Second-5th grade students are learning the 5 components (parts) of fitness in P.E. classes over the course of the school year. We review these in a number of ways in class. If time allowsthe unit is completed with a short quiz that is graded. The grade appears in standard 2 or 3, depending on the grade, on their report card.
You can help your child learn these components by going over the key words and examples below. They are the same ones the students hear and see in class.
Cardio-Respiratory Endurance - Those activities that are done for a long time and help the heart beat faster. Examples include, swimming, running and riding your bicycle.
Muscular Strength - The force that you can put against a resistance in one maximal effort, safely. Example - lifting the most weight that you can, one time and SAFELY.
Muscular Endurance - Using the same muscle or group(s) of muscles over and over when completing an exercise or other physical activity many times. Examples - sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups.
Flexibility - Being able to easily stretch a muscle or muscles. Examples - Calf stretch, quadricep stretch, shoulder stretch, using the "sit & reach" box during a fitness test for 4th and 5th graders. This can also include the range of movement around a joint or series of joints. Example - lifting an extended (straight) arm away from the side of the body to the point that it is parallel to the floor,
Body Composition - parts that make up the human body that are sometimes compared to each other. Example - the amount of muscle and bone compared to the amount of fat a body has.
Determining Body Mass Index (BMI) is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening for weight category, for example underweight, normal or healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.*A high BMI can be an indicator of high body fatness. BMI can be used as a screening tool but is not diagnostic of the body fatness or health of an individual.* To determine if a high BMI is a health risk, a healthcare provider would need to perform further assessments. These assessments might include skinfold thickness measurements, evaluations of diet, physical activity, family history, and other appropriate health screenings.*
To measure a child's BMI, one would need to enter the child's age, gender, height and weight.
*Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Website