Physical and Health Education (Junior School)

Author: Mr JAMES EMMANUEL (08068929100)

TOPIC:  School Health Programme

School health programme is a programme of health activities designed and executed purposely to improve the health status of the school child.

Objectives of school health programme:

1.      To develop the child’s health needs and interest;

2.      To provide special health care services for the disabled and exceptional children in the school;

3.      To prevent communicable and non-communicable diseases;

4.      Provision of emergency services;

5.      To maintain a conducive school environment;

6.      To develop beauty into the mind of the students.

 Components of the school health programme:

1.      Health instruction;

2.      School health services;

3.      Healthful school living/healthful school environment

Ø  Health Instruction: Health instruction is a well organised sequential programme of classroom instruction, focusing on health related topics.

Examples of health instruction taught in schools are:

i.         Personal health

ii.       Safety and first aid

iii.      Consumer health

iv.    Food and nutrition

v.      Drug education

vi.    Family life education

vii.   Recreation

viii. Water supply

ix.     Sewage and refuse disposal

x.       Communicable and non communicable diseases.

Ø  School Health Services: School health services are services that deal with the various preventive measures provided by the school to improve the health of the children.  The services involve a well organised and co-coordinated work of the school health personnel e.g. Nurse, Physical educators, Medical personnel, community health educators and other agencies.

 The various school health services are:

(a)  Health counselling

(b)  Emergency care of the sick and injured

(c)  Control of communicable disease

(d)  Care and education of exceptional child

(e)  Referral services

(f)     Health observation

Ø  Healthful School living or environment: Healthful school living or environment is everything that is being done to provide the child at a school a conducive atmosphere that is of good benefit and ensure healthful stay of the child while in school.

Specific aspect of healthful school living:

         I.            Good physical environment

       II.            Good working conditions for the teachers

      III.            Attractive and cheerful classes

   IV.            Proper organisation of the school meal-day

     V.            Good water supply

   VI.            Adequate ventilation and lightings

  VII.            Fire protection

VIII.            Noise control provision

Problems common among the school children:

a.     Drug

b.     First Aid and safety education

c.     Smoking

d.     Dental problems (Tooth problem)

e.     Physical exercise

f.        Personal hygiene

g.     Environmental sanitation etc.

TOPIC: GYMNASTICS

History and Development:

Ancient gymnastics, which symbolises naked art, originated in ancient Greece-city states and the Roman periods of history.

The Greek city states are:

(I)Athens (II) Sparta (III) Thebes (IV) Corinth

The Greeks were the first people that laid great emphasis on gymnastics. The early Romans copied the physical training programme for the Greeks, but later adapted it to suit their military training programme.

Gymnastics declined with the fall of Greek and Roman empires.

The interest on gymnastics was renewed by a group of academicians noted in the field of gymnastics. Some of which were: Fredrick Guts-Muths 1758-1839, a physical Education instructor at Schenep Fental Educational Institute in Germany. Up till today he is known as father of Gymnastics in Germany. Others are John Basedow 1723-1790 of Germany. However, the great father of Gymnastics was Fredrick Ludwig John 1777-1852. He founded the first club of gymnastics known as Turnverein. He also invented various equipment such as the still rings, parallel bars, and horizontal bars.

Gymnastics was brought to Nigeria by the missionaries alongside western education. Gymnastics was introduced into the Olympics at the 1936 Olympic in Berlin. The Gymnastics Association of Nigeria was formed in 1975 as the controlling body for gymnastics. The name has since been changed to the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (GDN). The world body is the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG).

 Terms in gymnastics:

1)      Gymnast: A person who performs gymnastics activities

2)      Gymnasium: This is where gymnastics activities take place.

3)      Gymnastics: These are physical exercises designed to improve strength, balance, flexibility, agility and coordination of the body.

Nature of Gymnastics:

i.         It is an individual sport

ii.       It is neither a combative nor team sport

iii.      It is an exercise for both boys and girls

iv.    It is either performed on floors or on apparatus.

Equipment or apparatus in gymnastics:

a.     Vaulting box

b.     Balance beam

c.     Parallel bars

d.     Horizontal bars

e.     Mats and foam

f.        Trampoline

g.     Benches

h.      Ropes

i.         Wall bars etc.

 Scopes of gymnastics:

Gymnastics can be divided into two:

1.      Agilities: Agilities are activities performed without the use of apparatus. They are called floor exercise or activities.

Examples are:

i.         Forward roll

ii.       Backward roll

iii.      Cartwheel

iv.    Headstand

v.      Handstand

vi.    Crouch balance

vii.   Hand walking

viii. Press- up

2.      Vault: A vault is a jump in which the hands assist the performer to clear an obstacle.

A vault in gymnastics means a leap involving double take-off in a single movement with the hand resting on raised objects.

Vaulting is activities performed with the use of apparatus.

Types of vaulting:

i.         Through vault

ii.       Astride vault or leap frog

iii.      Thief vault

iv.    Neck spring vault

v.      Over swing vault

vi.    Side vault

vii.   Horse vault etc.

 

Importance of gymnastics:

1. It develops physical fitness

2. It aids circulation of blood

3. It creates fun and enjoyment

4. It thrills audience at festivals, exhibition and show

5. It helps to improve posture

6. It helps to strengthen and develop muscle

 

Officials of Gymnastics:

a.     Referee

b.     Judges

c.     Clerks

d.     Timers

e.     Scorers

f.        Announcer

g.     Medical personnel or doctor

Precautions in gymnastics:

Ø  Have adequate warm up before performance

Ø  Wear suitable dress

Ø  Start from known to unknown and simple to complex

Ø  Listen to instruction of teacher

Ø  Avoid any rush

Ø  Do not manage a damaged apparatus

Ø  Use appropriate apparatus for each activity.