Physical fitness testing is one of the ways the physical education department evaluates students. Spring Green Elementary schools evaluates students in 2nd - 5th grade. Our district and our state have decided this is an important element to watch kids progress.
Kids are tested in the fall of each year. Fitness tests completed through the Fitnessgram are not considered the only way to judge someone's fitness level, they are scored using criterion-referenced standards. The standards are age and gender specific and are based on how fit children need to be for good health. It is a simple battery of tests to see how our kids are doing over time and compared to a grade level expectation. Individually, students are encouraged by physical education staff to score at or above the level they scored at the previous year; shifting the emphasis to individual goal-setting rather than competing against others.
The Fitnessgram fitness assessment includes a variety of health-related physical fitness tests designed to assess cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition (Spring Green Elementary does not include body composition testing). The Fitnessgram tests are entered into a computer program that summarizes each individual child's performance on each component of health-related fitness. Parents will then be given a copy of their child's report with their 2nd quarter report cards. Assessment forms can be used for students to plan and implement personal fitness programs while parents can use it to help them understand their child's needs and help the child plan a program of physical activity.
Lifelong fitness and love of activity is our goal, we can watch kids from year to year on the following physical fitness tests:
CURL-UPS
Students do as many curl-ups as they can to assess muscular endurance and
strength of their abdominal muscles. The student will perform as many correct
technique curl ups as they can while following a cadence.
PUSH-UPS
Push-ups assess muscular strength and endurance of the muscles in the upper body. Push ups are done on hands and toes. Students must go down far enough for their arms to make a 90 degree elbow angle. They do as many push-ups as they can following a cadence.
PACER TEST
The PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run) is used to measure
aerobic capacity. The PACER is a multistage fitness test adapted from the
shuttle run. It is progressive in intensity - it is easy at the beginning
and gets harder as time passes. The progressive nature provides a built in
warm-up and helps children to pace themselves effectively. Students
continue to run back and forth across the 20-meter space, at the specified
speed, for as long as possible.
SIT AND REACH
This test assesses the flexibility of the hamstrings. With shoes off, students reach,
one leg at a time, as far as they
can past their toes (with a straight knee). A standardizing box is used to measure
the distance to the nearest half inch.
TRUNK LIFT
The trunk lift is a test to measure trunk extensor strength and flexibility and is included in the Fitnessgram because of its relationship to low back health, especially proper vertebral alignment. Students lay on their stomach and attempt to lift the upper body off the floor using the muscles of the back and hold the position to allow for measurement. The maximum score on this test is 12 inches. While some flexibility is important, it is not advisable (or safe) to encourage hypertension.
SHOULDER STRETCH
The shoulder stretch is a simple test of upper arm and shoulder girdle flexibility intended to parallel the strength / endurance assessment of that region. Students try to touch the fingertips together behind the back by reaching over the shoulder and under the elbow. The test is scored as a "yes" or "no" for the left and right side.
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03/25/08 (nhenkel)