Week 12 - Alternative Enviroment Activities

What Are AEA’s

physical activites outside traditional PE settings

• not limited to: gymnasiums, fitness centers, sport fields

Outdoor-Based Can Be Indoor

climate friendly

• e.g. pools, climbing walls, rinks

AEAs Aim To

promote lifelong movement

Key Characteristics of AEAs

• Learning in non-traditional spaces

• Adaption and inclusion 

• Reflection and meaning making 

• Life long engagement 

• Environmental stewardship 

• Risk management and safety education

Cognitive Benefits of AEAs in PE

better knowledge retention

faster learning

Affective Benefits of AEAs in pE

increased slef-esteem

more creativity

improved social skills

Physical Benefits of AEAs in PE

decreases sedentary time

improves health

reduces disease risk

Benefits of AEAs

• Increase variety in PE programs 

• Level the playing field

• Support motor skill development and movement skills 

• encourages lifelong activity participation

• Promote positive life skills

• Can promote motivation, passion and energy among teachers 

• Improve leadership, communication, teamwork

Barriers to AEAs

lack of awareness (26% of teacher unaware AEAs are in curriculum)

cost (equipment, transportation)

time constraints

organization/logistics

climate (Canada) → weather limits outdoor use

How to Get Around Barrier

• Use low-cost activities

  • e.g., orienteering, parkour

• Modify activities for school grounds

• Use indoor alternatives

  • climbing walls, gyms, rinks

• Start simple → progress complexity

• Integrate into existing curriculum time

• Focus on local environment (no transport needed)

Examples of AEAs

orienterring, parkour, swimming, kayaking, disc golf, hiking, curling

Orienterring

navigate efficiently from one point to another using a map and/or a compass

Modifications to Orienteering

accommodates studetns of different ages and developmental levels

• simple scavenger hunts

• learning to read a map (without a compass)

• learning to navigate with a compass

• learning to navigate with map and compass

Benefits of Orienterring

spatial awareness, problem solving, lifelong activity

Key Skills of Orienteering

• Map reading 

• Symbol interpretation

• Route choices 

• Pace counting 

• Teamwork

• Problem-solving

Parkour

involves moving through the environment in the fastest, most efficient way possible without assistive equipment (run, jump, climb)

• ideal in urban areas

Parkour Highlights

ways students can be active in their local environment without cost or transportation barriers

Lifestyle Activites AKA

alternative sports

Lifestyle Activities

participant-driven activities

• focuses on: lifestyle, community and identity

Lifestyle Activities is Usually

no clear winning/losing

not judged like traditional sports

Examples of Lifestyle Activities

cycling, running, skateboarding, yoga, climbing, stregnth training

Why Reclassify Games

• traditional 4 categories don’t reflect modern particiaption

• many popular activities are not included

• shift toward lifestyle & individual activities

Trends in Lifestyle Activites

increase in: running, cycling, fitness-based activities

decrease in: traditional team sports

New Proposed Game Categories

1. lap/circuit sports

2. route/journey sports

3. rush/actions sports

4. strunts/tricking sports

5. rhytmic/aesthetic sports

Lap/Circuit Sports

Repeated movement (laps)

• Examples: swimming, track running, cycling

Route/Journey Sports

Travel through environment 

• Examples: trail running, orienteering, paddling

Rush/Action Sports

Speed + intensity

• Examples: downhill biking, surfing, skateboarding (park)

Stunts/Tricking Sports

Focus on tricks + creativity 

• Examples: parkour, freestyle gymnastics, skateboarding (street)

Rhythmic/Aesthetic Sports

Focus on performance + expression

• Examples: dance, gymnastics, aerobics