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No matter where you are in your physical activity and physical literacy journey, the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project workshops are a great opportunity to learn with and alongside fellow B.C. educators. 

Since the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project hosted its first workshop in August 2020, we’ve seen a steady wave of active participation and engagement from educators throughout the province. 

So far, we have hosted 31 workshops with over 400 participants across the province; this includes six school-based workshops, 15 district-wide workshops, and 10 regional workshops, spanning all four of our currently available workshops: 

Getting Started with Physical Literacy

If you are wondering what physical literacy is and how you can incorporate it into your K-7 instruction, this workshop is for you! Gain an understanding of the theory behind this approach and learn some practical ways that you can develop your students’ physical literacy, starting with your next class. 

Making Physical Literacy Work for your Class

Learn fun activities based on the principles of physical literacy and see how easy it is to include these in the gym, classroom or playground. Learn the “how to” and find out how to include this approach in your K-7 physical education planning.

Holistic Model for Educators

Presented by I·SPARC, this Holistic Model for Educators online professional development workshop is for Indigenous Educators and Educators working in B.C. schools with high populations of Indigenous learners. The Holistic Model was developed in consultation with Indigenous communities across Canada and is based on the medicine wheel’s core values and teachings.

Physical Activity and Physical Literacy for All (Diverse Abilities)

Wondering how to adapt your K-7 physical literacy instruction to meet the needs of all your students? Learn how to modify activities for students with diverse physical and intellectual abilities. Get great hands-on tips and ideas to include all your students in activity and physical literacy.

With another 10 workshops currently scheduled for the coming months, the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project team looks forward to engaging with even more educators as they build their capacity, knowledge and confidence in delivering the B.C. Physical and Health Education curriculum in the areas of physical activity and physical literacy, and their links to mental well-being. 

Are you next?

Learn more about our available workshops, and schedule one for your school, district or region on our website

Have you attended a workshop with us? The School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project is a prototype, and all participants are welcome, and encouraged, to provide feedback.

From classroom to classroom, the abilities of students vary. How can you adapt your K-7 physical literacy instruction to meet the needs of all your students? 

On March 2, 2021 from 16:30 to 17:30 PT, join us for “Physical Activity and Physical Literacy for All (Diverse Abilities),” the second presentation in our free webinar series for B.C. educators, to learn how to modify activities for students with diverse physical and intellectual abilities. Get great hands-on tips and ideas to include all your students in activity and the development of physical literacy from physical literacy expert and leader in the diverse ability space,  Karen Natho.

Register today >>

Working for seven years at the Niagara Children’s Centre, Karen Natho (BPHE, BSc, MSc) led the creation of the service of Recreational Therapy for children with special needs in Niagara. She worked directly with the four school boards to support access for students with disabilities within the classroom, and  taught physical education classes, running various activities at the Niagara Children’s Centre School. Her research and activities in this area have been funded by the Ronald McDonald House Charities, United Way and Canadian Paralympic Committee.

“Karen’s experience working with various schools and school boards is a unique opportunity for B.C. educators to learn about accessibility and its implementation directly in their field,” said Drew Mitchell, School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project lead and Senior Director of Physical Literacy with Sport for Life. “She is one of Canada’s leading experts on adapted physical activity, and I look forward to hearing her thoughts on how we can make physical activity and physical literacy more accessible in B.C. schools.”

Karen is the Founder of the Brock Niagara Penguins, the leading ParaSport program in Niagara. Throughout Karen’s career, she has worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities, ensuring all children are provided with equal and equitable opportunities. Karen spent six years directing Easter Seals Camp Merrywood into a leading residential camp for children and youth with physical disabilities. She was the regions lead presenter for the Canadian Paralympic Committee – Changing Minds, Changing Lives workshops, and has conducted multiple seminars with educators and practitioners locally and around the world pertaining to topics such as disability sport awareness, adapted physical activity and accessibility program design. 

Find out more about this webinar >>

This webinar will be held virtually on the GoToWebinar platform on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 from 16:30 to 17:30 PT.

A recording will be available on the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project website following the event for those who are unable to attend.

Physical literacy is a term educators have likely seen in the B.C. Physical and Health Education Curriculum. But what does it really mean, and how can you incorporate it into your classroom? 

On January 21, 2021, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. PT, join us for “Getting Started with Physical Literacy,” a free webinar for educators that will answer those exact questions. Beyond explaining what physical literacy is, this webinar will also help you to gain an understanding of the theory behind the concept, and to learn some practical examples and resources that can help you get started in incorporating physical literacy into your class’s day-to-day activities. 

An expert in the physical literacy space, Emeritus Professor from University of Victoria’s School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, Dr. P.J. Naylor will be leading this fun and informative webinar.

“Dr. Naylor is a champion of physical activity and physical literacy, and has a wealth of experience working within B.C. schools. We are excited to have her kick off the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project webinar series by sharing her vast, local knowledge and experience with B.C. educators,” said Drew Mitchell, School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project lead and Senior Director of Physical Literacy with Sport for Life.

Dr. Naylor brings a very practical approach to the delivery of physical activity and development of physical literacy.  Her research incorporates socio-ecological and setting-based approaches to children’s physical activity and physical literacy, focusing on the environments where children live, learn and play like in school! She is passionate about implementation and scale-up science: how we facilitate the widespread use of effective strategies.

Register today >>

This webinar will be held virtually on the GoToWebinar platform on Thursday, January 21, 2021, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. PT. 

A recording will be available on the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project website following the event for those who are unable to attend.

girl running inside

To keep with B.C.’s public health guidelines and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy project will be modified for the 2020-2021 school year. The Ministry of Health has directed Sport for Life to postpone all in-person delivery for the time being. We will monitor how schools are able to support public health guidance and how the virus trends in the fall, and will re-establish in-person professional development opportunities when it is feasible and safe to do so. Online professional development will continue as planned and increased opportunities will be provided.

children running outside

Elementary Physical and Health Education:
Supporting Physical Activity and Physical Literacy

Available for credit and non-credit | EDCP 420

 

July 6–10, 2020 | online

Hosted by the UBC Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy

The Summer Institute introduced teachers to the Elementary Physical and Health Education (PHE) curriculum, content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, practical experiences, and professional responsibilities of a successful elementary school teacher. The course expanded elementary teachers’ level of confidence and competence when delivering the British Columbia (BC) PHE Curriculum.

During the one-week course, learners worked through modules on the BC PHE K-7 curriculum, the Indigenous holistic approaches to teaching and learning, creating equity, diversity and inclusion in PHE, quality physical education, assessment, physical literacy and the comprehensive school health model. Learners worked on their own and with others while being guided by leaders from BC school districts, Indigenous Sport Physical Activity and Recreation Council, and several BC Universities.

The goals of the Summer Institute were to support BC educators working in elementary (K-7) schools to be able to:
  • Increase their level of confidence and competence when delivering the BC PHE curriculum;
  • Implement activities to increase the number of minutes during the school day for students to be active;
  • Use physical activity to support student mental well-being;
  • Identify the value of physical activity for one’s own mental health and mental well-being; and plan to increase your knowledge of physical activity as a mechanism to support your own mental well-being; and
  • Learn culturally relevant and responsible pedagogies to advance an understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and being in relation to physical activity, health and well-being.

Download the poster »

More about our Summer Institutes »

In the rush to get ready for the new school year, some teachers are taking time out of their busy days to learn about physical literacy. Through the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy Project virtual workshops teachers are getting great online professional development with a live facilitator.

“Teachers can take the workshop in their homes and interact with the facilitator in real time,” explains Project Lead, Alex Wilson. “The technology used allows the facilitator to poll participants, break participants into discussion groups, or practice activities together on video.”

Virtual workshops are the perfect way to get access to expert facilitators despite the COVID-19 restrictions on in-person professional development. Unlike a pre-recorded video, webinar or e-learning course, virtual workshops let the participants interact with the facilitator.

“We have people with their cameras on doing activities in their homes and having fun,” says Master Workshop Facilitator, Jessica Waterman. “The participants like the activities that we are doing and come away knowing that they could lead these with their class. This helps increase the confidence of the teachers to develop physical literacy skills with their students.”

The Getting Started in Physical Literacy virtual workshop introduces the concepts of physical literacy, and provides tips and activities that teachers can use right away.

“We wanted to make the workshops practical and not overly theoretical,” explains Bruce Deacon, Development Lead for the School Physical Activity and Physical Literacy Project. “The objective is to be relevant, hands-on, and enabling. You don’t need to be a PE specialist to deliver a top quality physical activity and physical literacy program to your students.”

More virtual workshops are on their way this fall. Making Physical Literacy Work in Your Class introduces fun activities based on the principles of physical literacy, and shows how easy it is to include these in the gym, classroom, or playground. Physical Literacy for All (Special Needs) gives practical advice to adapt activities to meet the needs of students with special needs. This workshop is gets participants rolling up their sleeves to work together to find solutions that work for all their students.

Do virtual workshops sound like a great fit for your professional development plans? Teachers and schools can register for upcoming virtual workshops or request a virtual workshop for their school or district. Questions? Contact spapl@sportforlife.ca.