Physical and Health Education Fact Sheet

​Winnipeg School Division believes physical fitness programs at school have vast benefits, and follows Manitoba's provincial curriculum in delivering programming.

Provincial curriculum

• In Manitoba, the previous sport-based curriculum in physical education has been replaced with a health and wellness based curriculum. The aim is to provide students with planned and balanced programming to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes for physically active and healthy lifestyles.

• Health education is an important part of the students curriculum and addresses issues such as drug use, including alcohol and tobacco; sexual behaviours that result in STIs and unintended pregnancies; and behaviours that result in intentional and unintentional injuries.

• Schools select appropriate activities based on the needs of the students, and the facilities and equipment available to them, to provide students with the opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes that are listed in the curriculum. These activities can vary greatly from school to school.

• Physical education can be delivered in many ways, including by the physical education specialist, by the homeroom teacher or through a number of initiatives intended to increase activity levels of children over the course of the school year.

• Kindergarten to Grade 8: Per six-day cycle, students are to receive a minimum number of minutes in physical education / health education programming. Students in:
• Kindergarten are to receive at least 99 minutes,
• Grades 1 to 6 are to receive at least 198 minutes, and
• Grades 7 and 8 are to receive at least 178 minutes.

• Grades 9 and 10: Students must receive one credit in each year with equal learning in physical education and health education.

• Grades 11 and 12: Students must earn one credit each year, with each credit requiring a Physical Activity Practicum with a minimum of 50 percent of the time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity. Students may receive their practicum component through an out of school delivery model.

Funds have been received from Manitoba Healthy Schools and supplemented by the Board of Trustees to assist all Winnipeg School Division schools in developing and implementing initiatives to increase student activity levels.

Benefits of physical fitness

Studies demonstrate the positive effects daily physical activity has on student performance and academic achievement in terms of memory, observation, problem-solving and decision-making, as well as significant improvements in attitudes, discipline, behaviours and creativity.

"The Effects of Regular Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity on Student Outcomes; A Review,"

J.J. Keays and K.R. Allison, Canadian Journal of Public Health 86, no. 1 (Jan/Feb. 1995), p. 64.

For more information about the Province of Manitoba curriculum for physical education, visit http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/physhlth/