Physical Education Department

Physical Education and health Course Offerings

Information on WHS Physical Education Sequence and Pathways

Click on the name of the course to go directly to its description.

F/S = Semester Course (+) = Honors Point (*) = Possible Course
Physical Education
PE for Private Instruction  
Dance

PE COURSE 1

Term: Semester |   Level: High School Credit (HS)

This course is designed to give students the opportunity to explore, learn and participate in a variety of healthy physical activities aligned with the California Content Standards for Physical Education. Students will be empowered to make choices, meet challenges and develop positive behaviors in fitness, wellness and movement activity for a lifetime. Emphasis is placed on students analyzing skills for effective movement. Units of instruction could include: fitness, weight training, individual/dual activities, team activities/sports, gymnastics/tumbling, and aquatics.

Prerequisite: None


PE COURSE 2

Term: Semester |   Level: High School Credit (HS)

This course is designed to give students the opportunity to explore, learn and participate in a variety of healthy physical activities aligned with the California Content Standards for Physical Education. Students will be empowered to make choices, meet challenges and develop positive behaviors in fitness, wellness and movement activity for a lifetime. Emphasis is placed on students analyzing skills for effective movement. Units of instruction could include: fitness, weight training, individual/dual activities, team activities/sports, gymnastics/tumbling, and aquatics.

Prerequisite: None


PE YOGA

Term: Semester |   Level: High School Credit

This class will combine the power of the mind, body, and spirit in yoga. Students will participate in strength building and core building exercises, as well as breathing techniques. Student will practice a variety of techniques from yoga, pilates, as well as teach students meditation and concentration. Student will see improved skeletal alignments as well as increased muscular strength and increased flexibility.

 

Skills and Assessment:  Students will be able to…

  • A series of physical postures.
  • Strong body alignment.
  • Proper breathing methods.
  • A strong core.

Prerequisite: Grades 10-12 only. 


HEALTH

Term: Semester  |   Level: High School Graduation Credit 

Health is a semester-long course required for graduation from high school.  This course emphasizes both individual and community wellness practices as well as current health issues with regard to the physical, mental, social, and emotional aspects of health in society.


PE FOR PRIVATE INSTRUCTION 

Term: Semester  |   Level: High School Graduation Credit 

Credit for private instruction will be available in the area of Physical Education. This credit must be approved in advance by an administrator. Options are limited and must meet rigorous district guidelines. Guidelines can be found at the Physical Education Private Instruction (IUSD Information linked HERE)

Private instruction in Physical Education is designed for nationally ranked students in an individual sport or are in a sport pre-approved for private instruction credit by the Irvine Unified School District. The student must be preparing for national/international competition and have at least 300 minutes per week of private instruction/practice with a qualified instructor. The maximum number of physical education credits available via private instruction is 20 on a pass/fail basis only.

Parents/guardians and students must submit an application within the first week of each semester to be considered for Private Instruction P.E. Applications may be obtained from the student’s counselor or an administrator. Students must reapply each semester. Applications must include a copy of the student’s ranking, the student’s practice schedule, and a schedule of the student’s contests/competitions/games.


DANCE TECH 1

Term: Yearlong  |   Level: High School Credit

This is a beginning level dance course that introduces and reviews the basic techniques and principles of Jazz, Modern/Contemporary/Lyrical, Ballet and Hip-Hop, along with basic studies in Improvisation, Choreography, Production, Anatomy, Dance History, and Fitness. Students will be given the opportunities to develop creative expression through improvisation, choreography, and performance. They will gain an appreciation for dance as an art form through the study of historical contributions and the influence of culture on dance. They will also be able to recognize the importance of a healthy lifestyle through lessons and activities in physical fitness.

This course fulfills the requirement for PE.  If all PE credits are fulfilled, the course fulfills VAPA requirements.

 

Skills and Assessment:  Students will be able to…

  • Execute proper warm up exercises for jazz, ballet, and modern dance
  • Demonstrate simple dance combinations, center work and across the floor using techniques in jazz, ballet, and contemporary dance
  • Develop use of basic dance vocabulary and terminology
  • Choreograph dances solving problems involving parameters within counts, ideas and patterns
  • Experience performing hip hop, modern/contemporary/lyrical, and/or jazz in a theatrical performance
  • Demonstrate Dance vocabulary knowledge through written and oral assessment Techniques: written and oral analysis of student dances by the teacher, written tests on dance terminology.

Prerequisite: None


DANCE TECH 2

Term: Yearlong  |   Level: High School Credit

This is an intermediate dance course that includes intermediate level terminology and execution of classic skills in Jazz, Modern/Contemporary/Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Ballet. Students will be given the opportunities to develop creative expression through improvisation, choreography, and performance. They will gain an appreciation for dance as an art form through the study of historical contributions and the influence of culture on dance. They will also be able to recognize the importance of a healthy lifestyle through lessons and activities in physical fitness.

This course fulfills the requirement for PE.  If all PE credits are fulfilled, the course fulfills VAPA requirements.

 

Skills and Assessment:  Students will be able to…

  • Execute proper warm up exercises for jazz, ballet, and modern dance.
  • Demonstrate complete dance combinations, center work and across the floor, using techniques in jazz, ballet, and modern/contemporary/lyrical dance.
  • Critique self, peer, and professional performances, with classroom discussions.
  • Choreograph dances solving problems involving set parameters within set parameters in rhythmic organization, unity and space
  • Demonstrate knowledge performing ballet, modern/contemporary/lyrical, jazz dance and world dance in a theatrical setting
  • Write a paper on the history of dance including world cultures, historical periods and its relationship to other arts
  • Demonstrate Dance vocabulary knowledge through written and oral assessment Techniques: written and oral analysis of student dances by the teacher, based on choreography technique, written tests on dance terminology and history, oral critiques, by students of professional and amateur dance concerts.

 

Prerequisite: Audition only.