Active Play as Cultural Pedagogy: Enhancing Participation and Fitness in Elementary Physical Education
Keywords:
Active Games, Physical Fitness, Student Participation, Physical Education, Elementary SchoolAbstract
Background of study: Physical Education, Sports, and Health play a strategic role in students' holistic development. Yet, low participation rates driven by conventional and monotonous instructional models remain a primary challenge in elementary education.
Aims and scope of paper: This study aims to analyze and synthesize the effectiveness of active game-based learning as a pedagogical strategy to enhance student participation and physical fitness.
Methods: The research employs a qualitative descriptive literature review, examining scientific articles from academic databases, including Google Scholar, Garuda, and SINTA, published between 2020 and 2025.
Results: The findings show that integrating active games increases student participation by enhancing motivation, enthusiasm, and social interaction. These engaging activities also improve physical fitness components, such as endurance, strength, and agility, through intensive yet enjoyable movement. As a result, the learning process becomes more innovative, inclusive, and meaningful.
Conclusion: In conclusion, active game-based learning is an effective strategy for delivering high-quality physical education. Teachers are advised to systematically integrate these methods to support optimal student engagement and sustainable physical fitness development.
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