The most basic reason for implementing the Fitness for Life program at any level is that it is highly effective at delivering physical education curriculum content that is essential to students’ long-term health and wellness. Summarized in this section (and in the Research section of this web site) are key points you can use to advocate effectively for adoption of the Fitness for Life program in your school system at any level, K through 12. But to get a broader sense of how teaching health-related fitness concepts to students is an essential part of K-12 physical education, there’s no better starting point than an article that Fitness for Life co-authors Chuck Corbin and Guy Le Masurier wrote entitled Top 10 Reasons for Quality Physical Education. It’s a rock-solid manifesto that is flawless in its logic, extensively referenced, and easy to read for both educators and non-educators. Anyone seeking support for physical education in general, or Fitness for Life in particular, can use this article as a starting point to build a very compelling argument.
The information found in Fitness for Life, and the manner in which it’s presented, is authoritative. Chuck Corbin has played a pioneering role in fitness education and research, and the Fitness for Life coauthors and Editorial Board members represent a cross-section of expertise from across the U.S. and Canada.
Ease of use is another reason to adopt the Fitness for Life program. Not only are the student texts written and designed to appeal to today’s students, but also the lesson plans are comprehensive, easy to follow, and supported with multimedia resources that make the program easy to implement, from preparation through assessment.
This quality has been recognized by others, too. The Fitness for Life middle school text and high school text have both won Texty awards for textbook excellence from the Text and Academic Authors Association. The supporting Fitness for Life “Lifetime Fitness” and “Wellness” videos (now DVDs) also received an award for excellence from this group. More personal and direct praise from actual adopters of Fitness for Life can also be viewed on the Testimonials section of this site.
The Fitness for Life program content also is carefully coordinated across elementary, middle school, and high school levels. See Standards and Curriculum Alignment for details.
Rationale for each program level
