Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS)

Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS) is a student playground leadership program designed for use in elementary schools. It was developed by Peel Public Health and adapted by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit. This program:

Encourages all students to take part in physical activities in the schoolyard regardless of age, gender, size, or ability.

Fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion among students.

Organizes activities that take place during the school day at scheduled break times.

Program motto: “There is always room for one more.”

Program Benefits

PALS provides meaningful opportunities for student leaders to contribute to a positive school climate by promoting inclusivity, safety, and acceptance.

The PALS program will benefit students and schools by:

Providing leadership opportunities and empowering students to become active leaders.

Increasing students’ sense of belonging and inclusion.

Increasing opportunities for physical activity to improve students' physical literacy.

Decreasing bullying and conflict by creating a positive social and physical environment that promotes healthy, safe, and caring relationships between students.

PALS Approach

The PALS program follows a train-the-trainer model.

Administrators, teachers, or other educational staff are trained as PALS program facilitators.

Facilitators coordinate student leader training and provide ongoing program facilitation and support.

More than one adult facilitator is suggested to share the workload.

Students interested in becoming PALS leaders are trained to lead playground games with students in primary grades, typically grades one to three.

PALS student leaders are generally students in grades four to six.

Students in grades seven and eight may also be considered to act as mentors for new leaders.

Curriculum Connections

Physical literacy is embedded in the Vision and Goals of the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum: Health and Physical Education Vision and Goals.

The PALS program supports the following strands within the Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum: Strand A: Social-Emotional Learning Skills, Strand B: Active Living, and Strand C: Movement Competence.

Bring PALS to Your School

Program Requirements

Schools are responsible for:

Designating school staff to coordinate, supervise, and support the program as PALS facilitators.

Recruiting and selecting junior and/or intermediate students to be PALS leaders.

Facilitating and/or co-facilitating training for student leaders.

Supplying leaders with the necessary equipment to facilitate playground games and activities.

Overseeing program launch, implementation, and promotion.

Student Leader Training

The entire training can take up to four hours. Schools may choose to host an initial “training day” or may break up the sessions over multiple days.

PALS leaders receive training to learn and practice:

Playground safety

Qualities of a leader and different leadership styles

Communication and conflict resolution skills

How to lead games in a safe, fun, collaborative, and inclusive way.

PALS Resources

We provide resources for schools to use as part of the PALS program. The PALS program resources were created and approved for use only within Ontario.

Handbooks and games

Facilitator Handbook and Student Leader Training Guide

Student Leader Handbook

Games Book

Forms and Certificates

Student Leader Application

Parent/Guardian Information Letter

Parent/Guardian Permission Form

Leader Responsibilities Poster

Participant Responsibilities Poster

Facilitator Training Certificate

Outstanding Facilitator Certificate