Browse articles, research highlights, and practical strategies from the SPARK team — covering advocacy, PE, fitness, and health.
Showing all 67 articles
Keeping students engaged often requires introducing something new. Discover creative non-traditional PE units — with downloadable samples — for every grade band from early childhood through high school.
SPARK
June 26, 2026
SPARK Digital is coming — a single integrated platform that brings curriculum, lesson planning, professional learning, and student progress tracking together in one seamless experience. Here's what to expect.
SPARK
April 30, 2026
Field Day is one of the most anticipated events of the school year. Follow this four-step playbook — from planning and activity selection to volunteer coordination and celebration — to pull off an event every student will remember.
SPARK
April 1, 2026
National Nutrition Month is the perfect time to connect food and movement in PE. Discover how to teach energy balance concepts through age-appropriate activities, low-prep integration strategies, and two free downloadable lessons.
SPARK
March 2, 2026
Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) is both a powerful tool for protecting heart health and a nationally recognized benchmark for quality physical education. Discover practical strategies for bringing MVPA to life in your classroom during National Heart Month and beyond.
SPARK
February 12, 2026
Inclusive PE isn't about having a separate plan for a few students. It's about designing lessons where every student — regardless of ability, confidence level, or learning need — feels valued, engaged, and supported.
SPARK
January 14, 2026
Outdoor PE classes expose children to harmful UV rays that can damage their skin and eyes. Learn practical sun safety strategies — from scheduling smarter to sunscreen and sunglasses — to keep your students protected while staying active outside.
Rhian Jenn
May 10, 2024
Discover how an early childhood PE teacher integrates literacy and math into physical education games, turning the gym into a dynamic learning environment where young students develop foundational reading, spelling, and math skills through movement.
Deb Breihan
April 16, 2024
SHAPE America has released brand new 2024 National Physical Education Standards, and SPARK has already updated all K-12 curriculum to reflect the four key changes — including a shift from five standards to four and a new focus on physical literacy journey.
Jeff Mushkin
March 18, 2024
Physical education is more than just a mandatory class — it's an integral component of a well-rounded education that fosters skill development, promotes fitness, and nurtures lifelong health habits. Discover the significance of skill development in PE and effective strategies for providing meaningful practice opportunities.
Jeff Mushkin
February 13, 2024
Target games in physical education offer a unique blend of physical activity and intellectual stimulation, promoting motor skills, teamwork, and strategic thinking for students of all ability levels.
Jeff Mushkin
January 16, 2024
SPARK has launched Round 2 of the Equity Awards, offering over $130,000 in grants to PE teachers and organizations serving low-income communities. Apply by February 16, 2024 to bring SPARK resources to underserved students.
Julie Frank
December 18, 2023
Technology is transforming physical education through game-based learning, wearable tech, video analysis software, and AR/VR tools that boost student engagement and help teachers deliver personalized instruction.
Rhian Jenn
November 10, 2023
Street Racket is an affordable, easy-to-learn racquet-and-ball game from Switzerland now played in over 80 countries and 2,400 schools, offering 600+ variations and promoting inclusive, low-cost physical activity for all ages and skill levels.
Marcel Straub
October 12, 2023
Active listening is an undervalued yet essential skill in physical education that goes far beyond safety — it builds understanding, fosters teamwork, and develops lifelong discipline and self-control. PE teachers who prioritize listening skills help students thrive both in the gym and beyond.
Jeff Mushkin
September 18, 2023
Physical education classes are essential for student health, but they carry an inherent risk of injury. This article outlines nine key strategies PE educators can use to keep students safe while maximizing the benefits of physical activity.
Rhian Jenn
August 14, 2023
Transitioning into summer is an opportunity to celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and build upon our experiences — here are ten strategies to reflect on the past school year and plan for an even better one ahead.
Jeff Mushkin
June 20, 2023
YOU.FO is an innovative new sport developed through research and co-creation with Olympic committees, PE teachers, and students, featuring a unique aerodynamic ring and stick. Designed to be self-regulated, non-contact, and inclusive, it comes with a complete PE curriculum to make implementation simple and exciting.
Giel Bos
May 16, 2023
Roundnet, commonly known by the brand name <a href="https://www.spikeball.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spikeball</a>, is a fast-paced and exciting sport that has been growing in popularity around the world. It's a team sport that is played with a small trampoline-like net and a ball.
Skyler Boles
April 19, 2023
Invasion games are a popular PE activity that involves two teams competing to score goals or points by invading each other's territory, providing benefits for cardiovascular fitness, cognitive skill development, and teamwork.
Jeff Mushkin
March 13, 2023
When students are out of school, PE teachers can keep them moving by creating simple activity videos for at-home use. Discover tips for choosing exercises, using stock footage, and sharing videos through platforms like Google Classroom and YouTube.
Anya Willis
February 14, 2023
OMNIKIN® equipment brings cooperative, team-based activities into PE classes that build motor skills and social skills while keeping all students engaged and motivated. Discover how this innovative equipment can transform your physical education program.
Chris Nichols
January 17, 2023
Finding money for physical education programs can be a daunting task, but it is possible with the right approach. From national grants and federal programs to local businesses and community supporters, there are multiple pathways to get your program the resources it needs.
Jeff Mushkin
December 21, 2022
Motivating disengaged students in PE is one of the toughest challenges teachers face. These three strategies — self-directed learning, high expectations, and student leadership roles — can help turn reluctant participants into active, enthusiastic learners.
Hailey Thompson
November 14, 2022
Standards establish measurable objectives for student skills and knowledge in maintaining healthy, physically-active lifestyles. SPARK provides comprehensive, standards-referenced curriculum with design, delivery models, and assessment tools aligned to grade-level outcomes.
Mary Lou Baranowski
October 18, 2022
Teaching students can be a joy, but each day can present different challenges. You'll require a certain set of skills to handle these day-to-day tasks, with communication being one of the most important for any teacher.
Anne Walton
September 20, 2022
Teachers have a powerful opportunity to model healthy habits and positive behaviors that can last a lifetime. From refining leadership skills and discussing sleep to changing classroom vocabulary and talking about nutrition, small daily actions can build a solid foundation for students' healthy futures.
Anya Willis
August 17, 2022
Summer camps and group activities call for effective leadership strategies that keep kids engaged and safe. This article shares practical tips for youth leaders on managing behavior, forming groups, and creating positive activity experiences.
Jeff Mushkin
July 19, 2022
Teachers are uniquely positioned to champion student mental health by starting conversations, modeling positive habits, and prioritizing their own wellness — all of which create a more supportive school environment.
Hailey Thompson
June 13, 2022
Most elementary students never learn the 'why' behind health — but one teacher is changing that by building a wellness curriculum that addresses physical, mental, and social health from kindergarten through 4th grade. Discover how shifting from gym class to wellness class is transforming student outcomes.
Lexi Douglas
May 13, 2022
Schools can play a powerful role in supporting staff wellness by fostering open communication, providing relevant resources like Wellness Action Plans, and actively encouraging team morale and work-life balance.
SPARK
April 19, 2022
National Nutrition Month is the perfect time to integrate nutrition education into PE class. Discover three practical strategies for teaching nutrition concepts through engaging physical activities.
Jeff Mushkin
March 15, 2022
Research shows students spend 90% of their time indoors, but outdoor adventure activities can transform their lives — improving academic performance, social skills, fitness, and overall well-being. Discover how outdoor adventure programs benefit students in powerful and lasting ways.
Tari Garner
February 14, 2022
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides a framework that eliminates barriers and increases access to learning for all students in physical education. Discover how its three core principles—multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression—can transform your PE program.
Dr. Lauren J. Lieberman Ph.D.
December 14, 2021
Joining a professional organization is important for our growth as educators and to have the biggest impact on our students. It helps to stay informed of the latest trends, best practices, and to build your support community in physical education.
Patty Lanier
November 16, 2021
Horizontal climbing walls are a popular and safe addition to PE programs, but keeping students engaged over time takes creativity. Discover five strategies to refresh your traverse wall activities and maximize physical, cognitive, and social-emotional benefits.
Mertyce Mrvos
October 19, 2021
Teachers play a crucial role in encouraging students to stay active outside of PE class. Discover five practical ways to help students find forms of exercise they truly enjoy — from making active choices to exploring team sports, solo sports, and outdoor adventures.
Alyssa Strickland
September 14, 2021
High school PE teacher Jerry Honeycutt shares the instructional practices, teaching methodologies, and class management strategies he uses to engage 100% of his students and build lifelong healthy habits.
Jerry Honeycutt
August 17, 2021
The first few minutes of PE class can make or break your day — instant activities are a proven way to get students moving immediately, warming up their muscles and priming their brains for learning. SPARK recommends brief 5-7 minute activities before the main lesson to maximize engagement and instructional time.
Jeff Mushkin
July 20, 2021
A SPARK Trainer of Trainers on the Navajo Nation shares how 18 years of bringing evidence-based physical education to indigenous communities — and a high school student's Zumba project — sparked a doctoral study on dance, language, and student joy.
Telletha Valenski, EdD
June 15, 2021
PE teacher Reese Ryzewski shares how her personal passion for fitness — from Pilates to aerial yoga — shapes her approach to designing creative, science-based fitness curricula that help students move better and feel more confident.
Reese Ryzewski
May 18, 2021
Sleep is vital for our overall health and wellness. Discover practical strategies for managing your sleep routine and leveraging technology to improve sleep quality — habits worth modeling and sharing with your students.
Gabriel Patel
April 9, 2021
Physical education classes are proven to promote active lifestyles, but most PE programs fall short when it comes to comprehensive health education. Blending nutrition and personal health instruction into PE is vital to improving students' long-term wellness.
Rhian Jenn
March 16, 2021
Quality physical education is an overlooked yet powerful instrument of social justice — and athlete influencers are uniquely positioned to help champion it in underserved communities.
John Mathieu Roussell, PhD
January 19, 2021
Self-assessment is one of the most authentic and powerful tools a PE teacher can use — it builds ownership, honesty, resilience, and self-awareness while giving students a skill they can apply to every area of their lives.
Crystal Rochford
December 15, 2020
Physical activity should remain central to schools, whether students learn in-person, remotely, or hybrid. Active Schools champions advocate for creating environments supporting student wellness and healthy habits.
Julie Frank
November 17, 2020
PE teachers can dramatically increase student physical activity by mentoring classroom teachers to integrate movement into academic lessons. Discover 5 practical strategies to get your colleagues on board and add up to 1,200 minutes of activity per student each school year.
Paul Rosengard
November 16, 2020
A physical education teacher of the year shares six practical resources — including collaboration strategies, diverse representation tools, Google Meet norms, a needs assessment survey, and a Genius Hour project — to help engage high school students in virtual and hybrid HPE settings.
Allison Relyea
September 15, 2020
COVID-19 has caused unprecedented times and SPARK is here to help! Create a FREE account at SPARKecademy.org to access 3 weeks of materials (15 per program for Early Childhood, K-2, 3-6, Middle School, High School) to keep students active and healthy at home.
SPARK
September 15, 2020
Schools should examine their websites and assess messaging about physical activity and PE policies, as these platforms serve as public 'windows' into what a school deems to be important.
Dr. Thom McKenzie
August 18, 2020
SPARK proudly partnered with <a href="https://www.spartan.com/pages/kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SPARTAN Kids</a> and <a href="https://www.supportrealteachers.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">supportREALteachers.org</a> to create free activity sessions to support student activity at home! The #BEUNBREAKABLE Challenge features 20 elementary and 20 secondary sessions led by a variety of instructors — <a href="https://www.shapeamerica.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SHAPE America</a> Teachers of the Year, SPARK Elite Trainers, and Spartan Reps.
SPARK
August 18, 2020
SPARKecademy.org offers free professional development for PE teachers, early childhood educators, and after school providers — with 50+ free webinars and easy hour tracking built right in.
SPARK PE Team
August 10, 2020
The I Can Do IT! (ICDI) program provides access, equity, and opportunities for K-12 students with disabilities to be physically active 60+ minutes a day through mentoring, goal-setting, and recognition across multiple school settings.
Jayne Greenberg
June 16, 2020
PE teachers who developed distance learning skills during pandemic closures can leverage those innovations — pre-planned out-of-class lessons, alternative activities for students unable to participate, and home-school connection strategies — to enhance student learning long after schools reopen.
Jeff Mushkin
April 14, 2020
The goal of advocacy is to actively support a cause by educating others. In the PE world, that means standing up for our programs by sharing the importance of quality Physical Education and Health programs in schools.
Jeff Mushkin
March 9, 2020
Despite battling Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, PE teacher Kevin Shephard completed a Spartan race by relying on physical literacy — proving that the movement skills developed through physical education extend far beyond athletics and into everyday life.
Kevin Shephard
February 18, 2020
Great physical educators never stop growing — and the secret is in what they gather. Paul Rosengard outlines five essential "Human Resources" arrows every PE teacher should have in their quiver to move from relevant to truly exemplary.
Paul Rosengard
January 13, 2020
Wishing you and your family a SPARKtacular holiday and a happy new year. See you in 2024!
Julie Frank
December 17, 2019
Connected relationships enhance quality of life across all cultures. During the holiday season, encourage your family to put down the screens — children ages 8-18 spend up to eight hours per day on devices — and get outside together. Be purposeful and take the time to be close, calm, and connected.
Dr. Lynne Kenney
December 16, 2019
Julie Frank shares her personal journey living with Type 1 diabetes since 1986 and how inclusive physical education and supportive educators helped her thrive — and why physical activity is essential for both the prevention and management of diabetes.
Julie Frank
November 19, 2019
PE teacher Betsey Caldwell shares her passion for getting kids moving on bikes, scooters, and more — and how Walk to School Day and Bike to School Day can transform your school community. Discover practical strategies from her experiences in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Seattle.
Betsey Caldwell
October 9, 2019
One PE teacher shares how he launched 'Bring Your Family to PE Week' twice a year, drawing over 120 participating adults per event and showing parents firsthand how modern physical education has transformed. Discover the activities, logistics, and lessons learned from this powerful community-building initiative.
Derek Murphy
October 9, 2019
Dr. Thom McKenzie shares his personal journey to SPARK, from growing up in rural Canada where his mother prioritized daily physical activity breaks, to meeting Dr. Jim Sallis at San Diego State University and launching decades of NIH-funded research that proved SPARK works.
Dr. Thom McKenzie
September 12, 2019
Paul Rosengard, SPARK's longtime Executive Director, looks back on 30 years of People, Places, and Things that defined his journey with SPARK — from meeting founders Jim Sallis and Thom McKenzie to watching the organization grow into the most widely disseminated PE program in the world.
Paul Rosengard
August 20, 2019
University educators can receive one free year of professor-level access to SPARKuniversity, a robust digital library of research-based physical education content and tools for majors and generalists. Elementary and secondary options are both available.
SPARK
August 9, 2019
Discover six funding opportunities to help secure financial support for your physical education program, from national foundations to federal grants.
SPARK
July 16, 2019
Dr. Jim Sallis, the Principal Investigator on the original SPARK grants, reflects on SPARK's 30-year journey from its 1987 conception at UC San Diego through its growth into a program reaching nearly 2 million youth daily, celebrating the organization's rare achievement of sustained, evidence-based effectiveness.
Dr. Jim Sallis
July 16, 2019
