Divergent and Convergent Thinking in Flag Football Strategy Planning for Fourth Grade Students

The purpose of this study was to conduct a lesson unit for fourth graders focusing on divergent and convergent thinking in flag football strategy planning, and to analyze changes in the students’ strategy planning before and after the lesson unit. The participants were 64 fourth-grade students. We conducted a paper-based strategies planning test before and after a lesson unit consisting of eight flag football physical education (PE) classes. During the first half of the lesson unit, we set goals for students to present their ideas and plan various strategies, and during the second half, we provided specialized instructions in selecting and modifying effective strategies. The strategies planning test was analyzed from the perspectives of divergent thinking i.e., number and concreteness of plans, and convergent thinking i.e., number and appropriateness of plans.