Averett University to Offer Free PE Classes to Children through Service-Learning Course

Posted on September 13th, 2017 by Cassie Jones

Home-schooled children will have a new opportunity for physical education (PE) this fall. Two service-learning PE courses at Averett University will provide more than a month’s worth of free PE classes to children.

Up to 60 students from two age groups – 30 from grades K-5 and 30 from grades 6-12 – can apply for the free PE course taught at Averett’s North Campus. Children will participate in creative movement activities and games taught by Averett undergraduate Physical Education Teacher Education student-teachers. Supervised by Dr. Michelle Liu, associate professor of physical education, wellness and sport science, the Averett students will lead the children in various age-appropriate activities that support physical movement, develop fundamental skills and stimulate interest in an active lifestyle.

“My student-teachers will get more hands-on experience and enjoy connecting with the kids,” said Liu. “I get to watch them improve over the course of the semester. It’s a great opportunity for them to work with real kids.”

PE classes will run from October 16 through November 29, with grade levels K-5 meeting every Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:25 p.m., and grade levels 6-12 meeting Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:50-2:45 p.m. All classes will be held in the gym of the James E. Grant Center, 707 Mt. Cross Rd.

Students will be introduced to different physical activities that involve health/fitness and nutrition, fundamental movement and sport skills, and personal and social responsibilities. They will be working with small groups of people to meet the following learning objectives:

Developing fitness level and fundamental movement skills through designed physical activities.
Building proper social interaction skills (e.g., teamwork, sportsmanship, respect, cooperation, effort, caring, etc.) through a variety of physical activities and games.
Demonstrating knowledge of following safety rules, individual abilities and game strategies while participating in designed physical activities.

Service-learning courses are a form of experiential learning that brings service in the classroom to meet the needs of the community. Like with this class, service-learning courses at Averett are designed to be mutually beneficial to both the college students in the course, as well as the community members with whom they are working. This is the third year Liu has offered this option.