SmartStudy’s plain-language guide · 2019

What Ontario grade 4 students learn in health and physical education

36 specific expectations across 4 strands, aligned to Ontario’s curriculum — and tools to teach every one.

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At a glance this year

Your child will learn to…

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These are SmartStudy’s plain-language explanations. Use the official source for Ontario’s exact wording.

A. Social-Emotional Learning Skills 6 expectations
A1

Your child will learn to use important social and emotional skills, like understanding their feelings and working with others, as they participate in physical activities and learn about healthy living.

View 6 learning goals
  • A1.1
    Identification and Management of Emotions

    Your child will learn to recognize and handle their feelings, like excitement or frustration, especially during physical activities and games. This will help them understand their own emotions better and respond thoughtfully to how others are feeling.

  • A1.2
    Stress Management and Coping

    Your child will learn how to identify things that cause them stress and how to deal with challenges in a healthy way, including asking for help when needed. This will help them become more resilient, which means they'll be better at bouncing back from tough situations.

  • A1.3
    Positive Motivation and Perseverance

    Your child will learn to develop a positive attitude and keep trying even when things are difficult in physical education and health activities. This will help them feel hopeful and optimistic.

  • A1.4
    Healthy Relationships

    Your child will learn how to build strong relationships, understand other people's feelings, and communicate well with others during gym and health classes. This will help them feel like they belong, respect differences, and have healthy relationships.

  • A1.5
    Self-Awareness and Sense of Identity

    Your child will learn to understand themselves better and feel more confident during physical education activities. This includes figuring out what activities they enjoy and why, recognizing their strengths and challenges, and setting personal health goals that fit their life.

  • A1.6
    Critical and Creative Thinking

    Your child will learn to think carefully and come up with new ideas in physical education. This helps them connect ideas, understand problems, and make good choices, like knowing how to avoid injuries during activities or finding healthy ways to deal with uncomfortable situations.

B. Active Living 9 expectations
B1

Your child will regularly take part in many different physical activities and understand how to include them in their daily life.

View 3 learning goals
  • B1.1
    Active Participation

    Your child will be able to join in many different physical activities, like games and dance, and show good sportsmanship by being encouraging and respectful to others.

  • B1.2
    Active Participation

    Your child will understand what makes physical activities enjoyable for them, such as knowing the rules and playing fairly, being able to be creative, and feeling comfortable while participating in different games and activities.

  • B1.3
    Active Participation

    Your child will learn what makes people want to be physically active, whether it's at school, home, or in their neighborhood. This includes things like how fun an activity is, if it's easy to get to, or if friends and family encourage it.

B2

Your child will understand why it's important to be physically active and learn different ways to stay fit and healthy.

View 4 learning goals
  • B2.1
    Physical Fitness

    Your child will participate in at least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day, like running or skipping, and will learn to warm up their body before and cool it down after exercising.

  • B2.2
    Physical Fitness

    Your child will learn how different physical activities, like dancing or yoga, affect their body and help them stay physically fit and mentally healthy. They will understand how these activities build things like endurance (being able to do something for a long time), strength, and flexibility.

  • B2.3
    Physical Fitness

    Your child will learn to check how hard their body is working during exercise, for example by taking their pulse or noticing how they feel. They will also understand that how hard they have to work depends on things like their fitness level, how they are feeling, and even the weather.

  • B2.4
    Physical Fitness

    Your child will be able to set and work towards their own fitness goals, choosing activities they enjoy and checking in with how they feel during exercise.

B3

Your child will understand how to keep themselves and others safe while playing sports and being active.

View 2 learning goals
  • B3.1
    Safety

    Your child will learn to act safely and follow rules during physical activity to prevent injuries, including concussions, for themselves and others. This includes working well with others, controlling their body and equipment, and using playground items properly.

  • B3.2
    Safety

    Your child will learn about common ways to prevent injuries, including concussions, when playing different sports and being active. They will understand how to stay safe by using the right equipment and being aware of their surroundings.

C. Movement Competence: Skills, Concepts, and Strategies 8 expectations
C1

Your child will be able to do different physical activities and understand how their body moves. They will learn to use basic movement skills and ideas to help them move better.

View 5 learning goals
  • C1.1
    Stability

    Your child will be able to hold different kinds of still poses, called static balances, using various body parts and at different heights, both alone and with others or with equipment. They will also learn to smoothly move from one balance to another.

  • C1.2
    Stability

    Your child will be able to jump down from a small height, like a curb, and land steadily without losing their balance.

  • C1.3
    Locomotion

    Your child will be able to combine different ways of moving their body, like hopping, skipping, or running (these are called locomotor movements). They will practice these movements alone or with others, using equipment or not, and change their speed, direction, and how high or low they move.

  • C1.4
    Manipulation

    Your child will be able to throw and catch different objects, using various body parts and equipment, while understanding how to move their body effectively for better balance, force, and control.

  • C1.5
    Manipulation

    Your child will be able to hold onto and move different objects, like balls or rings, using various body parts and tools, even while moving around other people and equipment. They'll practice skills like dribbling a ball with both hands and feet while keeping their head up, or carrying an object while avoiding others.

C2

Your child will learn and use different ways to move their body effectively in various physical activities, which will help them participate better and be more successful.

View 3 learning goals
  • C2.1
    Movement Strategies

    Your child will understand the basic parts of different physical activities, like how to move, the rules, and how to play fairly. They will use this understanding when they participate in various activities, such as games, recreational sports, cooperative challenges, fitness routines, and different types of dances.

  • C2.2
    Movement Strategies

    Your child will learn about different types of physical activities, like individual sports or games played with nets, and understand how to use effective strategies and tactics in each.

  • C2.3
    Movement Strategies

    Your child will be able to use different strategies to improve their performance in physical activities, like choosing a bigger target to hit or making short passes to teammates to keep control of a ball.

D. Healthy Living 13 expectations
D1

Your child will learn about the different things that help them grow up healthy and strong.

View 5 learning goals
  • D1.1
    Healthy Eating

    Your child will be able to name important nutrients like fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals found in food and drinks, and understand why these are important for their growth, health, learning, and physical activity.

  • D1.2
    Personal Safety and Injury Prevention

    Your child will learn about the possible dangers of using technology like the internet, texting, and gaming, such as spending too much time online or being exposed to harmful people. They will also learn ways to use these technologies safely.

  • D1.3
    Personal Safety and Injury Prevention

    Your child will learn about different kinds of bullying, like physical, verbal, or online bullying (cyberbullying), and how these actions can hurt people. They will also learn safe and helpful ways to react if they experience or see bullying.

  • D1.4
    Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours

    Your child will learn about the harmful ingredients in tobacco and vaping products, like nicotine or tar, and understand how these chemicals can affect their body and health.

  • D1.5
    Human Development and Sexual Health

    Your child will learn about the physical changes that happen during puberty, like body hair growth or voice changes, and how these changes can affect their feelings and social interactions.

D2

Your child will be able to use what they know about health and their social-emotional skills (like understanding feelings and getting along with others) to make good choices and act in ways that keep them healthy and happy.

View 5 learning goals
  • D2.1
    Healthy Eating

    Your child will keep track of their eating habits over time and use Canada's Food Guide to set a personal goal for healthier eating, like choosing water instead of sugary drinks.

  • D2.2
    Personal Safety and Injury Prevention

    Your child will learn to make safe choices by thinking through possible dangers, weighing options, and deciding the best way to act in different situations, like when playing sports or using the internet. They will also think about what they learned to make even better choices next time.

  • D2.3
    Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours

    Your child will be able to make good choices about smoking and vaping by understanding why people might start and how to say no, even to friends. They will also learn different ways to handle tough situations without needing to smoke or vape.

  • D2.4
    Human Development and Sexual Health

    Your child will learn about the personal care and hygiene practices that become more important when puberty starts, such as regular bathing, changing clothes, and using hygiene products. They will also understand why it's still important to wash hands, brush teeth, and care for any prosthetic devices or residual limbs.

  • D2.5
    Mental Health Literacy

    Your child will understand how daily choices, like getting enough sleep, being active, and connecting with others, can help them feel good mentally. They will also learn how to check in with their own feelings and find ways to contribute to their community.

D3

Your child will learn how their choices and actions affect their own health and the health of others. They will also understand how things happening in the world around them can impact everyone's health and well-being.

View 3 learning goals
  • D3.1
    Healthy Eating

    Your child will learn how to make healthier food choices in different places and situations, like at school, a friend's house, or when out shopping.

  • D3.2
    Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours

    Your child will learn about the short-term and long-term effects of smoking and vaping, both for the person doing it and for those around them.

  • D3.3
    Mental Health Literacy

    Your child will learn different ways to handle stress in situations they can control, like friendships, and how to adjust to tough situations they can't immediately change, such as moving to a new home.

Key terms from this curriculum

Health and Physical Education in other grades

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The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗