Physical educators play a critical role in shaping the health and fitness of America’s youth-and Physical Best, Fourth Edition, is the resource that will help them achieve success in that role. Physical Best, developed by experts identified by SHAPE America, has long been the standard in the field for health-related fitness education, and this latest rendition is the best and most complete package yet: A comprehensive, three-in-one resource. The entire Physical Best program was previously spread over three books (Physical Education for Lifelong Fitness, Physical Best Activity Guide-Elementary Level, and Physical Best Activity Guide-Middle and High School Levels). It now is offered in one all-inclusive resource to reinforce the scope and sequence of the program so teachers can see what comes before and after the grade levels they teach. Updated material to address standards. All chapters and activities are updated to address SHAPE America’s National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education. Teachers can be confident they are measuring student progress effectively. New or revised chapters. Teachers will benefit from the new information on the latest research, technology, power training, professional development, best practices, and more. An attractive four-color layout. The text now features four-color illustrations. A web resource that includes K-12 activities. With previous editions, the activities were housed in two separate books, one for elementary teachers and one for middle and secondary teachers. Now, all activities are on the accompanying web resource, where teachers can sort the activities by standard, grade, outcome, and skill and then use them on a mobile device or download and print them. Most activities are supported by ready-to-use reproducible forms such as handouts, assessments, posters, and worksheets. Other useful web ancillaries include an instructor guide to help teachers deliver effective lessons, a test package that teachers can use to create various types of tests and quizzes, and a presentation package that offers slides with key points and graphics from the book. Physical Best meets needs on many levels. For veteran teachers, it outlines strategies for emphasizing health-related fitness in their existing programs. New teachers will benefit from the specific examples from master teachers and be able to use this guidance for creating an effective fitness education program. For teacher education programs, it provides an overview of current research, trends, and best practices in health-related fitness. And for district coordinators, it reinforces professional development training and continued education. Physical Best helps teachers impart the skills and knowledge that students need to become physically literate-the first step to leading healthier, less stressful, and more productive lives. It details best practices, provides current content, and shows how to integrate health-related fitness education into an existing curriculum. It helps students meet standards and grade-level outcomes. It can help spark student interest in lifelong physical activity. And it will help teachers be the best physical educators they can be as they shape the future health of the nation. Human Kinetics is proud to publish this book in association with SHAPE America, the national organization that defines excellence for school-based health and physical education professionals across the United States.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. Introduction to Physical Best Suzan F. Ayers and Mary Jo Sariscsany What Is the Physical Best Instructional Approach? Health-Related Fitness Education What Makes Physical Best Unique? Physical Best Activities Related Resources Physical Best Certificate Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 2. Creating Physical Activity Behaviors That Last a Lifetime Hannah Brewer, Ethan Hull, and Randy Nichols Physical Activity Trends Physical Activity and Behavior Change Motivation Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs (CSPAPs) Goal Setting Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 3. Basic Training Principles Sean Bulger and Brooke Towner Understanding the Basic Training Principles Applying the Basic Training Principles Components of a Physical Activity Session Social Support and Safety Guidelines Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 4. Exploring Nutrition for Student Health D. Gayle Povis Healthy Students Do Better in School Road Map to Healthy Eating Carbohydrate, Protein, and Fat (Macronutrients) Energy From Food Fuels Activity Making Sense of Food Labels Vitamins and Minerals (Micronutrients) Water for Health and Performance Beware of Added Sugar and Sodium Creating a Culture of Health Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 5. Cardiorespiratory Endurance Jan Galen Bishop and Bette Jean Santos Cardiorespiratory Endurance and Related Terms Importance and Benefits of Cardiorespiratory Endurance Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Endurance Guidelines Teaching Cardiorespiratory Endurance Principles of Exercise and Cardiorespiratory Endurance Monitoring Intensity Training Methods for Cardiorespiratory Endurance Safety Guidelines Technology Assessing Cardiorespiratory Endurance Cardiorespiratory Endurance and the Curriculum Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 6. Body Composition Scott Going and Melanie Hingle Teaching Guidelines for Body Composition Strength Training and Body Composition Management Methods of Measuring Body Composition Helping Students Who Are Overfat or Underfat Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 7. Flexibility Elizabeth A. Burkhart and Philip Dlugolecki Definitions of Flexibility Concepts Types of Stretching Benefits of Flexibility Factors Affecting Flexibility Teaching Guidelines for Flexibility Yoga in Physical Education Principles of Training Addressing Motor Skills Through Flexibility Activities Safety Guidelines for Flexibility Activities Contraindicated Exercises Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 8. Muscular Strength and Endurance Patrick McHenry Definitions of Muscular Strength and Endurance Concepts Developmentally Appropriate Resistance Training Benefits of Resistance Training Teaching Guidelines for Muscular Strength and Endurance Principles of Training Training Methods for Muscular Strength and Endurance Alternative Methods of Training Addressing Motor Skills Through Muscular Strength and Endurance Activities Safety Guidelines for Muscular Strength and Endurance Activities Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 9. Integrating Health-Related Fitness Education Into the Curriculum Bane McCracken Curriculum Development Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT) Program Design Developing Objectives and Outcomes Developing a Curriculum to Promote Lifetime Health-Related Fitness Teaching for Lifelong Fitness Fitness Education Cycle Student Choice Fitness for Life Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 10. Employing Best Practices for Teaching Betsy Gunther Preparing the Environment Keeping Students Involved Teaching Styles Enhancing Health-Related Fitness Education in the Classroom The Concept of Homework Extending Physical Activity Time Technology Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 11. Including Everyone Keith Johannes, Brian Culp, and David Lorenzi Relevant Laws Benefits of Inclusion Methods of Inclusion Major Areas in Which to Ensure Inclusion Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 12. Overview of Assessment and Assessing the Cognitive and Affective Domains Christina Sinclair Understanding Assessment Importance of Assessment Recommended Assessment Tools Applying Assessment Tools Using Assessments for Program Planning Motivating Through Assessment Making Assessment Practical Summary Discussion Questions Chapter 13. Assessing Health-Related Fitness and Physical Activity Lynn V. Johnson and Christina Sinclair FitnessGram Guidelines for Assessing Health-Related Fitness Tailoring Health-Related Fitness Assessment Using Health-Related Fitness Results Appropriately Guidelines for Assessing Physical Activity Tools for Assessing Physical Activity Summary Discussion Questions