Physical Education Electives

The AICE Physical Education course will allow our student learners to have both practical and theoretical experiences. The course will cover anatomy and physiology, movement skills, and contemporary studies in sports. Learners will be encouraged to try out a range of physical activities, including team and individual sports, games, and outdoor activities, and then use the theoretical knowledge they have gained to analyze the different factors influencing performance. The course also encourages learners to understand and explain global trends in Physical Education and Sports.

Applied Fitness & Wellness (formerly Personal Fitness) offers students opportunities to engage in physical activities with a focus on health and wellness. The course emphasizes the importance of physical activity for overall well-being, helping students develop the ability to self-assess fitness and movement performance while improving skills through a variety of activities. Students will engage in physical activities that support lifelong personal fitness, with special attention to the five health-related components of fitness including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Instruction also covers lifestyle-related health risk factors and the role of nutrition in wellness. Learning experiences may include classroom discussions as well as individual and team-based activities. This course may be taken more than once for credit.

In-Car Driver Education includes Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) instruction. The class is scheduled as an after school elective program providing the required 14 class periods needed to receive a Virginia Driver's License. Upon completion of the two phases of the course and submission of the 45-hour driving log the student will be issued a Provisional Driver's License. This Provisional Driver's License is valid only after the student reaches the age of 16 and 3 months and after they have held a Virginia learner's permit for 9 months. All students should complete all requirements for health and physical education before enrolling in the 10th grade Driver Education Program.

Classroom Driver Education involves at least 30 hours of instruction to include essential knowledge and skills that address traffic safety needs and focus on safe driving attitudes, skill development, and appropriate responses to hazards. The driver education curriculum links visual search skills, space management, and balanced vehicle movement to risk-reducing driving strategies. Significant attention is given to risk awareness, driver alertness, and responsible actions relative to occupant protection devices, positive interactions with other roadway users, and the physical and psychological conditions affecting driver performance. Units about alcohol safety, drug abuse awareness, aggressive driving, distracted driving, motorcycle awareness, and organ and tissue donation awareness are included in the course.

Personal Fitness 1 ( formerly Principles of Weight Training and Conditioning) focuses on fitness, strength training, and physical conditioning. Students will learn how and why weight training and conditioning improve muscle development, core strength, injury prevention, and athletic performance. The course emphasizes mastering movement skills used in strength training, conditioning, and fitness-based activities. Students will also explore the five health-related components of fitness including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Students will assess their own fitness needs, set personal goals, and design and implement a fitness and conditioning program that supports lifelong health. Instruction includes discussion of lifestyle-related health risks and the impact of nutrition on wellness. This course may be taken more than once for credit.

Personal Fitness 2 (formerly Weight Training and Conditioning Program and Performance) builds on the foundation established in Personal Fitness 1, advancing students’ knowledge and skills in weight training, conditioning, and performance evaluation. With the knowledge and experience gained from the Personal Fitness I course, students will apply scientific principles to analyze movement performance; implement effective practice strategies for skillful execution in specialized movement forms; and expand expertise in evaluating performance skill and training program design. The course emphasizes measurable benefits of strength training and conditioning, including muscle development, core strength, injury prevention, and enhanced athletic performance. Students will continue to focus on the five health-related components of fitness including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. Students will assess their individual fitness needs, formulate personal goals, and develop individual fitness programs. Instruction includes emphasis on health risk factors related to lifestyles and how nutrition affects wellness.

Unified Physical Education Recreational Activities places emphasis on the opportunity for students of all abilities to participate together through ongoing educational and physical activities. Additionally, the course supports the development of student leadership skills and empowers students to foster an inclusive environment in a variety of recreational movement activities. Student learning outcomes emphasize motor skills, anatomical basis of movement, fitness planning, social and emotional development, and energy balance to support healthy living. This course may be taken more than once for credit.