In PK this week the children once again got to play in the auxiliary gym for our gymnastics unit. The children did an obstacle course including tunnels, animals spots to jump on, stepping stones, the vault, beams, bars, and much more. We also played our favorite PK game, "I See" and the children are getting more and more imaginative with their movements. They are also improving on their locomotor movements such as skipping, galloping, jumping, hopping, and sliding. Ask your children to show you these things at home. Skipping is a skill that develops right and left brain coordination and can actually improve reading skills.
This week in JK Physical Education the children worked at three stations: the beams, bars, and the big blue mat. I encouraged the children to try walking on our lower blue beam backwards by themselves. Many children were excited about that new challenge. Some children even tried walking backwards on our higher brown beam with a hand. Wow! Many children are getting really good at rolling over a low bar. They also like to hang sideways and climb along the bar. On the floor we continue to work on balancing, rolling, and locomotor movements.
This week in 1st and second grade we started basketball. The skill I focus on the most is dribbling. Ask your child what they need to do to dribble with correct form. The children love to try dribbling tricks like the yo-yo dribble, dribbling under the legs, dribbling really low, dribbling with one finger at a time, and so many more! If you have a ball at home, ask the children to show you some of the tricks they have learned.
The third and fourth graders are working on two units: gymnastics and the PE Central Challenge. PE Central is a website that I use as a resource for my PE curriculum. The site sponsors a challenge that Jane Keily and I have done for many years with our 3rd and 4th graders. There are 6 challenges that the children can attempt to complete to earn a pin from PE Central. Visit pecentral.com to see the challenges!
The third graders have started an exciting project in class. Hopefully your child have brought home his or her Flat Stanley Fitness Adventure. Your child will be taking his or her own Flat Person Fitness Adventure. Your child's Flat Person, 6 stamps, and address of the person they are sending their Flat Person to are due Wednesday, March 4. Your child should have brought the complete directions home on Monday. If you have any questions, please give me a jingle at school.
In addition to the above units the fourth graders have started a health unit dealing with alcohol and other drugs. The focuses of the unit are having a basic understanding of the harmful effects of illegal drug use, and resisting peer pressure. The children took a short "quiz" to see what they know about drug use. We went through the answers and talked about many reasons why drug use can be harmful to our bodies and our minds. We do not get into specifics about each and every drug, although I do explain how alcohol and tobacco can be harmful our bodies. I have encouraged the children to talk to you if they have any questions or concerns. We have spent two days going over the 12 questions quiz and I bet we could spend 4 more days if I let the children talk as much as they want to. The children have so many questions, stories, and examples! The fourth graders agreed that they are at a good age to start learning about this topic because as they get a little older they might encounter situations where they will need to know facts about drugs, and they will need to have practiced saying no so they are not put on the spot. In my next lesson with the children they will be learning how to "say no" while keeping their friends and maintaining their dignity. They will role play how to say no to a number of situations where they might feel pressured to do something they know is wrong. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or email. Many times children will not understand certain topics regarding drug use, and when they ask a question at home, it might come across in an unusual way. Plus, many children have questions about things they have seen on television or things other children have brought up in class. Rest assured I steer the topics towards ideas and concepts the children can comprehend. I hope you will share your family values regarding drug use with your child.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
February Freeze
Is anyone else ready for spring? I sure am. I really enjoy taking the children outside when it is nice, and I have been thinking how nice that will be when we finally get a break from the cold and snow. We had a glimpse of warm temps this week which was nice.
Well, we have been stuck in the gyms, but of course we've been having lots of fun! The JK and PK children have been continuing their gymnastics units. The JK children are getting really skilled at walking across our big brown beam. Many have been choosing to walk across by themselves... so brave and focused! They are also working on pushing up to a front support on the bars. They like that I have been putting the bars up a few inches higher so they can challenge themselves. Most of the children can roll over the bar with a little help. And of course on the floor we have been rolling, jumping and landing, balancing, and so much more. We have many colorful sets of balance spots, and the children love to pretend they are crossing a river... but watch out for the alligators and sharks! In addition, we did some parachute this week to work specifically on the children's upper body strength. Of course they don't even know how hard they are working because it is so much fun. The children love to shake it, pop it, make mountains, and crawl on it and under it. But their all time favorite is to make a tent and "hide" from their classroom teachers at the end of class. We always seem to trick those classroom teachers, and you wouldn't believe how quiet the children can be inside those tents. I wish I had a permanent one at my house to keep my own children quiet sometimes.
The PK children got a chance to go across the "big brown beam" for the first time. Of course most of the children needed a hand, but no one was scared to try. We did an obstacle course this week where the children jumped, swung, bounced, ran, crawled, and so much more! We think this has to be one of the sweetest Pk classes we've ever had. I am a little biased though because one of the PK'ers lives at my house!
The first and second graders finished up their gymnastics unit. The first graders were assessed on walking across the big beam backwards and doing front support and roll over on the bars. The second graders were assessed on a short sequence on our big beam: mounting the beam, performing forward dips, turning to walk backwards, turning again to walk forward to the end of the beam, and dismounting. They also had to include a balance somewhere in their routine. The children really got into challenging themselves on the balances. Many children tried handstands, plank, and one foot balances with their eyes closed! In both first and second we also played some fun games on our big blue mat with the parachute and the big ball.
The third and fourth graders finished up their ice skating unit. We have been working on our skills during fun games and activities. I always enjoy watching the beginners progress throughout our unit. Some children can barely move along the ice when they start and now they are pushing and gliding a little. Amazing progress in only 9 days of skating. The fourth graders created their own routines, which turned out great. Many children chose to skate to music, which made their performances even more dramatic. Next week the third and fourth graders will be working on long jump and the PE Central Challenge (more info to come!).
Keep thinking warm thoughts and maybe the weather will cooperate!
Well, we have been stuck in the gyms, but of course we've been having lots of fun! The JK and PK children have been continuing their gymnastics units. The JK children are getting really skilled at walking across our big brown beam. Many have been choosing to walk across by themselves... so brave and focused! They are also working on pushing up to a front support on the bars. They like that I have been putting the bars up a few inches higher so they can challenge themselves. Most of the children can roll over the bar with a little help. And of course on the floor we have been rolling, jumping and landing, balancing, and so much more. We have many colorful sets of balance spots, and the children love to pretend they are crossing a river... but watch out for the alligators and sharks! In addition, we did some parachute this week to work specifically on the children's upper body strength. Of course they don't even know how hard they are working because it is so much fun. The children love to shake it, pop it, make mountains, and crawl on it and under it. But their all time favorite is to make a tent and "hide" from their classroom teachers at the end of class. We always seem to trick those classroom teachers, and you wouldn't believe how quiet the children can be inside those tents. I wish I had a permanent one at my house to keep my own children quiet sometimes.
The PK children got a chance to go across the "big brown beam" for the first time. Of course most of the children needed a hand, but no one was scared to try. We did an obstacle course this week where the children jumped, swung, bounced, ran, crawled, and so much more! We think this has to be one of the sweetest Pk classes we've ever had. I am a little biased though because one of the PK'ers lives at my house!
The first and second graders finished up their gymnastics unit. The first graders were assessed on walking across the big beam backwards and doing front support and roll over on the bars. The second graders were assessed on a short sequence on our big beam: mounting the beam, performing forward dips, turning to walk backwards, turning again to walk forward to the end of the beam, and dismounting. They also had to include a balance somewhere in their routine. The children really got into challenging themselves on the balances. Many children tried handstands, plank, and one foot balances with their eyes closed! In both first and second we also played some fun games on our big blue mat with the parachute and the big ball.
The third and fourth graders finished up their ice skating unit. We have been working on our skills during fun games and activities. I always enjoy watching the beginners progress throughout our unit. Some children can barely move along the ice when they start and now they are pushing and gliding a little. Amazing progress in only 9 days of skating. The fourth graders created their own routines, which turned out great. Many children chose to skate to music, which made their performances even more dramatic. Next week the third and fourth graders will be working on long jump and the PE Central Challenge (more info to come!).
Keep thinking warm thoughts and maybe the weather will cooperate!
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