SPARK Improves Physical Fitness and Education

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Recommended: Physical education in secondary schools

SPARK is a research-based public health organization that strives to improve the health of children, adolescents, and adults. Not only that, but SPARK believes that using its model students will improve in classes outside of PE. SPARK’s model is based on 300% more PE time during the week than most schools get.

SPARK says on its website that it improves physical fitness of its students. But how long can a school sustain the program? SPARK materials an expensive and it seems as though the money just keeps getting piled up into SPARK. For the full curriculum set for only 3-6, it is $700. With that in mind, schools still have to pay for training, equipment, and follow-up support. That’s just one level too! It’s roughly the same for k-2, middle school, and high school. You’d think that a school would forego SPARK and continue using their previous program. A case study called Evaluating the Sustainability of SPARK Physical Education: A Case Study Translating Research into Practice notes the unarguable success of the program and finds through 111 surveys from states such as California, Maryland and Hawaii that 20% of schools have returned to their old physical education after four whole years. This means that 80% of schools had great success with the program and kept using and paying for it.

SPARK is not just a grade school tool, it is also offered as a text for university and college students. It comes in two texts, k-5 and 6-12. The SPARK website says the course materials have been developed and field-tested with students since 1994. SPARK-University provides pre-service teachers with a solid foundation of developmentally appropriate content that is well sequenced and aligned with National Physical Education St...

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...Nov. 2013.

"How Physical Activity Affects Academic Performance." SPARK PE. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2013.

Marcoux, M.F., Sallis, J. F., McKenzie, T. L., Marshall, S., Armstrong, C. A., & Goggin, K. (1999). Process evaluation of a physical activity self-management program for children: SPARK. Psychology and Health, 14, 659-677.

McKenzie, T. L., Alcaraz, J. E., Sallis, J. F., & Faucette, F. N. (1998). Effects of a physical education program on children's manipulative skills. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 17, 327-341.

McKenzie, T. L., Alcaraz, J., & Sallis, J. F. (1994) Assessing children's liking for activity units in an elementary school physical education curriculum. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 13, 206-215.

Team, Spark. "SPARK." What is spark. N.p.. Web. 25 Sep 2013. .

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