Cooperative games and student participation in physical education classes in elementary school - an action research study

Abstract

This action-research study arose from the identification of the low participation and interest of the students in the classes of Physical Education. They seemed not to engage in activities and there were many wrong attitudes towards others. This study involved 21 students from a elementary school of Aveiro district and aimed to verify how students’ attitudes and behaviors improved through the practice of cooperative games (JC) and social games (JS). The data collection instruments used were the Student Behavior Behavior Observation System (SOCI) and the Physical Education Pupil Control Inventory (PEPCI). An activity plan was developed based on 7 interventions with varying durations (from 15 to 60 minutes) with the class. The data were treated in terms of descriptive statistics. The data analysis identified a decrease in students’ attitudes of indiscipline, especially in the number of behaviors of indiscipline addressed to colleagues.