NYSTCE Physical Education (076) — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the fundamental movement skills progression, which stage should a typical 7-year-old who has received quality instruction be expected to reach in throwing?
- Initial stage — minimal trunk rotation, elbow-dominant arm action
- Elementary stage — some trunk rotation but limited opposition step
- Mature stage — full trunk rotation, contralateral step, hip-to-shoulder sequential rotation (Correct answer)
- Proficiency stage — closed-skill application in competitive sport settings
Correct answer: Mature stage — full trunk rotation, contralateral step, hip-to-shoulder sequential rotation
With quality instruction, most children reach the mature stage of fundamental movement skills (FMS) by age 6–8. The mature throwing pattern includes a contralateral step, hip-to-shoulder sequential rotation, and full trunk rotation. Without instruction, many children remain in elementary stage far longer.
Question 2: A PE teacher designs a fitness unit using the FITT principle. Which of the following correctly applies FITT to improve cardiovascular endurance in middle school students?
- Frequency: daily; Intensity: maximum heart rate; Time: 10 minutes; Type: stretching
- Frequency: 3–5 days/week; Intensity: 60–85% max HR; Time: 20–60 minutes; Type: aerobic activity (Correct answer)
- Frequency: once per week; Intensity: low; Time: 90 minutes; Type: strength training
- Frequency: 5 days/week; Intensity: 90–100% max HR; Time: 5 minutes; Type: sprinting
Correct answer: Frequency: 3–5 days/week; Intensity: 60–85% max HR; Time: 20–60 minutes; Type: aerobic activity
ACSM and SHAPE America guidelines for cardiovascular endurance recommend 3–5 days/week, moderate-to-vigorous intensity (60–85% max HR), 20–60 minutes per session, using aerobic activities. The other options misapply intensity, time, or type.
Question 3: Which teaching style, on Mosston and Ashworth's Spectrum, requires students to make all pre-impact, impact, and post-impact decisions while the teacher acts as an observer?
- Command style
- Practice style
- Self-check style
- Self-teaching style (Style I) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Self-teaching style (Style I)
In Style I (Self-Teaching/Self-Learning) on Mosston's Spectrum, the learner makes all decisions in all three decision sets (pre-, during-, and post-impact). The command style has the teacher making all decisions; practice style shifts post-impact decisions to the learner; self-check adds self-evaluation.
Question 4: A student's resting heart rate is 70 bpm. Using the Karvonen (heart rate reserve) formula and a target intensity of 70%, what is the approximate target heart rate if maximal HR is 200 bpm?
- 140 bpm
- 161 bpm (Correct answer)
- 154 bpm
- 175 bpm
Correct answer: 161 bpm
HRR = Max HR – Resting HR = 200 – 70 = 130 bpm. Target HR = (HRR × intensity%) + Resting HR = (130 × 0.70) + 70 = 91 + 70 = 161 bpm. This is the Karvonen method, which accounts for individual resting HR unlike the simpler percentage-of-max method.
Question 5: Which of the following assessment tools is MOST appropriate for evaluating student achievement in psychomotor skills in a PE class?
- A written multiple-choice test on rules of volleyball
- A rubric-based performance assessment of dribbling technique observed during a game (Correct answer)
- A self-report survey on physical activity outside of school
- Fitness test scores from a standardized battery such as FitnessGram
Correct answer: A rubric-based performance assessment of dribbling technique observed during a game
Psychomotor learning requires observation-based performance assessment. A rubric applied during authentic skill performance (dribbling in a game context) directly measures motor skill execution. Written tests assess cognitive knowledge; surveys and fitness batteries measure different domains.
Question 6: Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, what is a PE teacher's primary obligation regarding coed physical education classes?
- Separate students by sex for all contact sports and skill-based activities
- Ensure equal opportunity and eliminate sex discrimination in instructional activities, grouping students by ability rather than sex except in contact sports (Correct answer)
- Provide identical activities for both sexes regardless of physical differences
- Exempt students from activities that conflict with their cultural or religious background
Correct answer: Ensure equal opportunity and eliminate sex discrimination in instructional activities, grouping students by ability rather than sex except in contact sports
Title IX requires equal opportunity in PE, prohibiting sex-based grouping except in contact sports (where separation is permitted but not required). Ability grouping, not sex-based grouping, is the appropriate organizational method to ensure equitable instruction.
NYSTCE Physical Education (076)
According to the fundamental movement skills progression, which stage should a typical 7-year-old who has received quality instruction be expected to reach in throwing?