A short week filled with fun!

This week in Junior Kindergarten PE we had so much fun. To start with, we played a JK favorite "Bowling for dollars." You may have seen the "money" come home in your child's school bag. The children take turns with a partner rolling a ball to knock down a bowling pin. If the children knock it down, they get earn a million dollars. WOW! All children were able to knock down several pins. Some of the children shared their money with their friends... so sweet. During the next class, they always ask to play again, but we'll do it later in the year. We'll end this week and start next week with tumbling and balancing on the big blue gymnastics mat. The children absolutely love to do gymnastics. After winter break we will take out the beams, bars, and vault... so many fun things to try!
In first grade PE, the children started tumbling on the big blue gymnastics mat. We have been focusing on pencil rolls, forward rolls, jumping and landing (on our feet of course), push-ups, and some other fun challenges. I have told the children they can practice at home if they ask mom and dad where a safe place would be. Some things they may want to show you are a turk stand (start sitting pretzel style, stand up without using your hands, pivot on balls of your feet and sit down pretzel style again... your other leg should be crossed in the front) and a frog stand (a hand balance where your knees rest on the back of your elbows... no head!). The children love to tell me how easy the tricks are for them. Skating starts Nov. 21. You should have received my email last week about the dates and times. We would love volunteers to tie skates right before class starts. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns about skating.
In 2nd grade PE the children have been working on tumbling, specifically forward and backward rolls, handstands, and back-walkovers over the mailbox mat. We have also continued to work on cupstacking, a super hand-eye coordination activity. The children know how to do a 3-3-3 stack, and today they learned the 6 stack. The children want to know if they can use any cups to stack... of course they can, but they don't work as well as the "real" speed stacking cups, so some children have ordered their own sets. Orders are due Wednesday, Nov. 12, so if you desperately want a set, get your dollars to me by tomorrow. Skating starts Nov. 21. You should have received my email last week about the dates and times. We would love volunteers to tie skates right before class starts. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns about skating.
In third grade PE we have been tumbling a little, juggling a little, and cup stacking a little. Right now our focus is juggling and cup stacking. The children have been working on a 3-3-3 stack and a 6 stack for cup stacking. This is an excellent activity to have in the car when you know you will be going somewhere you need to wait (doctor's office for example). Order forms for cups are bring sent home today... ahhhh! and due tomorrow... double ahhhhhh! The children have been juggling two scarves and some are now working on three.
In 4th grade PE we have been working very hard on juggling three things: scarves, balls, beanbags, deck rings. Some of the children are getting very skilled. They have been reporting to me that they have been juggling at home too. The 4th graders are also perfecting their cup stacking skills. They have learned the 3-3-3 and 6 stack. They have fun racing each other. Order forms for cups are bring sent home today... ahhhh! and due tomorrow... double ahhhhhh!
One other topic: Running and walking club. This club is completely optional for the first - 4thg graders. They do not need to sign up, just show up. They can come one time or every time. 1st and 2nd graders have their time on D days during recess. I take the children out to run/walk. We have run the cross country course and the track, but the children definitely prefer the cross country course. It seems to be a huge maze out in the middle of nowhere for them, but of course I am with them and know exactly where we are. I will be sad when our trails are closed due to snow... snowshoes anyone? The 3rd and 4th graders have running club with Mrs. Keily during recess on B days. Mrs. Keily records how many laps the children do. I do not record laps or distance for our younger friends. It has surprised both of us which children sometimes show up for running/walking club. Often we get children who do not seem to enjoy running during PE... they must be tricking us! On our run/walks, we always have fun conversations and see interesting things, especially on the cross country trails.