LANSING, MI — Michigan Fitness Foundation presents EPEC PLAY, a new physical education curriculum designed to inspire youth to lead active lifestyles throughout the lifespan. MFF developed the original, nationally recognized physical education program EPEC™ (Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum) in 1996 for youth to acquire the personal, social, and attitudinal characteristics needed to be physically active. Expanding on this foundation, the new EPEC PLAY embraces physical literacy concepts and meets current SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards. The added acronym PLAY, which means Physical Literacy Active You, highlights the concepts and national standards that guided the framework for the design of the new curriculum.

“Being physically literate is essential for the healthy development of the whole person,” said MFF President and CEO Amy Ghannam. “By incorporating physical literacy into EPEC PLAY, students will gain the competence, knowledge, and skills needed for a variety of physical activities so they can be physically active for life.”

With research-backed lessons, EPEC PLAY is designed to move children along a grade-span organized skill progression at their own pace. This structure fosters an environment where children build confidence, unlock their full potential, and thrive in a physically active lifestyle.

The curriculum is available online by subscription with a variety of K-5 packages available. EPEC PLAY for middle school and high school students is scheduled to launch later this year. The EPEC PLAY Foundational Unit includes 8 units and 38 lessons that cover the program orientation, locomotors, ball control: hands, ball control: feet, jump rope, striking, water safety, and track and field, with trainings to support educators. To complement and extend learnings, EPEC PLAY Seasonal Expansion Units are designed to help students embrace outdoor physical activity year-round, while the EPEC PLAY Specialized Expansion Units encourage students to explore unique movement opportunities, promoting creative physical activity application.

In addition to the comprehensive scope and sequence, EPEC PLAY offers a multiple skill level design to meet children where they are, innovative, progressive grade-span organization, and a student-centered approach to teaching physical education while fostering physical literacy.
Created in Michigan by Michiganders, the EPEC PLAY team includes Michigan Fitness Foundation staff, current and past board members from Michigan Fitness Foundation and the Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and educators like retired Grandville Public Schools Elementary Physical Education Specialist Tammi Brummel-Fee. Brummel-Fee was also a Physical Education Consultant for the Michigan Department of Education.

“Joy and passion for physical activity is contagious and EPEC PLAY has been designed with every student in mind,” said Brummel-Fee. “By creating fun-filled learning activities with lots of physical literacy, students with different skill levels are taught the fundamental movements they need to continue their physical activity journey throughout their lifetime.”

To learn more about EPEC PLAY, visit epecplay.org.