Skating Wrap Up and Jump Ropes

First let me start off by saying I had a really fun time with my 2nd and 3rd grade classes on Wednesday for Grandparents and Special Friends day. Many of our guest choose to play the game "Crazy Turkey Guard" and the children had a blast trying to knock over Grandma's "turkey" bowling pin!
In JK Physical Education this week the children worked on kicking with the inside of their foot. We played "Clean Up Your Backyard" using our kicking skills. The children had to stay in their own "yard" and clean up the messes that I made with lots and lots of big balls.
This week in first and second grade the children will wrap up their skating unit. It is amazing to see the progress some of the children have made from barely scooting along to actually pushing and gliding. This week the first graders learned how to play a game called Alligator Alley... watch out for those gators! The second graders have been trying some harder challenges like jumping over the lines, spinning faster by pulling their arms in, and switching directions without falling. Both grades got to try a fun new activity on the ice with Mrs. Herbst where they performed a trick while the other other children held up the parachute for them to skate under. Some of the tricks the children performed were backward skating, dips, jumps, turns, and my personal favorite, the chicken dance! They also played "Clean Up You Backyard" with beanie babies flying from opposing backyards.
This week the 3rd and 4th graders started their jump rope unit. The third graders have been working on basic stunts like forward and backward jumping (single and double bounce), side and forward straddle jumps, criss cross jumping, boxer jumping, and many more. They are participating in the "Record Breaker's Club" by seeing how many jumps in a row they can do without a miss. It is a competition against themselves, not any other classmate. The children seem very motivated to do their best and complete many challenges.
The 4th graders are also participating in their own "Record Breaker's Club" by timing each other to see how long they can jump without a miss. They are competing against themselves, but of course they like to check out their classmates scores. One of the girls jumped for 5 minutes and 3 seconds on Monday... that is awesome strength and endurance! The 4th graders are also working to achieve 40, 80, and 100 jumps without a miss. Many have already achieved these goals. Finally the children are working on stunts, trying to do 10 in a row. At the end of this week the children will put the stunts into their own routine for their assessment. In the past I have had some very talented jumpers who create interesting routines. I am excited to see what the children will come up with this year.
On D days I host Running/Walking Club for the first and second graders. When the weather was nice, we went outside for our runs/walks, but today it was so cold, I hosted it in one of the gyms. I had 24 children come to run. They ran laps and we played two tag games. Some of the children ran almost non-stop for 25 minutes. WOW! Plus I am getting to know some of the children in the classes I don't teach; that is always nice.
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I am working hard to work off all the yummy stuff I ate. Encourage your children to stay active and play outside when the temps are okay.