SHAPE Colorado 2024 State Convention

This presentation introduce how Japanese physical education teachers  enhance inclusivity in their physical education/physical activity lessons with young elementary school students (Pre, K, and 1-2 graders) using Game-Based Approaches (GBAs) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). We aim to deepen physical educators' understanding of these concepts to improve physical play instruction from an equitable perspective.  This presentation also introduces a special ball produced in Japan called "moffn" which is a soft ball made from recycled medical material and has been proved to be effective to teach various motor skills for all students with various skill levels. By experiencing hands-on activities with moffn, participants learn to create more inclusive and enjoyable physical play environments for all students contributing to the advancement of inclusive early physical education practices.

Session Objectives:

1. Understand how to enhance inclusivity in physical education classes for lower grades (preschool, kindergarten, and 1st-2nd graders) using Game-Based Approaches (GBAs) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

2. Learn about the characteristics of "moffn," a special ball made in Japan, and its effectiveness in teaching motor skills to students with various skill levels.

3. Acquire methods to create more inclusive and enjoyable physical education environments for all students through hands-on activities, contributing to the advancement of inclusive early physical education practices.