Teaching and imparting values through physical education

Abstract

Grounded in the belief that Physical Education (PE) provides a unique platform for engaging activities, this study seeks to strengthen the transfer of values in education, following the principles of Value Education (VE) proposed by Lickona (1991). Teachers can incorporate values into the curriculum by modelling them, fostering an environment that supports them, explicitly teaching and discussing them, giving students opportunities to reflect on and discuss values-related issues, and, finally, making connections between VE and real-world experiences to increase its relevance and impact. In this research project, a focused/discrete approach, through a toolkit will be utilised to systematically integrate value-based activities into PE lessons. The Values Education through Physical Education (VET-PE) toolkit designed for PE teachers teaching upper primary level classes (Year 4 to Year 6) encompasses a Resource Pack made up of a quick guide, activity sheets and accompanying flashcards, and a separate teacher’s guide which the educators can use. The definitions of the chosen values are presented both in Maltese and English. Each activity is carefully designed, specifying time, required equipment, suitable locations, and primary objectives. The toolkit not only serves to teach values but also underscores their real-life significance, with the goal of supporting PE teachers in incorporating these values into their curriculum. The selected values reflected in the toolkit, identified as integral for positive character development are Respect, Integrity, Responsibility, Equity, and Compassion.