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Curriculum Matters: Learning Science-Based Fitness Knowledge In Constructivist Physical Education, Haichun Sun, Ang Chen, Xihe Zhu, Catherine D. Ennis

Human Movement Sciences Faculty Publications

Teaching fitness-related knowledge has become critical in developing children's healthful living behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a science-based, constructivist physical education curriculum on learning fitness knowledge critical to healthful living in elementary school students. The schools ( N = 30) were randomly selected from one of the largest school districts in the United States and randomly assigned to treatment curriculum and control conditions. Students in third, fourth, and fifth grade ( N = 5,717) were pre- and posttested on a standardized knowledge test on exercise principles and benefits in cardiorespiratory health, muscular capacity, …