PHOTO: Ball Skills Grades K-2

For lower elementary, this week's focus was ball skills with playground balls.  Each student had their own ball for this week's classes.  Lessons focused on guiding students to experiment with holding, rolling, and bouncing the ball in different ways.  Ideas for movements included:

• holding the ball with two hands and one hand in these ways: 
• in front, in back of your body
• to the right, to the left
• low, high
• rolling the ball around self while: 
• sitting criss-cross-applesauce
• sitting with knees to chest
• standing with feet together
• standing with feet apart, in a figure 8 pattern
• bouncing the ball and: 
• clapping once, twice, three times, four times before catching
• touching one or more body parts before catching
• turning around before catching

Second grade students roll the ball around themselves while sitting criss-cross-applesauce.  

First grade students experiment with bouncing the ball and clapping before catching it.  



First grade students roll the ball around each foot in a figure-8 pattern.  

PHOTO: Centers and Overhand Throw Grades 3-5

This week, we are pre-testing the overhand throw for grades 3-5.  Students throw back and forth to each other for their pre-test at one center, and the other centers included jumping rope, agility ladder, and balance boards.  Below are photos of students at the agility ladder and balance board centers, along with the directions for each center.

During the second class of the week, students learn the overhand throw keywords:  T, Step, Throw.  Students practice these elements at the overhand throw center with feedback from me.  Next week, we will integrate reviewing the overhand throw elements with three centers for throw practice and one fitness center.    

PHOTO: Health class

In health, we are learning about the WISE decision-making model.

W:  What is the situation?
I:  Ideas to think about (options).
S: Select the best option.
E: Evaluate what happened.

This photo is a third and fourth grade (split class).  We voted to choose one scenario to practice the decision-making model.  We then take each step and discuss options, ideas, thoughts, and connections. Students then take notes on their own worksheets.

PBIS in the Gym

In the gym, we use the school-wide PBIS system for behavior.  Students earn tickets in recognition of good choices during PE, in transitions from one class to another, and anywhere else I see good choices happening.  We review expectations during each activity, and describe and clarify what safe, respectful, and responsible choices look like in the gym each class.

We review the PBIS expectations (how they look, feel, and sound in the gym) throughout the year as needed with individual classes, and when we return from breaks (September, November, January, and April) with all classes.

Our color chart.  

Grades 1-5 can also earn stars toward a Guard the Pin or Pins and Baskets game day.  Each class can earn two stars per class:  one star for being prepared, and one star for good behavior choices (nobody moves a color during PE class that day).  Once three weeks of stars are earned, the class gets a game day!

PHOTO: The Great Turkey Award

During this short week, students who have PE (Monday/Tuesday PE classes only) will participate in the Great Turkey Award.  This is a fitness color-by-number activity, with a physical exercise or stretch to go with each section of their turkey.

Upper elementary's Great Turkey Award. 

 Here are third grade students working on their awards.  For this upper elementary activity, we use free-flowing stations, where students move from exercise to exercise at their own pace.  

Third graders coloring in their feathers for one exercise.  

Lower elementary's Great Turkey Award.  Kindergarten and first grade do this activity in center-format, with a set amount of time at each station to do the exercise and color.  Then, we all rotate to the next center at the same time.  Second grade completes this activity similar to upper elementary, with free-flowing centers where students work at their own pace.  

Have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving!!  

PHOTO: Hula Hoops

For the past two weeks, K-5 students have been exploring movements with hula hoops.  This included balancing over the hoops, using different pathways and levels, hoop spinning, jumping/hopping into and out of the hoops, and working with partners.

Here is a 3rd and 4th grade class experimenting with spinning, hooping, and rolling hula hoops.

Here is a first grade class doing balances and bridges over their hoops. 

Haisley PE Blog!!

Welcome to the Haisley Elementary Physical Education Blog!  This blog will share a bit of the Physical Education experience at Haisley.  Please stay tuned for updates!