Physical Education Course Offerings and Descriptions
ADAPTED PE
This course is a modification of physical education activities intended to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Individualized physical fitness programs are written within medical guidelines for each student. The students work to develop and refine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and balance and flexibility to maintain mobility. Social skills are integrated in all activities, and students are encouraged to maximize their abilities as they engage in a variety of modified sport activities.
501/2, 5018, 5014/5016 Health Education F/S (freshmen and sophomores) or 502/2, 5017/2 Health Education JS (juniors and seniors)
1 semester; 1 credit
Topics covered in this course include, but are not limited to, those areas mandated by the Illinois School Code Comprehensive Health Education Program (105 ILCS 110/3). Subject matter includes the prevention and control of d diseases including AIDS, consumer health, safety education, mental wellness, alcohol and drug use and abuse, human growth and development, human sexuality, nutrition, physical fitness, dental care, and steroid abuse. Successful completion of this course fulfills the state health education requirement. NOTE: It is generally expected that Health Education will be taken during the freshman year as part of the freshman core P.E. program.
Freshman Physical Education
Open to freshmen
1 semester; 1 credit
This course teaches fitness through a variety of movement activities, including fitness, dance, and swim. Students will learn about the 5 basic health-related principles while being exposed to the latest in exercise techniques. Students will use resistance machines, free weights, cardio machines, and other functional fitness equipment to improve overall health. This course also incorporates a variety of movement activities including dance, zumba, yoga, pilates, and stretching. A variety of dance styles will be chosen to enhance muscular flexibility, endurance, coordination, and memorization skills. Students will have the opportunity to work cooperatively to choreograph and perform dance routines. Students will learn beginning swim skills, life-saving techniques, and water games.
Sophomore Physical Education
Open to sophomores
1 semester; 1 credit
This course designed for sophomores addresses students' physical and social-emotional needs through aquatics and self-defense training combined with classroom presentations related to specific gender and social issues. One portion of the course is a gender-specific swim class providing differentiated instruction in basic survival techniques and propulsion. Students are taught a variety of strokes along with aquatic games and training techniques to improve overall fitness levels. The class also incorporates Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillation (AED) training. The second portion of the course involves the theory and practice of self-defense. Discussions and guest speakers address gender-specific topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, the influence of media on culture, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, bullying, Internet safety, and how to avoid violence and unsafe situations. Both genders are taught gender-specific self-defense skills using a nationally recognized rape and aggression prevention program taught by certified instructors.
Total Wellness (Co-Ed course)
Open to juniors and seniors
1 semester; 1 credit
The beginner to intermediate level course will provide students with an understanding of the importance of incorporating healthy habits into their everyday life. The curriculum focuses on cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and nutrition. Students will participate in a variety of fitness activities from functional fitness to strength training and HIIT workouts, yoga and self-defense.
Fitness and Foods
Open to juniors and seniors (Students may not exempt out for Athletic Study Hall. Maximum student enrollment - 48)
Prerequisite: Culinary Arts (Family and Consumer Science)
1 semester; 1 credit
Fitness & Foods stresses the important of healthy eating and physical activity across the lifespan. The class explores a healthy lifestyle, nutrition, wellness and helps students obtain their fitness goals. Students will be exposed to a variety of physical activities and understanding how to make fitness a part of their daily routine. Students will also learning about their nutritional needs across the lifespan. Culinary lab experiences incorporate healthy meal planning options.
Boys' Team Sports
Open to junior and senior males
1 semester; 1 credit
This course is designed to integrate individual and team building skills using the techniques and strategies involved in the sports of flag football and basketball. Students learn the skills involved in the 2 sports and are assessed on skill growth and the ability to execute the rules and strategies of the game, to exhibit overall sportsmanship, and to work within a team to achieve a goal. Fitness principles, strategies, and techniques will also be infused into the curriculum throughout the semester using a variety of facilities and equipment.
Coed Team Sports
Open to juniors and seniors
1 semester; 1 credit
This course is designed to integrate cooperative skills in the areas of technique and strategy as they pertain to team sports. The course will include, but is not limited to, the following team sports: flag football, soccer, lacrosse, softball, ultimate Frisbee, floor hockey, volleyball, basketball, and team handball. Students will learn rules, strategy, techniques, and fundamentals of each team sport. Fitness concepts and activities will be incorporated to enhance student's well-being. Students will be evaluated on their participation, ability to execute rules, incorporate strategy, and exhibit good sportsmanship.
Racket Sports
Open to juniors and seniors
1 semester; 1 credit
This course combines fitness concepts and activities, tennis, badminton, and pickleball to improve hand-eye coordination, racket skills, fitness and agility with the expectation of improving physical health. Students will be provided differentiated instruction in the basic tennis strokes, scoring, rules, and etiquette of tennis. Students will participate in skill building activities and tournament play throughout the semester. Physical fitness activities will be incorporated into the class to benefit overall personal health.
World Dance
Open to juniors and seniors
1 semester; 1 credit
This course will expose students to a variety of social dances. Students will also have fitness conditioning 2 days per week, including Zumba, Pilates, Cardio-Kickboxing, Stretch, and Yoga. An historical element will teach students about the background of each dance style being taught. This class enhances flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, movement coordination, choreographic abilities, and memorization skills. Students should be able to choreograph a dance that would represent their generation. Taken during the fall semester, the course will cover the Charleston, Swing Dance, Cha Cha, Tango, Hand Jive, and Group Choreography/Presentation. Taken during the spring semester, the course will cover World Dance, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, and Group Choreography/Presentation.
Company Dance
Open to juniors and seniors
Prerequisite: Complete 9th grade PE and teacher recommendation
2 semesters; 2 credits
This year-long course is designed to accompany outside training of the advanced dancer. It offers advanced and intensive technique training in ballet and modern dance with scheduled master classes in other dance forms. Students will also study dance composition and dance history and will participate in dance viewing and dance critique. This class will often include live accompaniment and will always require dance participants to wear appropriate dance attire. Students will attend 1 curriculum-related field trip each semester.
Advanced Adventure Education
Open to juniors and seniors
1 semester; 1 credit
This advanced course is designed to develop team building and leadership skills using experiential education. Students will participate in, design, and lead a variety of team building activities, challenge courses, orienteering, wall climbing, high ropes course, and kayaking experiences.
Advanced Strength Training
Open to junior and senior varsity athletes
1 semester; 1 credit
This course will give students the concepts and techniques that will allow them to gain muscle mass, increase speed and agility, and increase overall muscular and core strength. Students will participate in a comprehensive semester-long class that will allow them to design and implement their own fitness plan and to learn the basic fundamentals of weight training, strength training, conditioning, and nutrition. This course includes both activity and cognitive sessions. Students will learn to make wise choices, meet challenges, and develop positive behaviors in fitness, wellness, and movement activity for a lifetime. Coaches may have the ability to implement sport-specific workout plans for their athletes. Dual credit through Triton College may be available upon successful completion of this course.
All Gender Fitness and Self-Defense
1 semester; 1 credit
The first part of this course involves the theory and practice of self-defense. Discussions and guest speakers address topics such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, the influence of media on culture, sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, bullying, Internet safety, and how to avoid violence and unsafe situations. Self-defense skills are taught using rape and aggression prevention principles. This course addresses students’ physical and social-emotional needs through self-defense training combined with classroom presentations related to specific transgendered and social issues. The second part of this course provides students with an understanding of the importance of incorporating healthy habits in their everyday life. The curriculum focuses on cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, agility, and nutrition. Students will participate in activities such as cardio dance, yoga, Pilates, functional training, and nutrition. Students may also perform gymnastics routines using balance beams, uneven bars, vaults, and tumbling in an effort to improve strength, agility, and fitness related to individual fitness.
Sports Medicine I
1 semester; 1 credit
Students will be provided with a general overview of the sports medicine team and the history of sports medicine. It includes introductory information about the athletic trainer’s scope of practice including injury prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, emergency injury management and administrative functions. Students will learn basic human anatomy, injury diagnosis/treatment/prevention of common upper and lower extremity injuries, and management of concussion. This course is intended to help students gain an understanding of sports medicine, various associated disciplines and the role they play in the physically active community. Students enrolled in this course will not provide patient care. Dual credit through Triton College may be available upon successful completion of this course.