Games for Understanding Model In Physical Education

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Game for understanding model is a very important aspect of learning for children in physical education classes. The goal for teaching games for understanding was putting the ‘why’ of the game before the ‘how’. It is very important to know the rules of the game and also strategies to improve their game performance. Teaching games for understanding models (TGFU) was first introduced by Bunker and Thorpe in the year 1982. The TGFU model was designed to have the children leaning heavily on teaching of techniques and sustain interest in the sport. Rather than learning the entire sport. You break the sport down into smaller activities where the kids can learn one aspect at a time, until they understand every aspect of the sport and they fully comprehend the sport itself. Their model is broken down into six different aspects. The aspects are game form, game appreciation, tactical awareness, decision making, skill execution, and performance.
Game form is the first aspect that you would want to go over with the kids. This is just the basics of the sport that you are teaching. The game my partner and I decided on was basketball. So I will be referencing all of these aspects towards the sport of basketball. This is where you would make about 4 or 5 different stations and break your kids into small groups of 4 or 5. At each station will be a different drill that teaches them about the game. One station you can have them practice dribbling. And then the next one you can have them practicing passing. You will also have a station for shooting and defense. This is the easiest way to break the game of basketball into small games or lead up games to help kids learn and understand. You don’t want to just give them a basketball and have them ...

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As you can see this model is very unique compared to most. Where you break a sport down into mini games that help kids learn and understand the sport in much simpler terms. Not only is it beneficial for the kids athletically, but it helps them comprehend the game and remember it long term a lot quicker than just teaching the sport in general.

Works Cited

Ebbeling, C. B., Pawlak, D. B., & Ludwig, D. S. (2002). Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure. The lancet, 360(9331), 473-482.

Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Components of Coordinated School Health. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/cshp/components.htm

SPARK Physical Education Curriculum. (n.d.). K-12 Physical Education Programs, & Elementary School PE Curriculum. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from http://www.sparkpe.org/physical-education/

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