Health: Handwashing

In health, both kindergarten and first graders have learned about the importance of handwashing.  Part of our lesson included a video.  The students in the video conducted an experiment.  First, they rubbed their hands all over the floor.  Then, one student rinsed his hands with cold water.  Another student washed hands with warm soapy water.  The third student didn't wash or rinse his hands.  Then, each student placed his/her fingers into a petri dish, which was then allowed to grow for three days.  The bacteria on each petri dish was fascinating.  The cleanest was, of course, the student who washed with warm water and soap.  Next was the cold water rinse, and the highest bacteria growth was the student who didn't rinse or wash his hands.

Australian Pursuit

In PE, grades 3-5 have participated in a game called Australian Pursuit.  It is pretty competitive, and students seem to really enjoy this game.

This is the activity setup.  This week, we have been able to do this activity outside, in the grassy area behind the gym.  The "waiting lines" are painted onto the grass using water-based field marking paint, to help give students a visual of where to wait for their turn.    

This is the basic rules sheet we go over before starting the game.  

After going over the rules and setup, we move outside (if possible).  I divide the class into teams, and then we begin practice runners.  We usually practice for a few minutes.  During practice, I stop the runners and discuss things that may happen during practice to point out important parts of the game rules/structure/etc.  We stop practice, and then start the "real game".  If one team's runner tags the other team's runner, the tagging team gets one point, and we start a new round with the next runner.  Cutting a corner results in the other team winning a point for that round, and restarting a new round with the next runner.  Throwing from past the throwing cone also results in the other team winning a point.  (Third graders play with a soft foam regular round shaped ball instead of a football.  This keeps the ball from bouncing unpredictably if the student doesn't catch the throw.)

Fourth graders playing Australian Pursuit