Healthy Schools

Daily Physical Activity

Introduction

Twenty minutes of daily physical activity are critical to making publicly funded schools healthier places to learn and improve student achievement. This step in the government's Healthy Schools Plan will ensure that elementary students have a minimum of 20 minutes of sustained moderate to vigorous physical activity each school day.

Policy

• Policy/Program Memorandum No. 138: Daily Physical Activity in Elementary Schools, Grades 1-8

Curriculum

The existing Health and Physical Education Curriculum, Grades 1-8 has been updated to reflect the policy change and is available for download.

The Kindergarten program was revised in fall 2006 and includes information on daily physical activity for JK and K students.

News Releases and Background Information

• October 6, 2005: Healthy Schools Condition Healthy Minds

Tools

The government worked in partnership with the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association to develop a variety of resources for teachers. These resources are available for download as PDF files:

• E-Learning Module – Daily Physical Activity: Active today.  Active for life!
• Daily Physical Activity in Schools, Grades 1 to 3 (PDF, 927 KB)
• Daily Physical Activity in Schools, Grades 4 to 6 (PDF, 882 KB)
• Daily Physical Activity in Schools, Grades 7 and 8 (PDF, 856 KB)
• Daily Physical Activity in Schools: Guide for School Boards (PDF, 824 KB)
• Daily Physical Activity in Schools: Guide for School Principals (PDF, 734 KB)
• Questions and Answers