WEEK #36

K4 this week worked on the concept of balance and manipulated small dome cones. We warmed-up with the song called Can You Keep Your Balance. After the song, we manipulated the small dome cones in many different ways. We finished class with a dome cone game called Statue Tag.
1st and 3rd grade this week got their five levels of fitness in with an activity called Plastic Bag Flag Tag. We then talked about and practiced the skill of overhand throwing and what accuracy means. We hung hula hoops all around the gym for practice and then ended class with an activity called Scooter Pinball.
6th grade this week was going to start their softball/baseball unit but rain forced us indoors. For our five levels of fitness, we played an activity called Ladders. This activity really develops your muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. After fitness time, we then played a kicking and muscular endurance game called Jolly Ball!!!!

7th/8th grade this week was also forced to stay indoors. So we took a break from softball and did some team building activities. The activities were called Get the Point, Transforming, and Partner Pick-up.

WEEK# 35

K4 this week reviewed their locomotor skills with an activity called High Five. We then participated in an activity called Treasure Hunt where the kids had to search for the hidden treasure that was placed all over the gym!!! K5 this week warmed-up with an activity named Body Parts. In preparation for our school having a going green day, we exercised with plastic bags. We discussed ways of reusing things that we use every day and we exercised with them. We made balls, a parachute, a rocket ship, and finished class playing Keep It Up and Plastic Bag Tag. At the end of the class, I reminded the students to never play with a plastic bag by themselves. They should always have an adult around to watch them for safety.

1st grade this week went outside for gym. We got our five levels of fitness exercise with an activity called Math War. We then participated in an activity called Two Base Kickball. This is not like your typical kickball game. You play the activity with two bases and three people. This allows for more participation and skill development.

2nd grade this week spent the day doing cooperative activities!!! We played a game called Same & Different. We then discussed what teamwork means and what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like. The activities where we practiced teamwork were Transformers and Partner Pick Up.

3rd thru 5th grade this week got their five levels of fitness in with an activity called Poppers (you use cut up noodles). We then talked about and learned how to strike with a long handle implement. We used baseball bats and tees to development this skill. We finished class playing the game 2-Base Baseball.

7th/8th grade this week continued with their softball/baseball unit. This week we practiced the skill of the underhand softball throw. We also reviewed fielding (pop-ups, fly balls, just catching, and grounders). We finished class with some hitting practice. The students had the opportunity to choose the way they wanted to hit, either with a tee, self toss, or being pitched to.

WEEK# 34

K4 this week warmed up with an activity called Same & Different. We then participated in a game called Dead Bug. Here the students developed their chasing and fleeing skills. We also practiced using our manners when someone helped us. We finished class manipulating different pieces of equipment in relay races. At the end of class, we discussed how we just don't exercise our hearts but we also exercise our body's muscle system.

1st grade this week got their five levels of fitness in with an activity called Transforming. Here we played rock, paper, scissor and the winner got to transform from egg, to chicken, to dinosaur, and last to super hero. We finished class discussing the concept of teamwork. We talked about what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like. We practiced this important lifelong skill with an activity called Partner Pick-up!

3rd grade this week got their five levels of fitness in with an activity called Poppers. We then discussed why we have Physical Education class (to learn how to use our bodies). The skill we discussed and practiced this week was striking with implements. We practiced hitting with baseball tees. We discussed other activities striking activities and how these activities develop hand-eye coordination.

4th & 5th grade this week needed the whole class to participate in the activity called Finding the Solution to Heart Disease! I had it published in the Great Activities Newspaper in Volume 27, number 1, Issue #131, in September/October, 2008! Here the students are given a Google map of the Fairview Property. They must use the map, a pedometer, and their partner to run around outside the school looking for the clues to find the answer.

6th grade this week took a little break from units to have a Fun Fitness and Exercise Day. Here I had the students participate in cooperative activities to get in their exercise this week. We played a warm-up called The Turkey Dance (Not really a dance). We then played a whole group activity called People-To-People and a small group activity called Partner Pick-up.
7th & 8th grade this started their final unit of the year softball. We used the resistance bands this week for our warm-up and took our softball pre-test. We discussed the ways to field a ball and finished class developing our fielding skills. We practiced taking grounders and fly balls in various ways.

WEEK #33

1st grade this week practiced the skill of catching. We discussed why, where, and when we would use the skill of catching. Our five levels of fitness warm-up was a tag game called Wipeout. We used the song from the group The Safari's and practiced our listening skills during the activity. After Wipeout, we practiced catching a variety of objects. I placed beach balls, footballs, a foam die, a noodle, etc. into hula hoops on the ground. The students paired up and practiced catching the various objects. Then they would switch on command. We finished class playing a catching activity called It's Raining Cats and Dogs!!!!

3rd grade this week continued with their team building unit. For our five levels of fitness warm-up we played an activity named Bumper Cars!! After that, we discussed the word of the day. This weeks word was Teamwork! We spent time discussing the meaning. The rest of the class time was devoted to challenging the students in Teamwork activities. These activities were Musical Hoops & Loop the Hoop.
4th & 5th grade this week also continued with their team building unit. Their five levels of fitness activity was called the Turkey Dance. It's not really a dance!! We discussed the word of the day which was Problem Solving!! We then spent time discussing the meaning and what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like. The activity we used to practice this word was an activity called Maze. They needed to help their group members out of a pretend building.

7th & 8th grade this week finished up their Badminton unit. This week we practiced and developed our serving and smashing skills. We used skill stations to get in our five levels of fitness warm-ups. The rest of the class was used to start game play. The students really had a blast during this unit.

WEEK #32

K4 this week exercised with plastic bags. We started class playing a warm-up game called Body Parts (moving in general space). We then made the plastic bags into balls, parachutes, rockets, and ended class with an activity called Bag Tag! At the end of the lesson, we discussed as a class about safety and how you should not play with plastic bags without an adult watching!!

K5 this week got their exercise by playing with plastic eggs. We started class with a song called Bean Bag Boogies. We then manipulated the plastic eggs many different ways. We balanced them, spun them, and also did spin pick-up. We ended class playing an activity called Empty My Basket!!

1st grade this week got their five levels of fitness in by playing Wipeout Tag. We played this to the song Wipeout by the Safari. We then went over the skill of catching. We practiced catching many different objects of many different sizes and shapes. We finished class with the activity called It's Raining Cats and Dogs.

2nd grade this week got their five levels of fitness in by playing the Fitness Wheel. The next activity we participated in was the game called Star Wars. I played the Star Wars theme song while we used foam noodles and had a star wars battle. We finished class with an activity called Memory Match. Here we had to use our math skills.
3rd grade this week continued their cooperative unit. We started class with a group activity called Bumper Cars. We discussed the word of the day, which was Team Work (A group of people working together to accomplish a goal). The activities we used to practice this concept were Musical Hoop and Loop the Hoop.

4th grade this week also continued with their cooperative unit. At the beginning of class, we played a noodle game called Poppers. We then talked about the word of the day, Trust. We practiced this concept with activities called People-to-People and Partner Pick-up.

6th grade this week finished up their volleyball unit. Our warm-up this week was a skill review warm-up. We had four stations set up where the students reviewed bumping, setting, and the underhand & overhand serves. We ended class playing volleyball and discussing scoring and rotating.

7th/8th grade this week continued learning and developing their hand-eye coordination & long handle implement skills. This week we got our five levels of fitness in by playing the noodle game Poppers. We then practiced some basic striking skills. We finished class playing Hit & Go and Small Sided Badminton.