An Examination of the Characteristics of Apparatus Gymnastics in the Course of Study for Physical Education in Elementary School

Abstract

The present study was to examine the chronological changes of the characteristics of apparatus gymnastics and the related content system in the course of studies for physical education in elementary school issued by the Japanese Ministry of Education since 1958. The emphasis of apparatus gymnastics has been shifted in the four revised course of studies, from ‘acquisition of movement skills’ to ‘learners’ subjective feeling, ’ such as pleasure and enjoyment with activities. The source of pleasure and enjoyment through apparatus gymnastics learning has been also shifted from ‘conquering difficult obstacles’ to ‘achieving several tricks, ’ According to these changes of the characteristics, the instructional objectives were changed from ‘fostering movement skills “to” enabling to perform several tricks, ’ Considering the characteristics given to apparatus gymnastics as ‘achieving several tricks, ’ the class would become more effective, and offer more varied experiences of pleasure and enjoyment for children