Traditionally, a teacher is defined as one who imparts knowledge—but any modern educator can tell you that a special kind of magic happens when, instead of giving students the answers, educators help them to seek information and draw conclusions for themselves. Inquiry-based learning is a process...
Asking questions and searching for answers is a fundamental part of being human. A young child curiosity knows no bounds. Whether it’s “why?” or “what’s that?” they constantly look for answers from the trusted adults in their lives. As children mature, however, an important shift takes place whereby...
Join our “Honour Roll of Educators” to help Ophea celebrate 100 years of healthy active living for Ontario students. Ophea is celebrating a century of healthier kids and communities by reflecting on where we’ve been, looking forward to where we’re going, and—above all—honouring the educators who...
In January, Ophea hosted two new webinars (one in English and one in French) with a specific focus on understanding Mental Health as a health topic in the 2019 Ontario Elementary Health and Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum. With the goal of enhancing teacher confidence, the webinar examined...
Looking for new ways to get children and youth physically and mentally active? Try our Yoga Alphabet Cards! These cards introduce children and youth to the art of yoga while strengthening their physical literacy and language skills. There are plenty of ways to enjoy using the cards. Here are three...
The Ministry of Education recently revised the Daily Physical Activity (DPA) policy (PPM 138) which supports 20 minutes of DPA during instructional time, contributing to the goal of getting children and youth active for 60 minutes every day. To support the implementation of DPA and enhance the...
When it comes to professional learning in education, it can seem that there’s rarely enough time or funding to go around. That’s why making the most of the resources available is a must, and that’s where we come in! Although it’s important to take a breather this summer and have a well-deserved...
This school year has brought many unforeseen challenges, and how we teach and learn has been flipped upside down. Educators on the remote learning platform have been required to shift their way of thinking when delivering the curriculum; learning new and innovative ways to create compelling...
In November, Ophea hosted a webinar to explore Strand A: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills within the 2019 Elementary Health and Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum and share examples of how these skills can be taught and assessed in Grades 1 through 8. We would like to thank our co-presenters...
Schools have changed drastically over the course of the pandemic, and it is clear that the education system is shifting. While educators in school buildings adapt their instruction to safe physical distancing measures shaped and constrained by the physical environment, remote educators are learning...
"Given the importance of physical activity to long-term health, the COVID-19 pandemic should not limit the amount of physical activity for children/youth" (Government of Canada, 2020, COVID-19 guidance for schools Kindergarten to Grade 12 ) Going back to school is a time of excitement, a time to...
In February, Ophea hosted a webinar with a specific focus on Supporting Human Development & Sexual Health, one of the health topics in Strand D: Healthy Living within the 2019 Ontario Elementary Health and Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum. With the intention of enhancing teacher confidence, the...
On January 26, 2021, Ophea hosted a webinar about making wise choices while grocery shopping. The hour-long overview offered answers about grocery shopping questions, such as ‘what are the best buys in each section of the store?’ and ‘how do I read nutrition labels?' The purpose of this webinar was...
Dear Friends of Ophea, On behalf of Ophea’s Board of Directors and our entire staff team, we wish to extend our sincere appreciation for your support, perhaps at no time more meaningful than in recent days following the discontinuation of our annual Health & Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum...
Choosing a banana isn’t as simple as it looks. As you’re peering through the display of bananas in the produce aisle, you may be thinking: How do I choose a banana so that it is ripe enough to eat? Are bananas locally grown or are they imported? How are they grown and does this impact the...
In April, Ophea recorded a webinar focusing on assessment and evaluation in the 2019 Elementary Health and Physical Elementary curriculum, taking a specific look into Strand A: Social-Emotional Learning skills, as this was an area of interest that was shared in feedback from our previous webinars...
Applying the COVID-19: Health, Safety and Operational Guidance for Schools (2021-2022) Version 3 (updated September 2, 2021) to Health and Physical Education, Intramural Activities and Interschool Athletic Activities Returning to the school setting will require careful planning, opportunities for...
On March 9, 2021, Ophea hosted a webinar about vaping and its connections to the elementary Health & Physical Education (H&PE) curriculum. The purpose of the session was to provide educators with facts about vaping, have their questions answered, and learn about the importance of adopting a harm...
On November 18, 2020, Ophea hosted a webinar exploring nutrition facts and the H&PE Curriculum, which featured educators and a dietitian. The purpose of the session was to give educators a chance to learn about nutrition, confirm or expose long-held nutrition beliefs, and leave feeling empowered to...
With the recent release of the 2019 Health and Physical Education (H&PE) elementary curriculum , Ophea is committed to supporting educators through providing professional learning opportunities throughout the 2019/2020 school year. In October, we hosted English and French webinars to support...
