Welcome to our all-in-one resource for teaching health and physical education. Another wonderful aspect of homeschooling is the fact that Health and P.E. (among other supposedly “less important” subjects) can be thoroughly maximized and enjoyed by the homeschool student.
In fact, fulfilling a Health and PE requirement in high school has endless possibilities. However, the first stop in determining your Health and PE course of study is to check with your state. Each has their own state specific guidelines as to how many Health and PE credit hours are required for graduation.
In this guide, we discuss:
- Set health and P.E. goals for high school
- Explore high school health resources
- Browse our related health articles
Set Health and P.E. Goals for High School
Homeschoolers are pretty much free to choose which topics they wish to study for Health and PE. However, within this framework parents will need to decide if they will require the state minimum or raise the bar a little higher. Most homeschoolers incorporate a P.E. requirement for each year of high school instead of the average requirement of one credit.
Within the basic requirement guidelines the homeschooler is pretty much free to determine which Health and P.E. subject matter fits their lifestyle.
For many, this is a great opportunity to set habits of good nutrition, healthy living, and physical exercise that can last a lifetime. Take into consideration setting goals to participate in major milestones such as a local charity runs or competitions.
Consider these potential goals for homeschool health:
- Learn first aid
- Understand signs for when to visit the doctor
- Explore nutrition & why it matters
- Cover basic sex-ed
- Create a list of weekly P.E. options
- Your high schooler can choose among these options
- Categorize the list by both summer & winter activities
- Learn about diet trends & how they impact the body
Explore High School Health Resources
Since homeschoolers can use a wide variety of activities for their P.E. requirement, it’s great to encourage your high schooler to explore their interests. Participation in team sports is a popular way to fulfill a high school P.E. requirement while providing socialization and building other life skills.
Consider these common P.E. ideas:
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Swimming
- Baseball
- Football
- Lacrosse
- Yoga
- Zumba
- Pilates
- Soccer
- Racquetball
- Surfing
- Kayaking
- Tennis
- Bicycling
- Rock climbing
- Running
For teens who avoid the outdoors but love technology, try mixing the two. Using something like Wii Fit to fulfill P.E. requirements could get a techie teen more motivated.
Many homeschooling families use high school health to tackle a variety of life skills. These might include nutrition, daily living, character building, drugs and alcohol, relationships, anxiety, stress, and even human sexuality. In fact, it’s a great opportunity for parents to give their high schooler a foundation in these areas without peer pressure.
