How to help students stay engaged in Health and PE class

One of the main roles and challenges of teachers is to keep their students engaged during class. Not only to keep their attention but to keep them actively engaged and interested in what you are teaching. Easy said, very hard to do. It is a must though if we want to help kids actually apply what we are teaching them for their benefit.

I work with teachers every day across the US and it amazes me their skill and passion. But often they are challenged with how to keep students engaged in class so they can actually learn the information. While every grade level has its unique challenges, this is especially hard in high school as students think they are too “cool” to pay attention and learn the information. 

I remember being that way in math class. I was a below-average student in math for years. My senior year I was put in a remedial math class. It wasn’t because I was dumb, it was because I didn't understand why I needed to learn these topics and how it was going to benefit me in the future. I ended up passing the class and graduating just fine. 

A few years later while I was in college I had to take some harder accounting and finance classes for my minor in business. I had heard how many students failed these classes and that they were a real challenge. Honestly, I was a bit nervous because I remembered not being good at math in high school. 

When the time came around to take those classes I excelled and got all A’s. Why? Because I understood WHY I was learning the concepts. Yes, they were harder but I knew that to do what I was called to do after school I needed to learn and understand these concepts. I could directly see how they would benefit me in the future. I knew WHY I was learning them. And this was mostly due to great teachers casting that vision. 

But how does this apply to health and PE? It is the same concept as what I just described. We must help students understand the “why” behind what you are teaching them in health and PE or else they won't want to learn what they view as “useless” information. They have to directly see how what they are earning in health will help them to better fulfill their calling. Let me give you 2 quick ways of how this could look in class. 

*Note: These are more for middle school and high school students, elementary doesn't need to go as deep and is just about being intentional during PE class to help students understand WHY they are playing games and moving. It is about planting seeds.

1. Scripture

One of the greatest ways to get students engaged and to give the teacher a greater level of authority is by bringing scripture into the class. It helps to back the teacher up. It isn't just a required class or the teacher's passion coming across anymore, it is the Word of God. If we can show students what the Bible teaches about stewarding their bodies, they will be much more likely to regard what you are saying as important. And rightly so! Below I will give you a free copy of our 32-lesson devotional guide that may help!

2. Goals and Application

We must help students understand that our health should serve us, our calling, and enable us to serve others better. Much of what the world teaches today is a burden to people with all the endless information that confuses them. Help them set goals in their health that directly helps them do something they love, helps them to serve others better, or helps them have the energy and confidence to walk in their calling now and in the future. 

Have them look at what they are passionate about and then ask the question, “What does my health need to look like to be able to do___?”. Once they can get clear on that question, then they can create simple goals that specifically help them to have the ability to do that. Once those goals are created, have them start applying what they are learning in class in the real world. If they can practice these things while under your covering they will be much more likely to continue after they graduate.

While we could go much deeper into this, you can take these principles and apply them specifically to your classes. You know your students the best. What are some simple ways you could implement these principles?  

To get you started, I want to give you our 32-lesson devotional guide that teachers love to use with their students. You can go HERE to get a copy of that and some other resources that may help! You can also check out our maps for The F.O.R.M. Curriculum in Curriculum-Trak!