K-2: Overhand Throw

This week, grades K-2 are working on the overhand throw.  (See my previous blog post for how grades 3-5 practiced the overhand throw!)  We use most of the same underhand throw centers to practice overhand throw.  This helps minimize time spent explaining center rules since students have already experienced the centers once before.  As with underhand throw, there are three throwing practice centers and one fitness center:  jumping/jumping rope.

We break the overhand throw into three parts:  T, step, throw.

• T:  make your body into the shape of a T, with throwing hand back and opposite hand pointing toward the target. 
• Step:  step with your opposite foot toward your target. 
• Throw!  Bring your arm OVERHAND and release the ball or beanbag!  

Students practice saying the keywords several times.  Then, they watch me demonstrate the throw while they say the keywords.  Students then practice throwing with no ball -- while saying the keywords, and then finally, have the opportunity to practice at centers.  

This is the poster we use for keywords.  

In the background, students partner throw back and forth.
In the foreground, students jump: jump rope or ski jump at the fitness center. 

A student overhand throws with enthusiasm at the throw bowling center. 

Students line up to throw at our shape wall targets. Targets are bigger for lower elementary students. 

More wall target practice.  

With our centers, there are targets - but we emphasize form over accuracy at this point.  Many students step with their same foot (instead of their opposite foot) -- and lining up into a "T" helps minimize this.  

K-2: Underhand Throw

Grades K-2 are working on the underhand throw.  We break the skill into three parts:

Important vocabulary for this skill includes:  opposite foot, release, and follow through.  These ideas are important and relevant to many fitness and sports activities, and resurface during many future lessons and activities.

I demonstrate the underhand throw several times, and have students watch my demonstration for different important points.  Students repeat the key words (Step, Swing, and Point) several times, and then practice the motion without the ball or bean bag.  Finally, they have practice time with the object at their own target.

For the first day of practice, the target is a rectangular brick along the outside edge of the gym.  Each student has their own target.  Students take three steps out from the wall, turn around, and underhand throw to their target.  I circulate checking for opposite foot and basic parts of the skill, giving feedback to each student during practice.

For the second day of this topic, centers are used for practice.  Students have a variety of high and low targets at each center.  Center descriptions are posted on the wall, and are described and demonstrated before students begin rotations.

Wall targets are created with tape.  They are different shapes: pentagon, hexagon, triangle, and rectangle. These labeled targets reinforce geometry and math concepts learned in the classroom.  

Bowling pins (3) are the target for this center. Students love to hear them clatter to the floor when they hit the target!  

Hula hoops on the floor are targets for this center.  

An additional fitness or activity center is also used for this lesson, and may include jump rope, hula hoops, balance boards, or balance beam.  During this centers activity, I choose one center and give focused feedback to each student during their time at that one center.

3-5: Jump Rope Intro and Centers

Grades 3-5 are starting our jump rope unit.  We begin with the basics:  how to measure a jump rope.  Ask your student to show you how we measure to have the appropriate rope for each student's height.  We also review basic jumping techniques:  single jumps, double jumps (double bounce), and focusing on wrist movement (versus swinging arms) to keep the rope going.  Older students also choose between a beaded jump rope and a speed rope.

Basic jump rope tricks begin with different leg movements - starting with jumping on one foot.  Other tricks include ski jumps with the jump rope (two feet together, jump side to side), and other variations where just the feet move.  More advanced tricks include cross-overs (where the rope is crossed, and the student jumps through the loop created by crossing), and even 180 degree turns while jumping.

To practice some basic jumping skills, we rotate through jump rope centers.  Center descriptions are below.  With all classes, students have diverse ability levels.  If students are working on basic rhythm and rope movement, they work on those basic skills while others may be working on more advanced skills.  Students are intentionally grouped with others of different ability levels, and encouraged to help each other with skills.  A supportive environment is always what we strive for.

Students take turns turning long ropes and jumping. They can use different jump rope rhymes. Some are posted on the gym wall (see additional photos below).  Jump rope rhymes are from the book Anna Banana by Joanna Cole.  The book is full of jump rope rhymes, and the Haisley media center has it.  Check it out!

Warm-up/Cool-down Games & Activities

Sometimes we play games at the beginning or end of class for warm-up or cool-down.  These games often are low-organization games, which don't involve assigned positions or long sets of rules.  Both warm-up and cool-down games usually are designed to get students moving.  For cool-down games, we try to select ones that are relatively calm to prepare students to transition to their next special or to their classroom.

Here are two photos of 3rd and 4th grade students playing a version of Rock, Paper, Scissors called "I won, We Run" as a warm-up game.  Students gather around the center line of the gym, all with a partner to play Rock, Paper, Scissors.  They play.  The winner runs to touch the black endline once.  The loser runs to touch the black line twice.  Once each player returns to the center line, they play against anyone else who is ready to play.  Ties play again until someone is the winner.


Another favorite is our Spelling Warm-Up.  Each student has a card with a word on it.  All students start in the center circle, holding their card.  They jog to touch the wall underneath each letter to spell their card word.  They then exchange their card for a new card.  Letters are on the gym wall in ABC order.  This activity not only gets students moving, but also reinforces alphabetical order skills.

W is for Warm-up!  Letters like this are posted around the perimeter of the gym.   We use them for the Spelling Warm-Up described above, and they also are used for one of our assigned seats in the gym.  

Everybody's It.  Everybody LOVES this one!  This is great for a cool-down since it is more calm, even though students LOVE it.  Just like the game's title sounds, everyone is it for this one.  Students have to stay inside the boundary line we call "the box", the black line marking the perimeter of the basketball court lines.  Walking only.

• Round 1:  If you get tagged by anyone, you sit down criss-cross-applesauce and you are out.  You sit immediately right where you were tagged.  No moving your seat, no turning your body around, no getting back into the game.  

If Round 1 is played perfectly (no reminders about how to sit!), and we have time, we try the following variation for the subsequent round:

• Round 2:  If you get tagged by anyone, you sit down criss-cross-applesauce.  You sit immediately right where you were tagged.  No moving your seat, no turning your body around, no getting back into the game.  This time:  You can tag others while sitting.  If you tag others while sitting down, they sit down where you tagged them.  You may not uncross your legs or lay down.  

If Round 2 is played perfectly (no reminders about how to sit or unfolding legs/laying down!), and we have time, we try the following variations for one more round:

• Round 3:  If you get tagged by anyone, you sit down criss-cross-applesauce.  You sit immediately right where you were tagged.  No moving your seat, no turning your body around, no getting back into the game.  This time:  You can tag others while sitting.  If you tag another person while sitting down, they sit down where you tagged them, AND YOU GET BACK UP.  You are back in the game.   

Hot Lava.  We imagine the three center circles are full of hot lava.  Stay out of the lava!  Go counterclockwise around the gym using different locomotor skills.  I usually participate with students (which explains why many days, I wear shorts, even in cold weather!).  I demonstrate each locomotor skill, calling out the skill with the microphone while we are all moving.  We turn the music up, and students are encouraged to sing along!  This activity really gets our hearts and muscles warmed up.