Posts
Square Dancing!
12 years ago
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Teamwork Pyramids
Prior to the pyramids, we worked on yoga, gymnastics, and balancing sills.
We warmed up with three person pyramids and proper body position.
Here is what the students had to say about their teamwork strategies:
"We asked everybody how much they weighed and then the 3 heaviest people
went on the bottom, then the next in the middle, and lightest on the top."
"Nobody complained about where they wanted to be [in the pyramid]."
"cooperated with teammates."
"Had fun."
"Tried to go with the flow..."
"Asked team members, 'who had the strongest back'."
"nobody complained."
We had a lot of fun, and excellent team work with this activity.
Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Warmly,
Virginia
click on photos to enlarge
We warmed up with three person pyramids and proper body position.
Here is what the students had to say about their teamwork strategies:
"We asked everybody how much they weighed and then the 3 heaviest people
went on the bottom, then the next in the middle, and lightest on the top."
"Nobody complained about where they wanted to be [in the pyramid]."
"cooperated with teammates."
"Had fun."
"Tried to go with the flow..."
"Asked team members, 'who had the strongest back'."
"nobody complained."
We had a lot of fun, and excellent team work with this activity.
Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Warmly,
Virginia
click on photos to enlarge
Saturday, January 29, 2011
BEST BUCKET BOOK EVER!!!!
Growing Up with a Bucket Full of Happiness: Three Rules for a Happier Life
by Carol McCloud and illustrated by Penny Weber
Dave and Bain are reading it to grades 1-5, and it's inspired a huge language change for Bain when dealing with conflicts, not to mention in conversations with students, co-workers, family and friends. For them, it is reverberating like a bassoon!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Bucket-Full-Happiness/dp/1933916575
by Carol McCloud and illustrated by Penny Weber
Dave and Bain are reading it to grades 1-5, and it's inspired a huge language change for Bain when dealing with conflicts, not to mention in conversations with students, co-workers, family and friends. For them, it is reverberating like a bassoon!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Up-Bucket-Full-Happiness/dp/1933916575
Monday, January 17, 2011
My Blackberry Is Not Working!
Now that you've learned how to use a blog, we can address some other tech issues...
Friday, January 14, 2011
A Flying Disc Progression
The Pangrazi book contains a lot of lead up games, but sometimes the things they lead to aren't so obvious. Here's a series of activities that I use to build flying disc skills.
The first, and to me, absolutely most important step is to use good equipment. It is critical to use equipment that is easy for kids to use. The best flying disc I've found is the Aerobie superdisc. They are easy to throw long and straight and have soft edges so kids aren't afraid to catch them.
Aerobie® Superdisc - 10" Diameter (EA)
Our first activity is to play catch. After giving the class brief instructions on how to throw and catch a disc, I let the kids form their own groups and find their own space. This enables kids to learn at their own pace and allows me to roam the class to provide individual instruction where needed. Once the kids have are comfortable with their abilities (one or two days for younger kids, a one day refresher for older kids), we move on to a game called "Double Disc".
Double Disc is a very simple game which addresses two concepts that younger kids have trouble understanding: spacing and moving to catch an object.
For a class of 20, I use a rectangular field about 100' by 75'. The field is split in half with a clearly marked mid line. The class is split into two teams with each team confined to half the field. Each team is given a disc. The object of the game is simply for each team to land their disc in the other team's half of the field while trying to catch the discs being thrown by the opposite team. . A point is scored each time a disc lands in an opposing team's territory.
If only a few kids dominate the action, add more discs or start a second game. Larger classes can be divided into four teams with 2 discs each on two fields.
My experience with this game is that kids naturally learn to anticipate the flight of the disc and make running catches. They also learn to throw with greater accuracy and creativity, including banking discs into a target.
These two activities comprise a one week disc unit. Sometime after this unit, I'll move on to the second stage, disc golf.
For this unit, I use a mock Ryder Cup format. Here, each class is divided into a "European" team and an "American" team. Team members are given playing partners and partners a given a pair of opponents from the opposite team, creating a foursome. All groups play on a 9 hole course with a shotgun start.
This is a four day competition in which each pair playing a different opponent each day. Three different scoring formats are used: Alternate Shot, Best Throw (twice) and Singles. Scoring is by holes, not throws. Match winners earn 1 point for their team. Ties earn 1/2 point for both teams.
The final disc unit, done in the spring, is Ultimate Disc. This is one of my favorite team activities to teach because it is a game for which there are no youth leagues, meaning that no student has a built in advantage. This allows kids to compete equally. Each year, previously unheralded students star in this game.
One important note: as in every team involving throwing and catching object to score, the boy/girl rule (a boy and a girl must catch a throw before a score counts) is in force. This is a very effective way of insuring equal opportunity, generating team strategy and allowing all students a chance to succeed.
The first, and to me, absolutely most important step is to use good equipment. It is critical to use equipment that is easy for kids to use. The best flying disc I've found is the Aerobie superdisc. They are easy to throw long and straight and have soft edges so kids aren't afraid to catch them.
Aerobie® Superdisc - 10" Diameter (EA)
Our first activity is to play catch. After giving the class brief instructions on how to throw and catch a disc, I let the kids form their own groups and find their own space. This enables kids to learn at their own pace and allows me to roam the class to provide individual instruction where needed. Once the kids have are comfortable with their abilities (one or two days for younger kids, a one day refresher for older kids), we move on to a game called "Double Disc".
Double Disc is a very simple game which addresses two concepts that younger kids have trouble understanding: spacing and moving to catch an object.
For a class of 20, I use a rectangular field about 100' by 75'. The field is split in half with a clearly marked mid line. The class is split into two teams with each team confined to half the field. Each team is given a disc. The object of the game is simply for each team to land their disc in the other team's half of the field while trying to catch the discs being thrown by the opposite team. . A point is scored each time a disc lands in an opposing team's territory.
If only a few kids dominate the action, add more discs or start a second game. Larger classes can be divided into four teams with 2 discs each on two fields.
My experience with this game is that kids naturally learn to anticipate the flight of the disc and make running catches. They also learn to throw with greater accuracy and creativity, including banking discs into a target.
These two activities comprise a one week disc unit. Sometime after this unit, I'll move on to the second stage, disc golf.
For this unit, I use a mock Ryder Cup format. Here, each class is divided into a "European" team and an "American" team. Team members are given playing partners and partners a given a pair of opponents from the opposite team, creating a foursome. All groups play on a 9 hole course with a shotgun start.
This is a four day competition in which each pair playing a different opponent each day. Three different scoring formats are used: Alternate Shot, Best Throw (twice) and Singles. Scoring is by holes, not throws. Match winners earn 1 point for their team. Ties earn 1/2 point for both teams.
One important note: as in every team involving throwing and catching object to score, the boy/girl rule (a boy and a girl must catch a throw before a score counts) is in force. This is a very effective way of insuring equal opportunity, generating team strategy and allowing all students a chance to succeed.
Week of 1/10/11 with Mr. A at Tam Valley Elementary school.
We have performed our pushing and pulling unit this week. Students work with each other pushing against a wall or each other and pulling with a partner with our home made tug-a-war ropes. The unit is wrapped up with an all class tug-a-war challenge!
rainy days
block stacking- equip. needed: small blocks of any sort.Have students stack blocks one on top of another until the tower crumbles. Work individually or with a partner.
NEW PE Fun at Edna Maguire…
We’re hoping the sun will be back next week as we start lacrosse and our racquet sports unit. For the first time ever at Edna Maguire we’ll be introducing lacrosse. With the support of our wonderful PTA we were able to purchase new sticks and balls! We’ll be introducing basic stick skills and fun drills for the students to get used to this new sport.
We will follow by introducing badminton and tennis. Our hard top will be converted into one big court as we string our nets from end to end. For the first time we’ll have plenty of racquets to go around THANKS to the generous donations of our PTA. We now have enough racquets to accommodate even our largest classes.
Looking Ahead…
Jump Rope for Heart – February
We began introducing jump ropes into our January activities. Students practiced basic jumping, participated in jump rope relays and group jumping. Some students even impressed us with their jump rope tricks. Come February all students should be ready to jump for healthy hearts.
Life Skill of the Month – Common Sense
We try and reinforce the life skill of the month in our teaching and expect students to use them to the best of their ability. To ensure a safe, friendly and fun physical activity environment, everyone should use Common Sense when making decisions.
Wacky Noodles!
WACKY NOODLES!!
My 3rd-5th grade students were introduced to a new unit this week. “Wacky Noodles” or you may know them as pool noodles, which I am sure you all have played with in a swimming pool! These bright colored noodles will put a smile on any students face! If you are wondering how this fits into our curriculum and standards think ‘manipulating an object by using a long-handled implement’. Of course my first concern is safety. Luckily the noodles are very light, but I do take the time to talk about what behavior I expect from my students when using them. We began with basic skills using the noodles and moved to more challenging and fun games. I got some of my ideas from a book called, “Chicken and Noodle Games” (Byl, Baldauf, Doyle, and Raithy).
I have a couple of boxes of noodles, but only needed to use one box, which is enough for one class. I am thinking about taking the other box and cutting the noodles into different sizes as the book has many ideas using different lengths (small, medium, and large).
SIlent Games
Two games that can be played when you need your class to be quiet.
Four Corners:
Equipment Needed: Blindfold
Layout: 4 Corners of Rectangle
Grades: 1-5
Set Up: Send students to four different corners. Have students move from corner to corner. One student is in the middle blindfolded. Blindfolded student selects corner he/she thinks was the loudest. Those students are eliminated from the game. Students keep moving from corner to corner and blindfolded student keeps pointing to loudest corner. Last 2 students are the winner of the game.
Whisper Relay:
Equipment Needed: 5 Cones
Layout: 5 Teams, Cones placed 1o yards away
Grades: 1-3
Set Up: Divide class into 5 relay teams. Give first person in each group the same secret. Have the first person do assigned movement around cone and back. Have the student whisper the secret to the next person. At the end of the relay, ask the last person in each group what the secret is. Change the movement to different locomotor movements.
Four Corners:
Equipment Needed: Blindfold
Layout: 4 Corners of Rectangle
Grades: 1-5
Set Up: Send students to four different corners. Have students move from corner to corner. One student is in the middle blindfolded. Blindfolded student selects corner he/she thinks was the loudest. Those students are eliminated from the game. Students keep moving from corner to corner and blindfolded student keeps pointing to loudest corner. Last 2 students are the winner of the game.
Whisper Relay:
Equipment Needed: 5 Cones
Layout: 5 Teams, Cones placed 1o yards away
Grades: 1-3
Set Up: Divide class into 5 relay teams. Give first person in each group the same secret. Have the first person do assigned movement around cone and back. Have the student whisper the secret to the next person. At the end of the relay, ask the last person in each group what the secret is. Change the movement to different locomotor movements.
Publish Post
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Some Equipment Ideas
If you're like me, you get dozens of equipment catalogs every year. Those PE catalogs are full of things that look and sound good but in reality aren't. Some of it is poorly made, of limited utility, or simply doesn't work very well for the purpose for which is was designed. Other stuff turns out better than expected. The question is, how do you figure out which is which?
One way is to simply buy it and try it. However, in these days of limited budgets, this is probably not very cost effective, especially if you buy a piece of equipment that lasts a week. So, in hopes of saving you time and money, here are a few equipment suggestions that you may not have considered but which I've found to be particularly valuable for my PE program. The items on the list have proven to be some combination of the following:
These are the best balls I know of for playing soccer on asphalt. They have a cellular rubber (rubber with air pockets in it) skin, which simulates a padded sewn on skin. The result is a ball which is much softer than a rubber ball. It feels similar to a sewn ball but without seams that rip. Very durable; I have some that are 6 years old.
Available from Sportime, http://store.schoolspecialtyonline.net, in sets of 6 balls (size 4, $52.99), (size 5, 59.99).
2. Size 1 or Mini Soccer Balls
These are great for throwing games because they are big enough to catch easily, not too big to throw and have a soft feel. I use them for Speedball (a great lead up game I'll write about in another post), Team Handball and Capture the Flag. As an added bonus, these are available in the national colors of most World Cup participants. Balls by Nike are available locally at Sports Authority or Nike outlets. World Cup balls like the Brazil ball pictured here are available from World Soccer Shop, www.worldsoccershop.com.
All varieties are $9.99 each
3. Lightweight Volleyballs.
These weigh 30% less than a regular volleyball, making them well suited to elementary school aged kids. The ball pictured here is from S&S Worldwide, but similar products can be found from other vendors. This one features a foam rubber outer layer to reduce the sting that comes from making the forearm pass.
$9.49 from S&S
4. Deluxe Beaded Jump Ropes
Vinyl jump ropes get stiff in cold weather and are too light for double dutch. Segmented jump ropes aren't durable because the plastic segments break. This rope is a nice solution. It has a piece of surgical tubing in the middle, right where the rope contacts the ground so the plastic segments don't. Great for double dutch.
From Gym Closet. 7' rope, $4.75, 8', $5.50, 9'', $5.95, 16', $8.75. Discounts available if you buy 12 or more.
5. Aerobie Super Disc
These are great confidence builders because they are easy to throw long and straight. They also have soft edges that make them easy to catch and don't chafe hands from repeated throwing. I use them for Ultimate Disc and Disc Golf. Btw: If you don't already do so, I encourage you to teach an Ultimate Disc unit. This sport neutralizes the experience advantage some kids have over others in such sports as soccer and baseball because this sport has no organized youth leagues. Everyone starts at the same level. Results can be surprising. Kids who don't shine in other units are stars in this one.
$9.99 ea from various locations
6. The Voit Enduro CS3 Kickball
These balls are more expensive than a regular playground ball, but they aren't called "Enduro" for nothing. I have 2 of them and they've lasted all year. Regular rubber playground balls puncture or go out of round in weeks. These will last until the cover wears out.
$9.49 ea / various locations
7. Hockey Stick Replacement Blades
Do your Cosom hockey sticks look more like scythes? Well, here's a cheap way to make those sticks work like new. Available in Red, Yellow and Blue.
$3.40 ea from S&S, Inasco or Gopher
8. Propuck Roller Hockey Pucks
Best puck I've found for pivot puck. Heavier than most puck with "glide pegs" for stability. Slide smoothly over rough surfaces without tipping up onto their sides. Available in 5 colors.
$5.95 ea from www.inlinewarehouse.com
9. The Sony Explod CFDG505BLA Boombox
If you can't afford a monster PA system like Bain's, this is a reasonable alternative. Good clean loud sound with two level subwoofer. Plays cd's, cassettes (anyone still use those?) and MP3 players through an Aux jack.
$109.99 from various locations.
If any of you have a favorite piece of equipment, be sure to let us know.
One way is to simply buy it and try it. However, in these days of limited budgets, this is probably not very cost effective, especially if you buy a piece of equipment that lasts a week. So, in hopes of saving you time and money, here are a few equipment suggestions that you may not have considered but which I've found to be particularly valuable for my PE program. The items on the list have proven to be some combination of the following:
- Durable
- Help students succeed
- Economical
- Usable in multiple activities
These are the best balls I know of for playing soccer on asphalt. They have a cellular rubber (rubber with air pockets in it) skin, which simulates a padded sewn on skin. The result is a ball which is much softer than a rubber ball. It feels similar to a sewn ball but without seams that rip. Very durable; I have some that are 6 years old.
Available from Sportime, http://store.schoolspecialtyonline.net, in sets of 6 balls (size 4, $52.99), (size 5, 59.99).
2. Size 1 or Mini Soccer Balls
These are great for throwing games because they are big enough to catch easily, not too big to throw and have a soft feel. I use them for Speedball (a great lead up game I'll write about in another post), Team Handball and Capture the Flag. As an added bonus, these are available in the national colors of most World Cup participants. Balls by Nike are available locally at Sports Authority or Nike outlets. World Cup balls like the Brazil ball pictured here are available from World Soccer Shop, www.worldsoccershop.com.
All varieties are $9.99 each
3. Lightweight Volleyballs.
These weigh 30% less than a regular volleyball, making them well suited to elementary school aged kids. The ball pictured here is from S&S Worldwide, but similar products can be found from other vendors. This one features a foam rubber outer layer to reduce the sting that comes from making the forearm pass.
$9.49 from S&S
4. Deluxe Beaded Jump Ropes
Vinyl jump ropes get stiff in cold weather and are too light for double dutch. Segmented jump ropes aren't durable because the plastic segments break. This rope is a nice solution. It has a piece of surgical tubing in the middle, right where the rope contacts the ground so the plastic segments don't. Great for double dutch.
From Gym Closet. 7' rope, $4.75, 8', $5.50, 9'', $5.95, 16', $8.75. Discounts available if you buy 12 or more.
5. Aerobie Super Disc
These are great confidence builders because they are easy to throw long and straight. They also have soft edges that make them easy to catch and don't chafe hands from repeated throwing. I use them for Ultimate Disc and Disc Golf. Btw: If you don't already do so, I encourage you to teach an Ultimate Disc unit. This sport neutralizes the experience advantage some kids have over others in such sports as soccer and baseball because this sport has no organized youth leagues. Everyone starts at the same level. Results can be surprising. Kids who don't shine in other units are stars in this one.
$9.99 ea from various locations
6. The Voit Enduro CS3 Kickball
These balls are more expensive than a regular playground ball, but they aren't called "Enduro" for nothing. I have 2 of them and they've lasted all year. Regular rubber playground balls puncture or go out of round in weeks. These will last until the cover wears out.
$9.49 ea / various locations
7. Hockey Stick Replacement Blades
Do your Cosom hockey sticks look more like scythes? Well, here's a cheap way to make those sticks work like new. Available in Red, Yellow and Blue.
$3.40 ea from S&S, Inasco or Gopher
Best puck I've found for pivot puck. Heavier than most puck with "glide pegs" for stability. Slide smoothly over rough surfaces without tipping up onto their sides. Available in 5 colors.
$5.95 ea from www.inlinewarehouse.com
9. The Sony Explod CFDG505BLA Boombox
If you can't afford a monster PA system like Bain's, this is a reasonable alternative. Good clean loud sound with two level subwoofer. Plays cd's, cassettes (anyone still use those?) and MP3 players through an Aux jack.
$109.99 from various locations.
If any of you have a favorite piece of equipment, be sure to let us know.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Mill Valley Middle School 7th Grade Girls Basketball
This is one of the things I did last winter.....
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