FITNESSGRAM is a health-related physical fitness assessment and computerized reporting system. It was developed in 1982 by leading scientists in physical activity and fitness assessment at The Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas. It is the assessment component and complement to the Physical Best program.

FITNESSGRAM uses objective criterion standards to evaluate fitness performance rather using norms. These standards have been set to indicate levels of fitness necessary for good health and are established for each age and gender. FITNESSGRAM also does not include assessment items that are more related to skill and athletic performance. Lastly, the software application produces very attractive reports for parents to communicate the results of the assessments.

ACTIVITYGRAM is a three-day recall of physical activity. It assesses each 30-minute block of time between the hours of 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM. An individualized report is also available for the physical activity assessment.

Students are asked to enter three pieces of information about each activity: Type and Name of Activity, Intensity of Activity, and Length of Activity.

The ACTIVTYGRAM report includes information regarding the facets of a student's activity level including: total number of minutes of activity, activity patterns throughout the day, and type of activities performed as classified by the Activity Pyramid.

The ACTIVITYGRAM report focuses the attention of the student and parent on the student’s actual level of physical activity. The most important health message that students must learn in physical education is that doing physical activity almost daily is very important to health. Completing the ACTIVITYGRAM assessment helps to communicate that message.

The FITNESSGRAM software application contains three modules: the FITNESSGRAM assessment, the ACTIVITYGRAM assessment, and an Activity Log. An individualized report can be produced for each assessment as well as a number of other data management reports for teachers. The current version of the software is version 8.4. Comprehensive information, including pricing, is available at: www.fitnessgram.net.

Physical Best is a health-related fitness education program of NASPE/AAHPERD. When combined with the FITNESSGRAM/ACTIVITYGRAM assessment program, it provides a comprehensive set of resources and professional development workshops for teaching health-related fitness in a K-12 physical education curriculum.

First of all, Physical Best is inclusive by providing developmentally appropriate activities for different ages and abilities. It also is personal by focusing on each child's individual preferences and capabilities. Physical Best is criterion-referenced focusing on guidelines for health and personal improvement rather than attaining unrealistic performance based standards. It also teaches cognitive knowledge THROUGH activity and promotes a lifestyle of physical activity.

Physical Best was also created by teacher for teachers. The program is a result of the work of practitioners who have used the activities and teaching methods in the classroom. In fact, a committee of NASPE members guides the ongoing development of the program.

The Physical Best philosophy and activities can be infused throughout any physical education curriculum. Physical Best is linked to national education standards (NASPE, AAHE, NDA); provides accountability for educators by tying to national standards, and is a K-12 program with resources and training appropriate to every grade level.

All health-related components and principles of fitness taught through activity, assessment through FITNESSGRAM and the best scientific research available on physical activity and health to date.

All health-related components and principles of fitness taught through activity, assessment through FITNESSGRAM and the best scientific research available on physical activity and health to date.

hysical Education for Lifelong Fitness (Teacher's Guide) provides a framework for implementing health-related physical education effectively - Physical Best Activity Guides provides ready-to-use instructional activities (both elementary and secondary levels) to teach the health-related fitness components through movement that is fun! Please visit this Physical Best page for more information.

A menu of half and full-day workshops in Physical Best, FITNESSGRAM and Fitness For Life is available through NASPE. Visit the Physical Best Workshops page for detailed information.

Higher education professionals can become Physical Best Specialists or Instructors, incorporate the resources and content of the Specialist workshop into their coursework, and offer their students the option to be certified as Physical Best Specialists. For details, contact the Physical Best office at: (800) 213-7193 x489.