Increase Text SizeDecrease Text SizePrintShare this page

Physical Activity in the School

Picture of boy roller bladingThe following resource has been developed to provide you with valuable information and programs that can improve the health of the children at your school. The resource consists of a variety of agencies, community based programs and services, and resources relevant to physical activity. The resource has been developed according to the Ministry of Educations Foundations for a Healthy School External Linkframework.

Quality Instruction and Programming

  • Choices for Health
  • Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE)External Link
    Resources related to school based physical and health education including Daily Physical Activity (DPA), intramurals, and dance.

    Please let us know at  chintake@halton.ca if you find a broken link.

  • Active Healthy KidsExternal Link
    Resources to get kids active and moving. Includes programs, articles, fact sheets, and tips to get kids active.
  • Being Active Eating Well External Link
    Region of Peel website on resources and activities to keep students active in school.
  • Canadian Intramural Recreation AssociationExternal Link
    Promotes and develops active living, healthy lifestyles and personal growth through intramural and recreational programs within the education and recreation communities.
  • Daily Physical Activity (DPA) External Link
    Resources related to activities to support  Daily Physical Activity (DPA) in schools.
  • Daily Physical Activity (DPA) - Ophea  External Link
    OPHEA resources to support Daily Physical Activity.
  • EworkshopExternal Link
    Online resource developed for elementary teachers by the Ontario Ministry of Education and Teachers' Federation of Ontario. It includes modules on Literacy and Numeracy, activity sheets, lesson plans and more.
  • Everyone JumpExternal Link
    Everyone Jump is a resource, music CD and educational challenge that raises awareness of the importance of regular physical activity and proper nutrition in preventing type two diabetes.
  • Go GirlsExternal Link
    A group mentoring program that is designed to address the physical activity, healthy eating and positive self-image needs of young women ages 12-14.
  • Health and Physical Education curriculum support External Link
    Supports for the curriculum including Health and Physical Education Binders, workshops and consultations, all of which are designed to increase the knowledge and skills of educators, through the implementation of quality health and physical education programs.
  • Living SchoolExternal Link
    Living School is an initiative that brings together the entire school community - students, parents, teachers, administrators, boards of education, public health, sport and recreation organizations, community coalitions, local businesses and municipal governments – to support and enhance active, healthy living for all children and youth.
  • Ontario Health and Physical Education Association
    • Activ8 External Link
      Curriculum-based physical activity challenge program that links to each province's health and physical education curriculum.
  • Play Sport External Link
    An educational website with all kinds of great activities designed to teach kids games by playing games.
  • Ministry of Education Curriculum Health and Physical Education External Link
    Ministry site with all grade level curriculum expectations for elementary and secondary schools.

top of page

Healthy Physical Environment

Please let us know at  chintake@halton.ca if you find a broken link.

  • Canada’s Physical Activity Guide
    • Family Guide  External Link
      Resource guide filled with tips, information and ideas to help parents, guardians, caregivers and their children learn about the importance of physical activity and how to increase their activity levels.
    • For Youth External Link
      Youth friendly Canada physical activity guide designed to help children and youth improve their health through regular physical activity.
    • Gotta Move External Link
      This magazine helps children learn that physical activity is fun and easier than they think. It provides activities to try and information about how physical activity makes both their bodies and minds feel better.
    • Let’s Get Active External Link
      Interactive magazine for youth ages 10-14 years. It gives youth tips and advice on how to get started, finding activities they enjoy, activity breaks that can be done even when sitting, as well as a quiz and a crossword puzzle about physical activity facts.
    • Teacher’s Guide External Link
      Resource guide that teachers can use to talk with children about the importance of being active, having fun and feeling good about themselves.
    • Teacher’s Guide for Youth External Link
      Resource guide that teachers can use to lead discussions about the importance of physical activity to achieve health benefits and feeling good about themselves.
  • EcoSchoolsExternal Link
    An Ontario environmental education resource for elementary and secondary grades that is based on the Ontario Curriculum.
  • Playground Markings
    • Creative PlaygroundsExternal Link
      Provides tarmac painting with an accompanying ready to use resource guide “Active Playgrounds”. Workshops are also available.
    • Precise Pavement/ Gym and Field MarkingExternal Link
      Tarmac and field painting resource. Individual plans are created to meet the unique needs of each school.
  • Safe Schools ActExternal Link
    Bill 212, the Education Amendment Act, (Progressive Discipline and School Safety Act), provides behaviour, discipline and safety guidelines for schools.
  • School Grounds Greening External Link
    Evergreen Learning Grounds helps schools create outdoor classrooms to provide students with a healthy place to play, learn and develop a genuine respect for nature.

top of page

Supportive Social Environment

Please let us know at  chintake@halton.ca if you find a broken link.

  • ACT NOW External Link
    Interactive School Wellness program for students in grades 4 through 8, their parents/guardians, teachers, and school administrators The program model is designed to assist children, students and adults in realizing the positive impact that making healthy lifestyle decisions can have on personal achievement.
  • ACTIVE2010 External Link
    ACTIVE2010 is an exciting and ambitious action plan that will significantly improve Ontario's sport and physical activity system.
  • Active and Safe Routes to SchoolExternal Link
    A community-based initiative that taps into the demand for safe, walkable neighborhoods. This site provides resources, tools, information and links for schools and communities.
  • Active Healthy KidsExternal Link
    Active Healthy Kids Canada is committed to inspiring the nation to engage all children and youth in physical activity. This site has programs, tools, tips, articles and fact sheets that will help get children active.
  • Active TransportationExternal Link
    Encourages communities, schools and workplaces to adopt more active modes of transportation to improve the health and well being of Canadians.
  • Aero PopExternal Link
    A dance program with lesson plans; created for children of all different skill levels, which can be done in the school or home environment.
  • Canada's Physical Activity GuidesExternal Link
    This Government of Canada website provides the physical activity guides for children and youth along with tools to assist with becoming active.
  • Fitness Circuit ChartsExternal Link
    Fitness charts that have cardio-respiratory and resistance routines to suit the needs of students, regardless of their current fitness level. Both elementary and secondary charts are available.
  • In-School Adventure ProgramExternal Link
    An adventure-based learning program designed for all ages. A portable engineered structure can be set up inside or outside your school and is loaded with games, initiatives, rock climbing, rope courses and other adventures.
  • JUMP2bFIT Program PackageExternal Link
    A rope skipping fitness and activity program designed for use by teachers, coaches, parents, volunteers and youth leaders. It includes everything you need to teach the basics of rope skills.
  • Jump into Fun and FitnessExternal Link
    Educator, student and fitness club programs to teach the fundamentals of jump rope. The programs for elementary and secondary school can be incorporated as part of their Daily Physical Activity (DPA).
  • Jump Rope for Heart External Link- Hoops for Heart External Link
    A national fundraising program by the Heart and Stroke Foundation that gets kids physically active. Includes event tips, tools and classroom resources.
  • Laps for LungsExternal Link
    A school-based health promotion program and charitable activity, which directly benefits school children living with asthma. Includes event tips, tools and asthma resources.
  • Live Outside the Box
    A school-based challenge to get youth to be more active, spend less time in front of a screen, and to raise awareness of the importance of having an active lifestyle. Register to receive the materials, and have a physical activity prize pack sent out to your school.
  • Mega HoopsExternal Link
    An inclusive basketball clinic for children and youth in grades 3-8. Mega Hoops also offers comprehensive teaching tools to implement a successful basketball component into a class or recreation program.
  • Ministry of Health Promotion- Physical Activity External Link
  • The ministry promotes active living to children and adults in schools, workplaces and recreational settings.
  • Pause to PlayExternal Link
    A web guide for kids who want to be active. Information and downloadable posters about many different sports.

top of page

Community Partnerships

  • Green Communities CanadaExternal Link
    National association of non-profit organizations that deliver environmental solutions to Canadian households and communities. Supports Active Safe Routes to School (ASRTS) program.
  • Choices for Health External Link
    A coalition from the Halton community committed to building a healthy community.
  • Active Halton External Link
    A community group in Halton that promotes active lifestyle for all ages.
  • Heart and Stroke FoundationExternal Link
    Provides resources for teachers, parents and children to promote healthy living.
  • Ontario Physical and Health Education AssociationExternal Link
    Resources, programs and services to help teachers address health and physical educational strands of the Ontario curriculum.
  • Our Kids Network External Link
    A community based initiative that can assist with coordinating and providing services, resources and support for families, schools and the community.
  • Parks and RecreationExternal Link
    Non-profit organization that provides information, advocacy and services to enhance the quality of life for people in Ontario.
  • Physical and Health Education CanadaExternal Link
    Resource for teachers on physical and health education whose primary concern is to influence the healthy development of children and youth by advocating for quality, school-based physical and health education.
  • WalkON
    A community partnership of Heart Health projects from Central West Ontario that supports the development of walkable communities.