Episode 43: Episode 43: Skills Themes are the Model

In today’s episode we have a treasured guest from the PE Profession. Dr. George Graham began his career teaching and coaching in the public schools of California and Oregon and also served on the faculties of the University of Georgia and the University of South Carolina. In 2007, Dr. Graham was inducted into the NASPE Hall of Fame. Dr. Graham is best known for his work in the development of the Skill Themes Model focused on teaching elementary school aged children. The skill themes approach became a foundation for many elementary physical education curricula. The model centered on locomotor, non-manipulative, and manipulative motor skills. Within the process of acquiring motor skills, children learn how to integrate movement concepts such as space, direction, levels, and extensions into different movement forms. The notion was that these fundamental movement skills were necessary building blocks for more advanced skills as children transitioned into middle school. Dr.Graham also formalized a process for teaching skills to students by developing four generic levels of skill proficiency (pre-control, control, utilization, and proficiency). Overall, Dr. Graham has published extensively on the topics of physical education teacher effectiveness and physical education and activity for children with twelve books and monographs to his credit and over 50 articles. He is a much sought after speaker and consultant, delivering presentations at more than 100 conferences (over 35 were keynote addresses) throughout the world as well as serving as a consultant to seventy-five school districts, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the Professional Golf Association of America.

You can listen to Episode 43: Episode 43: Skills Themes are the Model online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 43: Episode 43: Skills Themes are the Model is an episode from A-Z Health and PE Presented by NYS AHPERD.

This episode is 52:37 long.

This episode was published on May 5, 2026.

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