2026 SHAPE Iowa

Bring your body, bring your brains! Will's excited to share how he and others across the world use the Meaningful PE Framework to deepen student connection to movement while improving skill. Come learn, play, and see how Will helps students become "Moved to Move".

Every student deserves meaningful access to physical education—but inclusion doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through intentional planning, thoughtful instruction, and a clear understanding of how to meet diverse learner needs within the general PE environment.This session is designed for general physical education teachers who are responsible for including students with disabilities in their classes and want practical, effective strategies to make it work. Through real-world examples, visual supports, and classroom-tested strategies, attendees will learn how to:Design inclusive lessons that support a wide range of abilitiesMake meaningful modifications without isolating studentsIncrease student engagement and participation across activitiesCollaborate effectively with paraprofessionals and support staffBuild a classroom environment where all students feel successful and includedThis session will help shift inclusion from a challenge to a confident practice—giving teachers the tools, mindset, and structure needed to ensure that every student is not just present in the gym, but actively learning, participating, and thriving.

Gain new ideas of guiding folk dances in fast, effective, and engaging ways using music that kids enjoy. Also learn how to design a movement activity that matches music. This can be used for many activities such as parachute routines, fitness drumming, and your own dance steps.

Come one, come all! Join a dynamic and engaging activity session where you will learn cooperative physical activities designed to maximize engagement and minimize verbal instruction. Presented activities will utilize easily accessible equipment and materials and are friendly to physical education programs that may operate on a tight budget. During this session, participants will also engage in small group discussions using Kagan structures as a form of reflection and formative assessment.  

Explore how physical education can extend learning beyond the gym by reinforcing academic concepts through movement-based experiences. This session provides engaging, ready-to-use activities that integrate content areas such as literacy, math, and health while maintaining high levels of physical activity. Participants will actively engage in a variety of adaptable activities that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and application while leaving with practical ideas that can be immediately implemented to support student learning across multiple content areas.