Warm-Ups are COOL!! Mile/Half Mile Run, and Builders/Dozers

Warm Ups are COOL! 
In all classes, we've been working on different types of warm-up (and cool-down) activities.   Some favorites include:

Y5, K, 1, & 2:

• Dots.  Poly spot dots are spread inside the three center circles.  Students move, using the announced locomotor skill (gallop, skip, sideways slide-step, jog/run) around the edges of the gym.  When the music stops, they put their feet on a dot and listen for what to do next!  This warm-up works on spatial awareness, and following directions (stop, start, freeze).  
• Walk the box/walk the lines.  Walking "the box" (the black line around the edges of the gym) or "the lines" (any/all lines in the gym) helps younger students identify important marks in the gym (spatial awareness).  This warm-up also works on following directions, especially start and stop directions.  
• 1&2:  Everybody's It Tag.  This is a great cool-down game.  Walking only, stay inside the box.  Just like the name of the game, everybody is IT!  Round 1:  Students tagged by anyone sit down, criss cross applesauce, hands in lap.  They're out until we start another round.  For now, students only play round 1.  Later in the year, they'll play rounds 2 and 3.  Round 2:  When out, you can tag others still in the game.  You stay out, but they're out, too, if you tag them.  Round 3:  When out, you can tag others still in the game.  You get back into the game if you tag another participant still walking.  

3-5: 

• Around the circles.   Students move around the center circles, listening for which locomotor skill to do (gallop, skip, sideways slide-step, jog/run).  We do this for one song, and then stretches, then our activity.  
• Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) - I Won, We Run.  Students play RPS over the center line against another person.  The winner runs and touches the black endline with their foot once.  The person who loses runs and touches the black endline with their foot TWICE.  When done with their running, students play against someone else - whoever is available at the center line.  No partners, no waiting for anyone in particular at the line. :)  Lots of movement!  
• Whip, Nae Nae.  There is a cardio workout for elementary PE classes to this popular song, and we tried it!  We used the YouTube video to follow along.  Most students enjoyed it - many students asked, "Can we do it again, right now?"  Ask your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade student about this one!  

Fourth graders warming up with the Whip, Nae Nae workout

Other Activities:  
Fitness Laps:  In grades 3-5, we'll do a fall Mile Run PRE-test sometime in the next month.  Classes this week will (weather permitting) go outside for an activity called Fitness Laps.  Students go around the sidewalk track, after each lap stopping to do an exercise.  Exercises include jumping jacks, ski jumps, scissor jumps, hops, wall sits, and stretches.  Second graders also participate in Fitness Laps at this point in the school year to prepare for a half mile PRE-test.

Builders/Bulldozers:  Y5-2 students have also been enjoying an activity called Builders and Bulldozers.  Cones are scattered all over the playing area, some tipped over, some set up.  Students have a job during the game - builders or bulldozers.  Builders use their hands to set up the cones.  Bulldozers use their hands to tip the cones over.  Students have a chance to do both jobs usually several times during each game, and we change the locomotor skill we use to move around the playing area.  This game works on following directions, spatial awareness/personal space, staying in control, locomotor skills, and start/stop signals.

Young Fives enjoying Builders and Bulldozers

Ship to Shore:  Ship to shore is a basic game that helps with directions and spatial-movement awareness.  Color coded cones are placed on each endline, and the center line of the gym.  One endline is the Ship, the other endline the Shore, and the center line is the Bridge.  Students listen for directions for where to move and how to move.  For example, the direction given might be:  "Girls, skip to the Ship."  Then, "Boys, gallop to the Shore."  etc.  This activity also helps me assess locomotor skills (gallop, skip, sideways slide-step, hop, jump, leap, walk, run).  

PE: Weeks of 5/4 and 5/11

This is such a busy time of the school year!!  The past two weeks have been full of many different kinds of activities for all grades.  Depending on the weather, classes have been going outside to use our outdoor spaces for PE classes.  If weather steered us indoors, we had other fun things to do!  Activities for Y5-5 have included:

• Mile Run Testing:  This is a FitnessGram test to assess cardiovascular fitness.  Grades 3-5 participate in this test.   Spring second graders do this as practice for 3rd grade fall.  Students with a previous fall score know their fall score prior to the start of the spring test, and have a goal of beating their previous time.  (I pre-label the mile run bubble sheets with student names and previous mile run times.  This gives more class time to the completion of the mile run.)  We emphasize best effort during this activity.  Students are encouraged to cheer each other on.  Students hold a "bubble sheet", and receive a mark in each bubble corresponding to each lap.  At the end of their mile (6 laps), I write their time on the bubble sheet.  

• Half Mile Run:  This is a lead-up activity for the mile run for K-2.  During our time to complete a half mile, we emphasize best effort, moving the whole time, and fun!  Students hold a bubble sheet, similar to the 3-5 sheet, but with only three bubbles.  This helps students know exactly what to expect for the 3rd-4th-5th grade "Mile".  =)  

• Fitness Laps activity:  Students run a lap and then stop to do an exercise.  When finished with the exercise (they count their own repetitions), they do another lap.  Exercises are posted on a cone near the starting area for reference, and are different for Y5-2 and 3-5.  

Grades 3rd -5th Fitness Laps

Young Fives - 2nd grade Fitness Laps

• Hand-Paddle Play:  Previously, we used a paddle with a bean bag to work on dexterity and eye-hand coordination.  This week, some classes used their hand as a paddle.  They experimented with things like: 
• Let the ball bounce and then hit it against the wall.  Hit the ball low/medium/high on the wall in front of you.  Catch it with both hands each time.  
• Try to hit it against the wall again when it bounces back!  
• Try to hit the ball with your non-favorite hand.  
• Two Square:  Floor tape marks two square "courts" around the gym.  Students played this game at the conclusion of class.  
• Adapted from Landy & Landy, Ready-to-Use PE Activities for Grades 3-5.

Third graders playing two square.