Physical activities are highly effective activities in the development process of children. In addition to contributing to the physical development of children, these activities also play an important role in the development of their characteristics like socialization, gaining self-efficacy and communication. In this context, it is especially important to direct children to physical activities during the development period. On the other hand children’s frequent use of technological devices reduces participation in physical activity. As a matter of fact, the role of education in this process is also very important. Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to examine the motivation of students studying in secondary school to participate in physical activity. In the research, a survey research model, which is a type of the descriptive research model, was used as it aims to determine the current situation. The population of the study is composed of students studying in secondary school, and the sample group is composed of 233 students studying in secondary school in Samsun province. The personal information form developed by the researcher and the Motivation Scale for Participation in Physical Activity (FAKMÖ) developed by Tekkurşun Demir and Cicioğlu (2018) were used as data collection tools. All statistical calculations were made in the SPSS 22.0 V statistical package program. In the study, no significant difference was found between the male and female secondary school students’ motivation levels to participate in physical activity. On the other hand, it was concluded that there is a significant difference in terms of participation in non-school sports activities, income status, class, interest in sports, branch variable. Finally, it was determined that there is a slight but significant positive relationship between the age of the students and the motivation levels of their participation in physical activity. In conclusion, it is important that schools, local governments, MONE (Ministry of National Education) and families act in cooperation, especially in order to increase the motivation of children in the development process to participate in physical activity.

Education, physical activity, motivation, sports.