Physical Education in initial years of elementary school

physical efforts intensity and developed contents

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed at characterizing Physical Education classes in the first five years of primary school from the city of Pelotas, Brazil. The duration and intensity of physical efforts, the context of each class and the actions of the teacher during the class were evaluated. The sample comprised 19 schools, 93 classes and 404 students. In total, 275 Physical Education classes were observed using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT). Physical activity levels during the classes were estimated using Actigraph wGT3X+ accelerometers. The average duration of the classes was 29.9 minutes (SD 8.1), of which 14.2 (47.8%) were spent in sedentary activities, 7.8 (26.2%) in light-intensity activities, 2.8 (9.3%) in moderate-intensity activities and 4.9(16.7%) in vigorous-intensity activities according to accelerometry. In terms of context, 36% of the classes comprised game play. The most frequently observed teacher action was managing (46%). Strategies should be planned in order to allow a better use of the time of Physical Education classes in the first years or primary school in Brazil. However, physical education classes were more structured and planned if compared to studies evaluating classes in secondary school and those in the last grades of primary school.