The Impact of Student Choice on Elementary and Middle School Physical Education

Abstract

For decades the concern of child and adolescent health has progressively increased. Physical educators have the responsibility to not only teach students how to effectively be physically active, but also find the best strategies to help encourage and motivate students to be active in physical education as well as outside of school. This literature review shows that providing students with various types of student choice is one way physical educators can help students find joy in physical activity to promote lifelong learners. While student choice may not lead to consistent increases in physical activity it is shown in this review to lead to consistent increases in student motivation and engagement. The purpose of this synthesis was to review the literature on the impact of student choice in elementary and middle school physical education.