The questions:

What are the effects of levels of physical activity and enhanced movement education on physical capacities of endurance and strength in primary school-aged children? Is there any relationship between these characteristics and engagement in physical activity ? Does the specialized movement education program have any effect on these characteristics?

 This project is not aimed specifically at increasing physical fitness, but the relationship of physical fitness characteristics and health of children is of interest. In the early stages of the project, the physical performance characteristics related to endurance and strength will largely be a function of inherited characteristics. These characteristics may well have a large influence on health of the children, especially as they move into adulthood. This project is designed to follow, where possible and acceptable, the health of the child right into old age.)

We have chosen three basic characteristics of physical capacity. They are both field tests and easy to carry out in physical education classes at the school. As with all aspects of achievement, the enjoyment of making personal progression will be emphasized rather than any inter-personal comparison.

The test for endurance is the "beep test" where small groups of children run between two markers and keep up with a recorded "beep" sound. The time taken to the point where they don't make the marker in time is recorded. A test for power will be a vertical jump test and we will include a test for abdominal/trunk "core strength", given its relationship with postural control.