Although too few physical education scholars have given priority to the formulation of curriculum theory, genuine progress has been made in the past quarter of a century. Recent efforts in physical education theory building are reviewed within the overall context of general curriculum theory and in historical perspective. Special attention is focused on relationships between curriculum and instruction. A selected model for physical education curricular decision-making illustrates the process of relating a physical education curriculum theory to general curriculum theory, the need for adaptation to differing value orientations, and the nature of the impact of curiculum theory on instructional decisions.