Observation of Children's Physical Activity Levels during Primary School Physical Education Lessons

Abstract

Thirty‐six PE lessons, involving twenty children aged between 7 and 11 years, were observed in one primary school using a method of continuous observation. The observations included 11 dance, 10 swimming and 15 games lessons. The children engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for 32% of the time. Of the three areas observed, dance lessons (41%) contained marginally more MVPA than games lessons (40%), but the MVPA associated with swimming lessons (9%) was much lower. The longest period of sustained physical activity was 12 minutes with only two children achieving a 10 minute period of MVPA. Given the recognised requirements for heart health in terms of physical activity the results of the study, if mirrored in other similar establishments, would suggest that physical education lessons, in terms of activity undertaken, have little to contribute to long term health.