The Essentials of Teaching Physical Education 3rd Edition
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
This title will be released on September 15, 2026
$163.95 CAD
The Essentials of Teaching Physical Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Third Edition, is a must-have resource for future educators. It presents a standards-based approach and guides educators in building the skills in planning, management, teaching, and assessment needed for successful careers.
This third edition, published in partnership with SHAPE America, incorporates the 2024 National Physical Education Standards throughout each chapter, providing physical educators with current, essential knowledge to build an effective program.
Physical education teacher education (PETE) students and in-service PE teachers will find an accessible, comprehensive guide that will help them deliver meaningful and sequential learning experiences in a psychologically, emotionally, and physically safe environment. As readers work their way through the text, they can acquire the following:
- The ability to critically analyze all aspects of teaching and learning: the context in which the teaching will occur, the student body, all aspects of curriculum and instruction, what to teach, and how to teach it
- A strong working knowledge of standards and standards-based learning outcomes that will help students achieve those outcomes
- The ability to plan for learning in both the short and long term
- The management and teaching skills they need to ensure an equitable environment that fosters student learning in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains for all students
- The means to assess student learning and program effectiveness
With advice, tips, and success stories from top physical educators in the field, The Essentials of Teaching Physical Education, Third Edition, offers readers insight into how to motivate students while focusing on what teachers really need to know to succeed. It delivers practical and essential information and guidance on the most relevant topics for today’s physical educators, including physical literacy, accountability, social justice, social-emotional learning, and trauma-informed practices. Everything a physical educator needs to know to succeed is found here, delivered in a straightforward and highly readable manner.
In addition, online learning aids include downloadable activities for each chapter and key figures from the text, flash cards for vocabulary study, and vocabulary review quizzes for practice.
This text is the definitive guide for future K-12 physical educators, current teachers, and administrators; it is an essential resource for learning to teach at both the elementary and the secondary levels.
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 URL to access the online materials is included in this print book.
Audience
Undergraduate text for physical education teaching courses (PETE). Resource for K-12 PE coordinators, in-service teachers, and administrators.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I. Building the Foundation of a Teaching for Learning Approach
Chapter 1. Developing Physically Literate Individuals
Promoting Physical Literacy
Academic Links to Physical Literacy
Summary
Chapter 2. Understanding a Teaching for Learning Approach
Curricular Alignment in Physical Education
Instructional Alignment in Physical Education
Summary
Chapter 3. Examining Student Motivation
Establishing a Motivating Environment
Retaining Students’ Motivation
Intrinsic Versus Extrinsic Motivation
Eradicating Amotivation
Capturing and Retaining Student Interest
Summary
Chapter 4. Understanding Social-Emotional Learning and Using Trauma-Informed Practices
Social and Emotional Learning
Trauma-Informed Practices
Becoming Self-Aware Through Critical Reflection
Strategies on Fostering Resilient Learners
Summary
Part II. Teaching to the 2024 SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards
Chapter 5. Standard 1: Develops a Variety of Motor Skills
Competency Versus Proficiency
Motor Skills and Phases of Performance
Elementary School: Grades PreK to 5
Middle School: Grades 6 to 8
High School: Grades 9 to 12
Summary
Chapter 6. Standard 2: Applies Knowledge Related to Movement and Fitness Concepts
Elementary School: Grades PreK to 5
Middle School: Grades 6 to 8
High School: Grades 9 to 12
Summary
Chapter 7. Standard 3: Develops Social Skills Through Movement
Elementary School: Grades PreK to 5
Middle School: Grades 6 to8
High School: Grades 9 to 12
Summary
Chapter 8. Standard 4: Develops Personal Skills, Identifies Personal Benefits of Movement and Chooses to Engage in Physical Activity
Elementary School: Grades PreK to 5
Middle School: Grades 6 to 8
High School: Grades 9 to12
Summary
Part III. Building the Curriculum
Chapter 9. Unit and Lesson Planning
Unit Planning
Lesson Planning
Summary
Chapter 10. Planning Developmentally Appropriate Content
Types of Knowledge
Standards, Indicators, and Assessments
Learning Domains
Students’ Prior Knowledge and Experiences
Sequencing of Content and Task Progressions
Modifying Content
Summary
Chapter 11. Pedagogical Models as Organizing Frameworks
Skill Theme Approach
Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility
Tactical Games Model
Sport Education Model
Fitness Education
Adventure Education
Outdoor Education
Pedagogies of Affect
Implementing Curriculum Models Within Units of Instruction
Summary
Part IV. Instruction and Assessment
Chapter 12. Establishing and Managing a Safe Learning Environment
Setting Rules for Your Gymnasium
Managing Student Behavior
Maximizing Learning and Activity Time
Managing the Learning Environment During Instruction and Activity
Summary
Chapter 13. Developing Essential Teaching Skills
Exploring Instructional Styles
Employing Effective Teaching Tactics
Summary
Chapter 14. Assessing Student Learning
Purposes of Assessment
Grading Schemes
Selecting Appropriate Assessments
Types of Assessments
Organizing and Interpreting Data
Summary
Part V. Developing as a Professional
Chapter 15. Advocacy, Professionalism, and Professional Development
Advocating for Your Profession
Professional Development Opportunities
Summary
Glossary
References
Index
All ancillaries are free to adopting instructors through HKPropel.
Test package. Contains 178 questions in true-false, fill-in-the-blank, essay and 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.
Presentation package. Features more than 281 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.
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.
