Resources for Educators, Families, & Administrators to Ensure a Safe & Physically Active 2020-2021 School Year

This page will be updated as new information becomes available. [Last update: September 11, 2020]

Click here to browse resources for remote physical activity and physical education for educators, families, and administrators

Click here to browse resources for planning Safe Routes to School for Fall 2020


Remote Physical Activity and Physical Education Resources for Educators, Families, and Administrators

As the 2020-2021 school year opens with many challenges, we must plan to provide instruction and guidance that prioritize health and well-being. Ensuring that students have the opportunities they need to obtain the physical activity necessary to support healthy growth and development will be a key challenge. These physical activity and physical education (PE) resources are for educators, families, and administrators to help them to prepare for a safe and physically active school year for all students.

Educators

Online Physical Education Guidelines

Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America – Guidelines for K-12 Online Physical Education
Ideas and resources on appropriate practices and practical recommendations for online PE, including sample learning activities, assessment strategies, and lesson modules; online course tools and resources; and tips for assessing online PE course quality

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation – Take 15: Exploring the Remote and Distant World of Physical Education
Create a free account to access an online course with remote PE best practices

Sample Lesson Plans, Games, & Activities

SHAPE America – Guidelines for K-12 Online Physical Education
Children need healthy snacks between meals to give them energy and nutrients 

Online Physical Education Network (OPEN): 2020-21 Mapping Project
Guidance for planning in-person, remote, and hybrid models of learning

Online Physical Education Network (OPEN) – Tools for Creating an Active Home
Tools to help teachers and parents collaborate to progress students toward PE and social and emotional learning goals

Child learning on a tablet at home

SPARK – SPARK Home
Create a free online account to access three weeks of resources to keep children (PK-Grade 12) active. SPARK also shares tips on how to use the distance learning experience to enhance student learning once classes are in-person

Playworks – Play At Home Playbook
Compilation of games requiring minimal equipment and few participants. They also share accompanying online resources

Hip Hop Public Health (HHPH) – Resource Center
Free research-based resources organized by grade level and content. Tap into the Masters of Culture network of educators, entertainers, and health professionals for support

Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Global Foundation – CATCH Health at Home
Free health and education materials for teachers, including PreK-8 lesson plans, assignments, and activity breaks

Examples from School Districts

Fort Worth Independent Schools: Scope and Sequence

Help teachers prepare 30 min lesson plans. 

Boston Public Schools: At-Home PE
Includes physical activity trackers, weekly assignments, and ideas for a virtual field day

The School District of Philadelphia: Remote PE Learning Packet
Virtual PE, health, nutrition, and sports leadership instruction for K-12.

San Diego Unified School District: Remote PE Learning Packet
Virtual PE instruction packets for PreK – Grade 12

Families

Active At-Home

Online Physical Education Network (OPEN) – Tools for Creating an Active Home
Games and resources for families to create an active home. Tools to help teachers and parents collaborate to progress students toward PE and social and emotional learning goals

Presidential Youth Fitness Program – PYFP @ Home
Exercises, goals, and video tutorials for families

SPARK – SPARK Home
Create a free online account to access three weeks of resources to keep children (PreK- 12) active

Playworks – Play At Home Playbook
Compilation of games requiring minimal equipment and few participants. They also share accompanying online resources

BOKS – At Home Resources
Sign up to access free activity packets requiring minimal equipment, including a monthly fitness calendar, yoga, mindfulness activities, and more

Child jumping in a pile of leaves outside at home

Hip Hop Public Health – Kids Site
Fun music and health information for children. Families should also check out H.Y.P.E. At Home with free, fun, standards-based dance breaks

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation – Fitness Breaks
Ideas for quick fitness breaks to allow children to stay active throughout the day

Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Global Foundation – Google Classroom
Free access to PE, health, and nutrition education materials requiring minimal space and supervision

How have school districts engaged families?

Fort Worth Independent School District: PE 4 Everyone

Website to help students, families, and the community keep their minds and body healthy

Boston Public Schools: BPS Moves Together
TV segment to help families stay active

The Dallas Independent School District: Let’s Set Sail for Fun and Fitness
Summer enrichment program with fun activities including juggling, Zumba, and line dancing

Administrators

Resources and compilations to provide school administrators guidance on operations.

Federal

CDC – School and Childcare Programs
Guidance to help administrators plan, prepare, and respond to the pandemic. Check out their Readiness and Planning Tool

State-Specific

Johns Hopkins University – eSchool+ Initiative
Analysis of state school reopening plans coded within several categories

General Guidance

American Academy of Pediatrics – COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry
Guidance to support education, public health, local leadership, and pediatricians to create policies for reopening schools that prioritize the health of children, adolescents, staff, and communities 

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Healthy Buildings Program – Schools for Health: Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening Schools
Report for implementing risk reduction strategies and school reopening measures

Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools – Planning for the Next Normal at School: Keeping Students, Staff, and Families Safe and Healthy
Playbook with information on mental health and well-being, COVID-19 prevention, physical activity, and PE, social drivers of health, and teacher and staff well-being

The National Academies Press – Reopening K-12 Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prioritizing Health, Equity, and Communities
Recommendations from the Committee on Guidance for K-12 Education on Responding to COVID-19 on reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Create a free account to access

Physical Activity & Physical Education

Online Physical Education Network (OPEN): 2020-21 Mapping Project
Guidance to help administrators plan for in-person, remote, and hybrid models of learning

Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America – Guidelines for K-12 Online Physical Education
Ideas and resources on appropriate practices and practical recommendations for online PE, including sample learning activities, assessment strategies, lesson module; online course tools and resources; and tips to assess the quality of online PE courses.

American Academy of Pediatrics – COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry
Guidance to support education, public health, local leadership, and pediatricians to create policies for reopening schools that prioritize the health of children, adolescents, staff, and communities

Active Schools: Physical Education and Physical Activity are an Integral Part of the Education Process During COVID-19
Position statement on the importance of including physical activity and PE in the COVID-19 response

Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools – Planning for the Next Normal at School: Keeping Students, Staff, and Families Safe and Healthy
Playbook with information on mental health and well-being, COVID-19 prevention, physical activity and PE, social drivers of health, and teacher and staff well-being

Safe Routes to School Partnership – Back to School 2020: Recommendations for Safe Routes to School Programing
Advice, tools, and considerations for Safe Routes to School programming for remote, hybrid, and in-person learning scenarios

Download this information as a PDF file

Safe Routes to School: Planning for Fall 2020

Now more than ever, we must consider strategies that create safer options for getting children to and from school while also encouraging students to participate in sufficient physical activity for their health. To address these challenges, the Safe Routes to School Partnership convened a Back to School 2020 Working Group to develop guidelines for fall 2020-2021. Below is guidance from the Partnership and other examples for planning, funding, and holding virtual events. Also included are resources for administrators to ensure a safe and physically active school reopening for the upcoming school year.

Safe Routes to School Partnership Guidance

Children walking six feet apart to board the school busSafe Routes to School Partnership – Back to School 2020: Recommendations for Safe Routes to School Programming
The guidelines include advice, tools, and considerations for programming in remote, hybrid, and in-person learning scenarios

Safe Routes to School Partnership – April 2020 Newsletter
The newsletter includes advice on advocating for active transportation, continuing to engage families, financial resources for nonprofits, and other resources

Examples from School Districts

Planning

La Cross County, Wisconsin – Safe Routes to School Plan 2020
Wisconsin asked for input from the public on their Safe Routes to School draft plan. Their plan acknowledges COVID-19 and mentions how the pandemic has highlighted the value of recreation and exercise

Michigan – The Safe Routes to School Planning Process at a Distance
Michigan released guidelines to help schools virtually plan for Safe Routes to School programs at a distance including recommendations for socially distanced walking audits, virtual kick-off and action meetings, and advice on conducting parent and student surveys

Identifying Funding Sources for Programming

Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Barr Foundation – Shared Streets and Spaces
A technical assistance and funding program providing grants between $5,000 and $30,000 to help cities and towns create safe outdoor spaces and help limit the spread of COVID-19. These funds can be used for Safe Routes to School programs

Salem-Keizer, Oregon – Transportation Improvement Program 2021-2026
$35 million in funding to support bicycle and pedestrian projects and $570,000 for three years of Safe Routes to School programming. Read the full report here

Minnesota – Safe Routes to School Funding Bill
Proposed bill authorizes the sale of $10 million in bonds to fund grants for the Safe Routes to School program

Virtual Safe Routes to School Events

Michigan – Walk and Wheel Wednesdays
Weekly event encouraging families to spend 20 min outside

Minnesota – Bike Anywhere Day
Event includes fun online resources such as bike bingo, crossword puzzle, word search, mileage tracker, and poster contest

Montgomery County, Maryland – Virtual Safety Week
Includes games and activities for students to learn about pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety

Georgia – Virtual Walk 2020
Allows children to be physically active and take a creative approach to learning about pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety

Administrators

Resources and compilations to provide school administrators guidance on operations.

Federal

CDC – School and Childcare Programs
Guidance to help administrators plan, prepare, and respond to the pandemic. Check out their Readiness and Planning Tool

State-Specific

Johns Hopkins University – eSchool+ Initiative
Analysis of state school reopening plans coded within several categories

General Guidance

American Academy of Pediatrics – COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry
Guidance to support education, public health, local leadership, and pediatricians to create policies for reopening schools that prioritize the health of children, adolescents, staff, and communities

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Healthy Buildings Program – Schools for Health: Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening Schools
Report for implementing risk reduction strategies and school reopening measures

Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools – Planning for the Next Normal at School: Keeping Students, Staff, and Families Safe and Healthy
Playbook with information on mental health and well-being, COVID-19 prevention, physical activity, and PE, social drivers of health, and teacher and staff well-being

The National Academies Press – Reopening K-12 Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Prioritizing Health, Equity, and Communities
Recommendations from the Committee on Guidance for K-12 Education on Responding to COVID-19 on reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Create a free account to access.

Physical Activity and Physical Education

Online Physical Education Network (OPEN): 2020-21 Mapping Project
Guidance to help administrators plan for in-person, remote, and hybrid models of learning

Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America – Guidelines for K-12 Online Physical Education
Ideas and resources on appropriate practices and practical recommendations for online PE, including sample learning activities, assessment strategies, lesson module; online course tools and resources; and tips to assess the quality of online PE courses

American Academy of Pediatrics – COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry
Guidance to support education, public health, local leadership, and pediatricians to create policies for reopening schools that prioritize the health of children, adolescents, staff, and communities

Active Schools: Physical Education and Physical Activity are an Integral Part of the Education Process During COVID-19
Position statement on the importance of including physical activity and PE in the COVID-19 response

Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools – Planning for the Next Normal at School: Keeping Students, Staff, and Families Safe and Healthy
Playbook with information on mental health and well-being, COVID-19 prevention, physical activity and PE, social drivers of health, and teacher and staff well-being

Safe Routes to School Partnership – Back to School 2020: Recommendations for Safe Routes to School Programing
Advice, tools, and considerations for Safe Routes to School programming for remote, hybrid, and in-person learning scenarios

Download this information as a PDF file