Assessment Tools

Measure Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity

1. SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time) is an objective tool for assessing the quality of physical education instruction. It is a comprehensive system that measures three things during class time: 1. Student activity levels (including light, moderate, and vigorous); 2. Lesson context, and 3. Teacher behavior. SOFIT is a research-validated instrument that involves the direct observation of lessons by trained data collectors. SOFIT has been used to assess physical education in over 10,000 schools throughout the world.

2. SOPLAY (System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth provides observational data on the number of participants and their physical activity levels (light, moderate, and vigorous) during play and leisure opportunities. The system is based on group time sampling techniques. SOPLAY was designed to counter the problems of assessing physical activity in “open” environments, such as recreational and leisure settings and can be used to capture and gauge unstructured physical activity time.

Notes:

SOFIT and SOPLAY are not included in the cost of a SPARK Standard or Premium program. For more information about SOFIT and SOPLAY and a cost analysis for your project, contact SPARK at 1-833-73-SPARK

SPARK conducts on-site SOFIT and/or SOPLAY training for projects collaborating with a university and/or requiring high levels of scientific scrutiny.

Each SPARK Physical Education and After School curriculum set includes student assessments that may be used to guide learning, authentically assess student progress, and provide criteria for grading. SPARK assessments are designed to be used along with regular observation of student participation and effort.

Each SPARK manual comes with a free 3-year membership to SPARKfamily.org. Membership to SPARKfamily.org provides access to interactive assessment tools, including dynamic rubrics optimized for iPads.

SPARK will align their quality assessment tools with the equipment that you need (e.g., pedometers, heart rate monitors, scales) with professional consultation and ongoing support.

1. SPARK K-2 Physical Education Likert scale and open ended performance rubrics that are linked to National and State Physical Education Standards are included in every instructional unit. Click on the link below to view a sample K-2 motor skills assessment tool

Catching & Throwing Performance Rubric Assessment

---

2. SPARK 3-6 Physical Education: Performance rubrics and student self-check assessment samples are provided in each unit to document and guide learning. SPARK 3-6 PE Unit Written Tests also give you an opportunity to see what your students need to learn or have learned during the unit. SPARK 3-6 PE Unit Written Tests are short and can be given quickly at the beginning, middle or end of a unit, during class or given to students to complete at home and return.

The SPARK 3-6 PE Unit Written Tests have 5 components:
1. Skill-It! allows students to demonstrate knowledge of motor skills, as well as movement concepts and principles.
2. In the Game measures students’ knowledge of concepts and strategies used in game situations.
3. Fitness Facts provides a venue for students to reflect on the link between fitness and skills learned in the unit.
4. Character Builders has students respond to given social situations that commonly occur in physical activity settings.
5. Make It Happen allows students to reflect on how they will use their new skills to maintain lifelong fitness.

The SPARK 3-6 PE manual also includes a special Personal Best Day section to help students and teachers track individual fitness progress over time and prepare them for national tests (i.e., SPARK recommended Fitnessgram and/or Presidential Physical Fitness Tests). SPARK Personal Best Day is designed to teach students how to monitor their aerobic capacity, abdominal and upper body strength and endurance, and set goals for individual improvement. SPARK 3-6 also features Pedometer Activities specifically designed to incorporate the use of pedometers. A Pedometer Tracking Log is available as an assessment tool on SPARKfamily.org.

Click on the links below to view sample 3-6 assessment tools.

Jump Rope Skills Performance Rubric Assessment
Personal Best Day Progress and Goals Card
Basketball Self-Check
Jump Rope Assessment

---

3. SPARK Middle School Physical Education Three levels of assessment choices are offered in SPARK Middle School. Each option is designed to offer increasing levels of standards-based feedback as a measure and guide for improvement and evaluation.

Level 1: SPARK Unit Written Tests

Level 2: Skill-Based Assessments such a performance rubrics, peer coaching, self-checklists

Level 3: Student Portfolios to include any (or all) of the following:

SPARK Unit Written Tests

Skill-Based Assessments

The SPARK Middle School program is supported by SPARKfit content available on SPARKfamily.org. The main goal of the SPARKfit program is to teach students how to be productively active in a variety of fitness and activity settings while managing their own fitness and wellness goals.

Students participating in the SPARKfit program will:

Click on the links below to view sample Middle School assessment tools.

Flying Disc Performance Rubric
Flying Disc Unit Test
Soccer Student Self-Assessments
Pedometer Log

---

4. SPARK High School Physical Education: SPARK recommends that assessment be utilized for much more than grading. Various forms of assessment can/should guide instruction, document learning, monitor performance and improvement, denote achievement, enhance motivation, group students, promote physical education, garner resources for program development, and more.

SPARK High School Physical Education (HS PE) offers physical educators a variety of assessment options and presents them in a “Choose your level” approach. Teachers select Level 1, 2, or 3 based on their program goals, the expectations of administrators and parents, personal experiences with assessment, etc. Each Level is designed to offer cascading standards-based assessment tools, styles and strategies, and any and all may be integrated with assessments already in use.

SPARK Leveled Assessments:

Level 1

• Personal Best Assessments

Level 2

• Personal Best Assessments

• (Add) SPARK Unit Written Tests

Level 3

• Personal Best Assessments

• SPARK Unit Written Tests

• (Add) Character Matters Assessments

• Fun-day-mentals Jigsaw Notes

• Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda Character Ed Journaling Pages

• Create Your Own Game Task Cards

• LTG Championship Points Tracking System

• Heart Rate Monitor Logs

• Pedometer Logs

The SPARK High School Program Program is presented in two major content segments – iFitness (i=Integrated) and Games-Based Units (skill development within the Sport Education model).

i-Fitness is comprised of 4 integrated fitness focuses, each listed with their particular assessments below:

1. Group Fitness: Unit Test (and answer key); Basic Training Peer Checklist; Create Your Own Routine Assessment Tools for Yoga, Cardio Kick, Freestyle Aerobics, and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
2. Strength Training: Create Your Own ST Program; E-1 RM Log
3. Wellness Walking: Personal Best; Create Your Own WW Circuit, Unit Test (and key)
4. Fitness Personal Best:
5. Fitnessgram Assessments: Curl-Up; Push-Up; Sit and Reach; Pacer
6. President’s Challenge:As above, but distance run used for Aerobic Capacity.

A unique aspect of SPARK High School’s iFitness section is the SPARK Fitness Instructor (SFI) Program. Select students may participate in a certification program in Group Fitness, Strength Training, or Wellness Walking. The assessment tools provided to facilitate this process include:

Games Unit Assessments (sourced from 11 units) include:

The SPARK HS PE program is supported by SPARKfit content available on SPARKfamily.org. The main goal of the SPARKfit program is to teach students how to be productively active in a variety of environments while managing their own wellness goals.

Students participating in the SPARKfit program will:

SPARKfit assessment tools include:

Character Matters: In addition to the physical, cognitive and behavior assessments cited, SPARK has a Character Matters program woven throughout the HS PE program that fosters the application and assessment of social skills. Assessment tools for this program are presented in Self-Check style and provided for all 10 social skills introduced. They provide space for students to self-report behaviors, set goals positive engagement, and reflect on social interactions.

---

5. SPARK After School: The SPARK After School program includes several tools for assessing participant activity time, fitness levels, and character development. In addition, tools are available for evaluating the quality of activity session leaders. The following assessments are included:

---