Physical Best 5th Edition With HKPropel Access

Promote health and fitness in the physical education classroom.

Physical educators play a critical role in encouraging students to live healthy, active lifestyles. Physical Best: Physical Education for Lifelong Fitness and Health, Fifth Edition With HKPropel Access, equips preservice and in-service teachers with a comprehensive, functional approach to incorporating fitness education into physical education classes at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels.

The 2024 National Physical Education Standards are integrated throughout the fifth edition, so teachers can use the material and be confident that it adheres to current SHAPE America standards. Developed by experts, the Physical Best approach is the gold standard to teach fitness education in K-12 physical education classes. It emphasizes the following:

• Promoting the benefits of fitness, health, and physical activity for all students
• Equipping students with the knowledge and skills to move confidently
• Individualizing goal setting, assessment, and self-monitoring
• Identifying movement opportunities that are personally enjoyable and meaningful
• Preparing students for assessments and giving them many opportunities to practice

Updates to this edition include new sidebars called Teaching Tips that highlight practical ways to apply the content and a new chapter on comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAPs). Related downloadable and modifiable online resources include a collection of 250 ready-to-use activities developed and categorized according to the Grade-Span Learning Indicators from the National Physical Education Standards.  

Physical Best, Fifth Edition, assists current and future teachers in delivering quality physical education programming to their students. It discusses best practices, provides up-to-date content, and shows how to integrate health-related fitness education and assessment into an existing curriculum. With this approach, teachers can feel confident that their students will meet the National Physical Education Standards.

Human Kinetics is proud to publish this book in association with SHAPE America, the national organization that defines excellence for school-based health and physical education professionals across the United States.

Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with all new print books.

Audience

Undergraduate preservice physical educators (PETE students); also a resource for K-12 physical education teachers and administrators.

Part I. Foundations of Health-Related Fitness and Physical Activity
Chapter 1. Introduction to Physical Best
Suzan F. Smith-Ayers
The Physical Best Instructional Approach
Health-Related Fitness Education
What Makes Physical Best Unique?
Physical Best Activities
Related Resources
Physical Best Certificate
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 2. Creating Physical Activity Behaviors That Last a Lifetime
Ken Murfay
Physical Activity Trends
Factors That Influence Physical Activity Behaviors
Motivation
Manage Engagement in Physical Activity
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 3. Basic Training Principles
Sean M. Bulger and Brooke Towner
Understanding the Basic Training Principles
Applying the Basic Training Principles
Components of a Physical Activity Session
Social Support and Safety Guidelines
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 4. Essential Nutrition for Students’ Health and Well-Being
Michelina (Mickey) Witte
Nutrition Education in Physical Education
Basic Nutrition Concepts
Nutrition Guidelines and Recommendations
Understanding Food Labels
Nutrition During Childhood
Nutrition During Adolescence
Nutrition in Schools
Nutrition and Physical Best
Summary
Discussion Questions

Part II. Components of Health-Related Fitness
Chapter 5. Cardiorespiratory Endurance
Jan Galen Bishop
Cardiorespiratory Endurance and Related Terms
Importance and Benefits of Cardiorespiratory Endurance
Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Endurance Guidelines
Teaching Cardiorespiratory Endurance
Principles of Exercise and Cardiorespiratory Endurance
Monitoring Intensity
Training Methods for Cardiorespiratory Endurance
Safety Guidelines
Technology
Assessing Cardiorespiratory Endurance
Cardiorespiratory Endurance and the Curriculum
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 6. Body Composition
Desmond J. Millender
Understanding Body Composition
Methods of Measuring Body Composition
Teaching Guidelines for Body Composition
Strength Training and Body Composition Management
Helping Students Who Are Overfat or Underfat
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 7. Flexibility
Eryn K. Milian
Definitions of Flexibility Concepts
Factors Affecting Flexibility
Benefits of Flexibility
Ways to Maintain and Improve Flexibility 
Principles of Training
Teaching Guidelines for Flexibility
Safety Guidelines for Flexibility Activities
Contraindications
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 8. Muscular Strength and Endurance
Bryan Christensen
Definitions of Muscular Strength and Endurance Concepts
Developmentally Appropriate Resistance Training
Benefits of Resistance Training
Teaching Guidelines for Muscular Strength and Endurance
Principles of Training
Resistance Training Methods for Muscular Strength and Endurance
Addressing Motor Skills Through Muscular Strength and Endurance Activities
Safety Guidelines for Muscular Strength and Endurance Activities
Summary
Discussion Questions

Part III. Curriculum and Teaching Methods
Chapter 9. Integrating Health-Related Fitness Education Into the Curriculum
Chad M. Killian and Ben D. Kern
Curriculum Development
The Importance of Advocacy
Program Design
Developing Objectives and Outcomes
Developing a Curriculum to Promote Lifetime Health-Related Fitness
Teaching for Lifelong Fitness
Fitness Education Cycle
Fitness for Life
Some Notes on the Rapid Emergence of Artificial Intelligence
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 10. Employing Best Practices for Teaching
Roman Waldera
Teaching Styles
Instructional Strategies
Enhancing Health-Related Fitness Education
Extending Physical Activity Time
Technology Use in Physical Education
Safety
Equipment
Appropriate Attire
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 11. Including Everyone
Brian Culp and David G. Lorenzi
Relevant Laws
Benefits of Inclusion
Methods of Inclusion
Major Areas in Which to Ensure Inclusion
Summary
Discussion Questions

Part IV. Foundations of Assessment in Health-Related Fitness and Physical Activity
Chapter 12. Assessing Student Understanding of Health-Related Fitness
Ben D. Kern and Chad M. Killian 
Understanding Assessment
Importance of Assessment
Recommended Assessment Tools
Applying Assessment Tools
Using Assessments for Program Planning
Motivating Through Assessment
Making Assessment Practical
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 13. Assessing Health-Related Fitness and Physical Activity
Lynn V. Johnson
FitnessGram
Guidelines for Assessing Health-Related Fitness
Tailoring Health-Related Fitness Assessment
Using Health-Related Fitness Results Appropriately
Guidelines for Assessing Physical Activity
Tools for Assessing Physical Activity
Summary
Discussion Questions

Chapter 14. Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programming for Active Schools
Brian Dauenhauer
Defining an Active School Culture
Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Opportunities for Physical Activity
Physical Education
Physical Activity During the School Day
Physical Activity Before and After School
School and Staff Leadership
Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
Family and Community Engagement
Policy and Advocacy
Professional Development and Training 
Tools and Resources for Active Schools
Integration Into Higher Education
Summary
Discussion Questions

Jayne Greenberg, EdD, has served as director of the I Can Do It! program for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to that position, Greenberg served as the district director of physical education and health literacy for Miami-Dade County Public Schools from 1995 to 2017. During her career in education, she has worked as an elementary, middle, and high school physical education teacher in both public and private schools; a region physical education coordinator; a high school and middle school administrator; and an adjunct professor teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in teaching methods, sport psychology, and research.

Greenberg has served as president of the Florida Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and has chaired the Sport Development Committee for the United States Olympic Committee and USA Field Hockey. She assisted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the development of the I Can Do It, You Can Do It! program, a national initiative to address the physical activity levels of youth with disabilities. Greenberg was named the 2005 National Physical Education Administrator of the Year by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and received the 2005 Highest Recognition Award from the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt. In 2009, she received the Points of Light Award from Florida Governor Charlie Crist and was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness. In 2011, Greenberg was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. In 2015, she was named as the North America chair for the International Sport and Culture Association, and in 2016, she was named as an Aspen Institute Scholar and received the 2016 North American Society of HPERD Professionals Award. In 2017, she received the Lifetime of Giving Award from Delta Psi Kappa and was named as the education sector chair for the National Physical Activity Plan. Greenberg was inducted into the SHAPE America Hall of Fame in 2019 and received the Lifetime Impact Award from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition in 2024.

Joe Deutsch, PhD, is a full professor in the education department at North Dakota State University. He oversees a homeschool physical education program at the university, where his students focus lessons around the five components of fitness through Physical Best. While he has been a professor at the university level for the past 20 years, he was previously a K-12 physical education teacher, eventually specializing in elementary physical education. While at the elementary level, Deutsch routinely incorporated the Physical Best curriculum into his existing curriculum, and he conducted Physical Best Specialists trainings across the nation.

Deutsch is currently the president of SHAPE America and previously served on SHAPE America’s board of directors. His service in the field of physical education is extensive, including serving two terms as president of North Dakota SHAPE (NDSHAPE) as well as serving as president of Central District SHAPE (CDSHAPE).

All ancillaries are free to adopting instructors through HKPropel.

Instructor guide. Includes course outlines, activities, and other learning tools that will help instructors prepare new teachers to deliver lessons that adhere to the Physical Best philosophy.

Test package. Contains 247 questions in true-false, fill-in-the-blank, short-answer, and multiple-choice formats. The files may be downloaded for integration with a learning management system or printed for use as paper-based tests. Instructors may also create their own customized quizzes or tests from the test bank questions to assign to students directly through HKPropel. Multiple-choice and true-false questions are automatically graded, and instructors can review student scores in the platform.

Presentation package. Features more than 380 PowerPoint slides of text, artwork, and tables from the book that can be used for class discussion and presentation. The slides in the presentation package can be used directly within PowerPoint or printed to make handouts for students. Instructors can easily add, modify, and rearrange the order of the slides.

Instructors also receive access to all student materials in HKPropel. For Physical Best, Fifth Edition, this includes 250 student activities for elementary, middle, and high school. The materials can be viewed on a desktop or mobile device or be downloaded and printed.

Human Kinetics is pleased to partner with SHAPE America by offering discounts on our resources to SHAPE America members! Whether you’re a preK-12 teacher, higher education faculty member, researcher, administrator, or future professional, we’re here to help you in your professional career and personal fitness journey of improved fitness, stronger athletic performance, and better nutrition.

SHAPE America members receive a 30% discount on this resource and other eligible resources through the member portal at SHAPE America. Learn more about SHAPE America membership at SHAPEAmerica.org or direct your questions about the discount to askmembership@shapeamerica.org.