As educators, we constantly seek ways to make learning engaging and impactful. One tool I plan on using to enhance the learning experience in my physical education classes is “back pocket questions.” These are concise, thought-provoking prompts designed to spark reflection and discussion, readily available to use during class. Much like a trusted resource in my back pocket, these questions can drive students to connect more deeply with the material and each other, ultimately making lessons more meaningful.
Following my initial #meaningfulPE blog post, I created a set of back-pocket questions based on the features contributing to meaningful physical education experiences: Social Interaction, Challenge, Fun, Motor Competence, Personally Relevant Learning, and Delight.
You can download a copy of the questions here.
Why did I take the time to craft these pocket-sized queries? The answer is simple: to foster meaningful learning experiences. By introducing well-crafted questions that touch on those #meaningfulPE features identified by Tim Fletcher, Déirdre Ní Chróinín, Doug Gleddie, and Stephanie Benni, I can lead students to reflect on their own experiences and insights. These questions serve as a vehicle for encouraging self-discovery, deepening understanding, promoting engagement in physical education, and hopefully instilling a life-long relationship with movement.
How will I utilize these questions effectively in the classroom? They can be seamlessly integrated into lessons to ignite discussions, encourage peer interaction, and promote self-awareness. I could introduce a particular #meaningfulPE feature and make that the focus of the day’s lesson, posing a prompt or two in advance for students to consider while engaging in the day’s content.
Printed back-to-back on cardstock, and connected with a keyring loop, I can use back-pocket questions as exit tickets or post them on our LMS and have students answer them as homework reflections.
Regular use in class of these questions and others that I (or students) create in the future should reinforce a shared language and remind us to be mindful of those features that contribute to a meaningful experience.
Whether used as conversation starters, reflective activities, or prompts for class-wide conversations, “back pocket questions” can empower teachers to instill a sense of purpose, connection, and authenticity in every PE class. Their use encourages students to reflect on their own experiences and insights. They also help teachers create a dynamic, meaningful, and joyful learning environment that extends far beyond the confines of the classroom.
Whether you use my prompts or craft your own, keep the spirit of inquiry alive in your teaching space. Good luck in your journey towards fostering a meaningful physical education experience with your students.
If this blog post has inspired you to read more on making PE more meaningful, then you’ll like the following:
Meaningful Physical Education by Tim Fletcher, Déirdre Ní Chróinín, Doug Gleddie, and Stephanie Benni
Teaching Physical Education with Purpose: Embracing the Meaningful PE Approach by Andy Milne
How to Facilitate Deeper Connections to Physical Activity by Jordan Manley
The Power of Meaningful and Joyful Experiences by Leticia Cariño
Generic Core PE Sample Plenary Questions (140+ similar questions) by Simon Scarborough
Check out this latest paper that shares how other PE teachers are making sense of and delivering a more meaningful approach to their students:
#slowchathealth 
Pingback: Meaningful PE: Autobiographical Assignment – #slowchathealth
Pingback: Discovering Joy in Movement: Insights from Parents to Teenagers – #slowchathealth
Pingback: Walking with Purpose: Using Empathy Walks – #slowchathealth
Pingback: Meaningful PE Starts Here: Listening to What Students Find Relevant – #slowchathealth