Overview
The health and physical education program promotes healthy active living, and enjoyment and
regular, enthusiastic participation in physical activity. The courses will help students understand
how their personal actions and decisions will affect their health, fitness, and well-being. All
courses in this curriculum address relevant health issues and provide students with a wide variety of activities that promote fitness, the development of living skills, and personal competence.
The health and physical education courses in Grades 9 and 10 are made up of four strands:
physical activity, active living, healthy living, and living skills. In each course, students will
develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and to build a
commitment to lifelong participation in physical activity. The focus on positive, responsible
personal and social behaviour in physical activity settings encourages students to make safe and
wise choices.
The Healthy Active Living Education courses in Grades 11 and 12 – both open courses – will
focus on physical activity. At the same time, the courses will help students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a commitment to lifelong participation in physical activity. Students will be encouraged to pursue physical activities outside the school program for personal fitness, health, and enjoyment.
The Grade 12 university preparation course entitled Exercise Science gives students the
opportunity to study physical movement and explore current sports issues and related health
topics. This course will prepare students for university programs in physical education, kinesiology, recreation, sports administration, and health sciences.
These courses emphasize regular participation in a variety of enjoyable physical activities that
will enhance students’ fitness, health, and personal competence, and that will promote lifelong
active living. Students will be encouraged to pursue physical activities outside the school
program for fun, personal fitness, and health. In the living skills component of these courses,
students will learn and apply decision-making, conflict resolution, and social skills. Issues
investigated in the healthy living component include healthy growth and sexuality, mental
health, personal safety, and injury prevention.