth.alvarez@preshil.vic.edu.au

kris.austin@preshil.vic.edu.au

emily.nancarrow@preshil.vic.edu.au