The Importance of Physical Education A Study of Physical Fitness at the Middle School Level

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2009-07

Department

Program

Masters of Education

Citation of Original Publication

Rights

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Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether middle school students better improve their abdominal and upper body fitness level better through teacher-directed or student-directed warm-up activities. A quasi-experimental design was used for the study utilizing a pre-test/post-test assessment strategy. After having abdominal and upper body fitness assessed using a Fitnessgram assessment, students participated in the study over the course of 30 class periods. At the beginning of each class period, students either participated in teacher-directed or student-directed warm-up activities consisting of push-ups and sit-ups. At the end of the 30-class period, a Fitnessgram assessment was once again used to determine whether student-directed or teacher-directed warm-ups produced a greater increase in abdominal and upper body fitness. The results of the post-test indicate that there is no significant difference in improvement between the student-directed and teacher-directed group.