How TGfU Influence on Students’ Motivational Outcomes in Physical Education? A Study in Elementary School Context

The purpose of this study was to implement a comprehensive teaching program based on the principles of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) model and questioning, and to assess its consequences for students’ satisfaction of basic psychological needs, motivation, perceptions of ability and intention to be physically active during Physical Education lessons in primary education. A quasi-experimental design was utilized. Participants were 111 students from two different groups of fifth and sixth graders, all enrolled in one primary school. Participants were divided into experimental and control group. Experimental group experienced a TGfU unit, according to small side games and the questioning. Control group experienced a small side games unit, without questioning. Within-group results showed that experimental group students reported significantly higher mean scores in all dependents variables of the study, in both genders. Results showed that control group only reported significantly higher mean scores in intention to be physically active variable, also in both genders. The results demonstrate the need to implement didactic units under comprehensive pedagogical approaches to improve motivation and the intention to develop healthy lifestyle habits in female and male students. More researches are needed to support this evidence.