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Impacting physical education curriculum across the state

January 18, 2018

From 2014-2016 Dr. Chilson represented SHAPE Montana and the University of Montana Western Health and Human Department as a leader on the project to revise the Health Enhancement Standards for K-12 education in the State of Montana.

Dr. Chilson

From 2014-2016 Dr. Chilson represented SHAPE Montana and the University of Montana Western Health and Human Department as a leader on the project to revise the Health Enhancement Standards for K-12 education in the State of Montana. The 20 member team of professionals worked to align Montana’s standards with the K-12 National Standards for Health and Physical education and ensure that Indian Education for All content was included in all appropriate areas. The focus of the workgroup was on providing guidance to specialists and classroom teachers to promote the health and physical well-being of all Montana youth.

The revised standards included performance indicators and grade level outcomes to support teachers in the development of curriculum designed to meet the needs of all students. As the 2014 SHAPE Montana President and continuing board member, Dr. Chilson has traveled to present on the new curriculum throughout the state. On-campus, Dr. Chilson’s work has benefited students in all education programs as they use the new standards, learning outcomes, and performance indicators to develop instructional resources for future students in HEE 340 Methods of Health Education, and in the field experiences of students in HEE 301 Methods of Secondary Health Enhancement and HEE 302 Methods of Instructional Strategies in Elementary Physical Education.

Students in Dr. Chilson’s classes also partner with Dillon Elementary School District #10 and SHAPE America to offer instructional units on jump rope skills and fitness culminating with the annual Jump Rope for Heart event. Elementary students gather pledges prior to the event to support the American Heart Association and then participate in games and contests showcasing their fitness and jump rope skills.

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