General Strategies for Developing a Curriculum

All curricular plans-no matter what the subject area-should be based on the desired outcomes, that is, what you want the student to know and be able to do. So before planning your curriculum, identify the exit outcomes you want students leaving your program to have achieved. Exit out corners are the ultimate desired achievements of students who gradu¬ate from a K-12 curriculum (e.g., the national standards). Then set intermediate outcomes that students should achieve at each stage in your program as well 'as on completion of each unit and lesson.
The Physical Best program uses the national standards developed by national orga¬nizations, including NASPE (AAHPERD), for physical education, health education (AAHE), and dance education (NDA) and their corresponding standards are also supported and reinforced by Physical Best programs. Collectively, these standards help determine exit outcomes and developmentally appropriate curricula that will help students achieve the ultimate goal of becoming adults who value and pursue active lifestyles. Remember, Physical Best is not intended to replace existing curricula, but rather to complement and support other programs. Appendix A also lists the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Guidelines for School and Com¬munity Programs to Promote Lifelong Physical Activity Among Young People (1997).