Week of 5/2 and 5/9: Fitness Testing & Centers

A kindergarten student made this for me.  :)  

Grades 3-5 Centers:

1.  Fitness Testing:  Flexed Arm Hang and Sit and Reach.  Students complete these tests with me, and then practice curl-ups on the mats.  For more information on Flexed Arm Hang and Sit and Reach testing, see my previous blog post (Sit and Reach) or the FitnessGram site.  

2.  Hula Hoops. 

3.  Jump Ropes. 

4.  Exercises:  jumping jacks, burpees, stretches, ski jumps, scissor jumps, push ups, ABC strong solders -- students choose which exercises to do at this center.  These exercises also help warm students up for the sit and reach test, as muscles are more flexible when they are warmed up!

FitnessGram reports for grades 3-5 will come home the last day of school, along with student final report cards.

Grades 3-5:  Curl-ups!  See the FitnessGram site for information on this test. :)  

Grades Y5-2 Centers: 

1.  Jacks:  Underhand toss and catch the jack back and forth with a partner.  Count how many catches you have in a row without dropping the jack!  Start over if one partner drops it. 

2.  Hula Hoops.  One hoop per person, choose between a large hoop or small one!  Have a contest with group members, roll it with a partner, jump through the hoop like it's a jump rope, or just plain hula hoop with it!  

3.  Jump Ropes.  Practice jumping!  Start with the rope behind you, swing it over your head.  Use your eyes to look 

4.  Balance boards.  Take turns balancing on the center of the balance board.  When you're finished, go to the other board to wait your turn (one board is slightly higher off of the ground than the other board, so I have students try both).  When you are up next, count to ten slowly so the person balancing knows when their turn is up.

Young fives learning how to participate at the balance board center.

Pathways/directions/statues warm-up:  Young fives

Underhand throw/catch the jack center:  First graders

Hula!  

Jump Ropes

Balance boards in action:  First graders

Grades Y5-2:  Hula Hoops and Jump Rope!!  

Week of 4/18 & 4/24: Mile Run, cardiovascular fitness, and more!!

Grades 3-5:  This week, we begin our spring round of the Mile Run test and AMAP (see below for information).  For grades 3-5, "The Mile" is part of our FitnessGram testing.  Any student grades 3-5 not finishing or not participating in the mile test during regularly schedule PE class will either make the test up during another PE class or during lunch recess (fifth graders makeups are almost always during recess because of scheduling).  Students are encouraged to take a speedwalk break as needed, to be safe, pace themselves, and try their very best during this activity.  Almost ALL students are physically able to do the mile in less than 20 minutes, even if walking the whole way.  We can do it!! This year, I added music -- bringing the wireless speaker and iPod outside.  This makes the atmosphere more fun for students!  Additionally, I run a stopwatch app on my phone during the test, and set this on the rolling cart.  This way, students can be checking their times at each lap.  (See photo below of the stopwatch!)

I truly strive to make The Mile fun and focus on best effort, intentionally NOT making the test a high pressure, anxiety-producing experience for students.  Just like everything at school, each student approaches the mile run differently, with a different fitness level, amount of sleep the night before, different breakfast/lunch/food before the test, emotional status, effort level, etc.  I only ask that students give their best effort when we test!  

For more information about Fitness Testing, check out my other blog posts about this topic, including this one from last spring:  http://haisleyphysicaleducation.blogspot.com/2015/05/pe-weeks-of-54-and-511.html

All grades -- AMAP:  AMAP stands for As Many As Possible.  I found this idea on a PE blog, and have used it this week!  Classes compete to see who can get the most laps per student.  Students hold a piece of paper and get a mark each time they go around.  I total these laps and divide by the number of class participants, and that's the magic number (laps per student)!!  Kindergarten and young fives have not participated in this yet -- but will in the next few weeks.  

For some classes, we used the mile run bubble sheets for AMAP.  For other classes, we used scrap paper (no names needed since total laps are divided by the total number of runners!).  

Grade 2:  Second graders experience a practice of the mile run test during PE in the spring.  This helps students know what the mile run test looks, feels, and sounds like -- before third grade.  I tell second grade students if they don't finish a mile during our time, it's okay - just try your best, and this is a practice!  Second graders are also participating in AMAP.  =)  

Grade 1:  First graders do a half mile timed test, and also AMAP.  During our AMAP time, many students have completed more than one mile!!  

Grade Y5 and K:  Young Fives and kindergarteners experienced "Sidewalk Track 101".  We talk about how the sidewalk track is the area around the "big kid" playground.  The sidewalk track is used for our school Walk-a-Thon, and for mile testing starting in third grade (and spring second graders).  We discuss basic expectations before going outside:  keep moving, hands/body to yourself, stay on the sidewalk, and listen for the whistle/megaphone for directions.  Then we take a walk around the sidewalk track all together.  We stop at different points around the track to talk about expectations.  Then, students are allowed to do 1-2 laps (time permitting) around the track at their own pace (speedwalking/jogging/running).  Y5 and K will do AMAP in the coming weeks.  

"Bubble Sheets".  This student completed the fall mile in 7 minutes 27 seconds.  WOW!  This time, he beat his old time, completing the mile in 7 minutes 13 seconds.  I share with students that my mile pace is between 9 and 12 minutes per mile when running 3+ miles.  I need to get out and complete my own mile run test!!   "Bubble Sheets".  This student completed the fall mile in 7 minutes 27 seconds.  WOW!  This time, he beat his old time, completing the mile in 7 minutes 13 seconds.  I share with students that my mile pace is between 9 and 12 minutes per mile when running 3+ miles.  I need to get out and complete my own mile run test!!

These are the outside expectations, and Half/Mile Test talking points we review before each test.   These are the outside expectations, and Half/Mile Test talking points we review before each test.

This is the stopwatch app to show students their time during the test.   This is the stopwatch app to show students their time during the test.

Week of 12/14

Y5-2:  Students will work on the overhand throw!  We work on four steps for throwing:

• T:  point to target, body shaped like a T, opposite hand pointing at target
• Muscle:  Bend arm with ball/beanbag up, showing your muscle
• Step:  Step with opposite foot, transferring weight from back to front
• Throw:  Let the ball/beanbag go, end pointing toward target

During our first class of the week, students are assessed before instruction on the overhand throw.  Then, we do instruction on the keywords -- with teacher demonstration, student practice without a beanbag, and then practice at individual mid-level targets with a beanbag.  I circulate during this practice time and give students feedback on their form.  I have them say the keywords while they're moving their bodies for each step of throwing.  This is to help them remember each step.  

Students then practice with a low target (a foam cylinder shaped pin).  Then we move to partners (throwing at two pins, trying to knock both down at once), and then larger groups as time permits.  

3rd-4th, and Carnegie (5th):  These classes experienced basketball dribbling last week, so they are moving on to do basic jump rope activities.  These activities are adapted from Landy and Landy, Ready to Use PE Activities for Grades 3-4.  Activities include: 

• Rope patterns: stretch rope along the floor for these activities  (speed jump rope)
• jump zig zag from one end to the other end, facing forward, sideways
• hop back and forth across your rope, move from end to end
• straddle your rope, and jump this way (one foot each side of the rope)
• jump straddle-cross, so your rope is between your feet each jump.  
• keep hands on the floor while you jump your feet back and forth, while you move along the rope.  
• what are other ways you can move on or over your rope?  

• Circle patterns:  (speed jump rope)
• make your rope into a circle
• make a tall statue inside your circle
• make yourself as small as you can, as big as you can
• make a bridge with X parts inside the circle, X parts outside the circle (tried several of these!)
• put your hand in the center of the circle, legs straight out.  Walk legs around your hand like a grinder (coffee grinder),  switching hands and directions after two times around. 
• leave your circle and do different locomotor patterns to the music.  When the music stops, find an open circle and listen for directions (make a statue, bridge, balance, do an exercise, etc.).  
• Shapes:  For these next activities, students switched to a beaded jump rope.  
• make a shape with your rope -- any shape - circle, triangle, rectangle, hexagon, pentagon, parallelogram, etc.  
• make letters and or numbers with your rope
• with a partner (or small group), make some new shapes.  you now have twice the rope to work with!  
• For our second lesson of the week, grades 3 and 4 start out with a brainstorm of shapes they could make with jump ropes.  Some ideas include:  a house, igloo, sailboat, sunshine, clouds, flower, name(s) in cursive, letters, numbers, words, Nike logo, Under Armor logo, mitten, New Hampshire (!!  a second grade student did this last week, unprompted!), any state....and more. :)  

5th graders enjoying our jump rope lesson

5th grade rope shapes

Michigan!   

5th graders:  GO BLUE!   

Fourth graders at work

4th graders transfer the Scream painting (below) to our gym floor

Fourth graders:  ice cream cone!

3rd and 4th graders make cupcakes!

3rd and 4th graders make cupcakes!

Weindorf/Schafer:  Basketball dribbling activities, or fitness testing as needed!  See previous posts for upper elementary basketball/fitness testing activities. 

First grade health:  This week, we learned how and why to call 911.  Then, we started a craftivity (craft + activity!) to review fire safety.  This craftivity will take several weeks to complete, and we'll send home the final products in January.   

SXI:  The SXI class continues to work on t-ball, bowling, and moving, moving, moving during our PE time.  We adapt tasks as needed to allow for maximum participation and success.  For example, we have a ramp to use for bowling.  Each student has different needs and abilities, and we aim to have all students having fun, moving, and learning!  

ASD:  Both ASD classes have similar PE routines.  Students walk around cones in the gym, and then participate in a locomotor skill warm-up (gallop, skip, sideways slide-step, and run).  During some classes, we practice throwing/kicking/catching.  Next, we play kickball or t-ball, followed by choice time.  We have a large therapy ball they enjoy, scooters, hula hoops, playground balls are some options during choice time.  In January, students will add some stretching activities following our locomotor skill warm-up.  These activities work on following directions, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, listening skills, taking turns, and basic locomotor/manipulative skills.  Basic locomotor and manipulative skills serve as the basis for all sports and activities.