Where are your gym shoes, Mrs. Griffin?

Oh, I do love all of the funny things my students say! This morning the JK students could not get over the fact that I was not wearing my regular tennis shoes, but instead some sportier athletic style shoes. "Where are YOUR gym shoes, Mrs. Griffin?" I guess it has been sticking in their heads that in the gym we need to wear our sneakers so we are safe and of course, we run our fastest when we have our gym shoes on. No crocs, sandals, flip flops, or boots please!
This week in PK PE we met for the first time in the big gym. We learned about the special rules we have when we come to the gyms. I blew my whistle softly and told the kids when they heard it they should stop their feet and listen. Then we pretended to be choo-choo trains all over the train track (aka the floor lines) in the gym. Finally, we pretended that the lines were snakes and logs in a big garden. The children ran and leaped over them!
In JK PE this week we learned two fun songs: "The Way We Do It" and "Bop Til You Drop." The children listen to the word of the song and follow me as we shake, jiggle, march, bop, and do all sorts of movements. We also reviewed how to freeze and find our own space.
In 1st and 2nd grade PE this week the children learned how to play Stuck in the Mud Tag (always a favorite!), and we are beginning our striking unit. The first graders are practicing hitting a beach ball underhand to a wall, letting it bounce once, and then keeping the pattern going. The second graders are learning to underhand serve beach balls and light-weight trainer volleyballs over the net. Of course the children are so excited because they really feel like they are playing volleyball!
The 3rd and 4th graders are getting pretty close to playing "real volleyball." We covered the skills of passing, setting, and underhand serving. We talk about some of the basic rules of volleyball, and next week we will play some fun lead-up games. The 4th graders culminate their unit with playing a "real game."
Have an active weekend!