DPA-Daily Physical Activity
DPA stand for Daily Physical Activity- it was put into schools in September 2005 with the goal of increasing students physical activity levels as well creating well rounded healthy students with the belief that students with healthy lifestyles are better ready to learn.
"Physical Activity (DPA) for all students in grades 1 to 9 based on the belief that healthy students
are better able to learn and that school communities should provide supportive environments for
students to develop positive habits needed for a healthy, active lifestyle. Alberta Education’s
DPA Initiative supports the Healthy Alberta School Communities (HASC) strategy, a joint
initiative between Alberta Education and Alberta Health and Wellness." (Alberta Education, 2013)
DPA is a mandatory thirty minuets of physical activity for students outside of recess or phys ed class it can be completed in any available space including classrooms, gyms or outdoor spaces. The Albertan, British Colombian and Ontario governments have all included DPA in their curriculum you can look at them more closely at:
Ontario http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/teachers/dpa_principals.pdf
Alberta http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/resources/dpa.aspx
British Columbia http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=1AF7BBEAEBD2477CBD8A49676B361ABC
Why is it important?
According to Stats Canada 31.8% of Canadians between the ages of 5 and 17 are overweight or obese "compared with 15% in 1978/1979. This marks a 70% increase compared." (Stats Canada, 2011) It is believed that a more seditary lifestyle is to blame for 1 in 3 Canadian children being obese, watching tv, computers and video games combined with a lack of exercise has caused child obesity to increase. Stats Canada also states that obese children are more likely than non-obese children to face health problems in the short term, including hypertension, glucose intolerance and orthopaedic complications, as well as issues concerning social acceptance, body image and self-esteem."(Stats Canada, 2011)
DPA not only forces students to be active everyday but it can also foster an interest in physical activity outside the classroom
the Alberta Education website lists the goal of DPA as "increase students' physical
activity levels. DPA is based on the belief that healthy students are better able to learn and that school communities provide supportive environments for students to develop positive habits needed for a healthy, active lifestyle."
According to the Objective Measures of Physical Activity Levels of Alberta Children and youth as posted on the Alberta Education website:
Funding
In 2004-2005 the ARPCD with Schools Come Alive provided 257 professional development opportunities to school officials to educate them on ways to make DPA successful in their school. In 2006 every eligible school received a grant of 1020$(2006) and 1051$(2007) to fund their DPA program and development.
Feed back from a 2007 survey suggested that a tip booklet be created to help teachers better implement DPA into their schools. In 2008 a booklet called Take Action came out with tips on how to allocate funds, student and teacher checklists, how to make DPA equipment kits and other helpful resources.
DPA stand for Daily Physical Activity- it was put into schools in September 2005 with the goal of increasing students physical activity levels as well creating well rounded healthy students with the belief that students with healthy lifestyles are better ready to learn.
"Physical Activity (DPA) for all students in grades 1 to 9 based on the belief that healthy students
are better able to learn and that school communities should provide supportive environments for
students to develop positive habits needed for a healthy, active lifestyle. Alberta Education’s
DPA Initiative supports the Healthy Alberta School Communities (HASC) strategy, a joint
initiative between Alberta Education and Alberta Health and Wellness." (Alberta Education, 2013)
DPA is a mandatory thirty minuets of physical activity for students outside of recess or phys ed class it can be completed in any available space including classrooms, gyms or outdoor spaces. The Albertan, British Colombian and Ontario governments have all included DPA in their curriculum you can look at them more closely at:
Ontario http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/teachers/dpa_principals.pdf
Alberta http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/resources/dpa.aspx
British Columbia http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=1AF7BBEAEBD2477CBD8A49676B361ABC
Why is it important?
According to Stats Canada 31.8% of Canadians between the ages of 5 and 17 are overweight or obese "compared with 15% in 1978/1979. This marks a 70% increase compared." (Stats Canada, 2011) It is believed that a more seditary lifestyle is to blame for 1 in 3 Canadian children being obese, watching tv, computers and video games combined with a lack of exercise has caused child obesity to increase. Stats Canada also states that obese children are more likely than non-obese children to face health problems in the short term, including hypertension, glucose intolerance and orthopaedic complications, as well as issues concerning social acceptance, body image and self-esteem."(Stats Canada, 2011)
DPA not only forces students to be active everyday but it can also foster an interest in physical activity outside the classroom
the Alberta Education website lists the goal of DPA as "increase students' physical
activity levels. DPA is based on the belief that healthy students are better able to learn and that school communities provide supportive environments for students to develop positive habits needed for a healthy, active lifestyle."
According to the Objective Measures of Physical Activity Levels of Alberta Children and youth as posted on the Alberta Education website:
- 64% do not meet sex-specific BMI criteria
- 77% do not meet the
criteria of accumulating 15 000 steps daily - 86% do not meet the
criteria of accumulating 16 500 steps - daily (associated with meeting
Canadian guidelines for physical activity for children and youth).
Funding
In 2004-2005 the ARPCD with Schools Come Alive provided 257 professional development opportunities to school officials to educate them on ways to make DPA successful in their school. In 2006 every eligible school received a grant of 1020$(2006) and 1051$(2007) to fund their DPA program and development.
Feed back from a 2007 survey suggested that a tip booklet be created to help teachers better implement DPA into their schools. In 2008 a booklet called Take Action came out with tips on how to allocate funds, student and teacher checklists, how to make DPA equipment kits and other helpful resources.