A middle school physical education teacher asks students to plan and perform a floor exercise routine that includes a forward roll, a cartwheel, a back walk-over, and a scissors leap. Participation in this activity would most support students' development of which personal trait or ability?

• A. Perceived self-efficacy
• B. Physical endurance
• C. Cooperation with peers
• D. Knowledge of safety rules

Answer: (A)

Mastery experiences from planning and performing a sequence of gymnastic skills build a student’s belief in their own ability to succeed. When learners plan the routine and then execute the forward roll, cartwheel, back walk-over, and scissors leap, they experience success and see concrete evidence that they can handle complex movements. This growing sense of capability strengthens perceived self-efficacy—the confidence in what they can achieve, which in turn encourages persistence, goal setting, and trying more challenging tasks in the future.

Endurance is about how long one can sustain effort, which may improve but isn’t the main focus here. Cooperation with peers centers on social interaction, not the individual belief in personal ability. Knowledge of safety rules is important but concerns understanding rather than one’s belief in capability to perform the skills.