Children face many serious health concerns, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Teachers can use Physical Education Methods for Elementary Teachers, Third Edition, to help children avoid these and other health issues and steer them to better health.

Many new guidelines and mandates have arisen in recent years, including new dietary guidelines for Americans, an updated food guide pyramid system, a federally mandated school wellness policy, and coordinated school health legislation. This text is thoroughly revised to keep in step with these guidelines and mandates, and it will help preservice and in-service classroom teachers and physical education specialists provide best practices in physical education, physical activity, and healthy eating.

This third edition extends existing information on integrating academics and physical activity. New material includes sections on character development and the positive youth development model as well as more practical tools for developing teaching skills. In addition, the authors place more emphasis on goal orientation and motivational climate, two factors associated with maintaining physical activity. They outline strategies for creating an environment where students choose to participate in physical activity with confidence, enthusiasm, and a desire to learn.

Teachers who are not accustomed to teaching in the gym environment will find the video clips on the DVD-ROM especially useful, and they can use the lesson plans also provided on the DVD-ROM in concert with the video clips to apply the concepts in their own teaching. Teachers can use these lesson plans as is or as models for writing their own lesson plans. Each plan illustrates a key concept or method in the book, thus reinforcing and extending readers' understanding and enhancing their teaching practice.

Written in an engaging, informal style, the text helps teachers learn what they need to know without having to decipher jargon or being overloaded with excessive information. Accessible, interesting, current, and practical, Physical Education Methods for Elementary Teachers, Third Edition, will help beginning teachers to create healthier schools and to feel confident in presenting essential information and creating exciting learning activities for their students.