Happy New Year!

 We've had a blast this past week with parachute in upper elementary.  (Next week will be lower elementary's turn!)  Lower elementary students continued working on the overhand throw in centers.  One center was throwing with me, where I worked with each individual student.  Other centers included hula hoop, bean bag toss, exercises, and bowling.

Ms. Caballeros and Ms. Cech's classes have been enjoying new visual schedules, and one new element to our routine:  stretches!  We've also continued working on striking skills with tball.  Ms. Addison's class continues to work on individualized activities for each student, along with bowling and tball, too!

First grade health classes finished our fire safety review booklets.  Students can feel free to finish coloring their work at home.  Have your student show you the booklet and tell you about fire safety!

First graders working on fire safety review booklets

Parachute version of sharks and minnows

Inflation!  

Big giant bubble, right in front of them!

Color switch:  students walk with the parachute, jog to the next spot of their same color when called

Shake it!  

Sharks and minnows

Popcorn!  

PHOTO: Fitness Logs Bulletin Board

Last week in our first grade health classes, students were asked to keep a fitness log of their physical activity for one week.  (See the blog post for more information!)

Here is the bulletin board showing everyone how active we are!!  First grade families, if you haven't sent your activity log with your student in to the classroom, please send it in and it will be added to the bulletin board.

Week of 10/19/2015: First Grade Health

Activity Log:  A sheet will come home today (Monday 10/19) or tomorrow with first grade students.  One side is our "Pulse Fair" (experiment) side (see below for description).  Students recorded their pulse fast or slow for our different activity levels today.  On the other side is an activity log.  Please help your first grader fill out this activity log until next Tuesday, October 27.  Bring it to school that day!  We'll post the returned activity logs on a bulletin board to show the whole school how active we are!  

Mrs. Stoops' example activity log

Here is a blank activity log!

Monday's lesson included a discussion of pulse.  We started with what it is -- heart pumping and making arteries, tubes that carry our blood, expand.  We then talked about how our hearts pump faster and harder when we are active, because our muscles need more blood and oxygen when we are moving around.  Because our hearts beat faster, our pulse is faster when we are active!

We then talked about the two most common places to find our pulse, wrist and neck.  We then went over directions for how to check pulse for each place, and each student tried to find their pulse in  both locations.  I helped many students find their pulse on their wrists!

Then, our experiment part of the class:  we first checked our pulse when sitting.  Students felt their own pulse and decided if it felt fast or slow, and then wrote a F for fast or S for slow on their paper.  We then ran in place, stopped to feel our pulse, and students marked F (fast) or S (slow).  Then we rested and felt our pulses again at rest, followed by another bout of activity (jumping jacks, hopping, jumping, scissor jumps, and more!) and another pulse check.

The experiment reinforces that our pulse increases when active, and decreases when resting.  We will check our pulses throughout the school year, with more relative conclusions like we used today (fast, slow, medium) instead of numbers.

We also discussed why it is important to be physically active, how experts recommend 60 minutes of activity every day for children, and how things we do everyday at school do help count toward our activity time (PE class, activities at recess, during music class, etc.).

Example pulse experiment chart.  This is not homework, as we completed it together in class.  If your student was absent, you could try the experiment at home!  

Week of October 12, 2015: 1st Grade Health

Our new unit is Nutrition and Physical Activity!  This week we talked about the food groups, and how they can help us make good nutritious choices.  Students learned how healthy snacks are also important.  Our students enjoy such healthy snacks!!  Carrots was a very popular item, along with other vegetables and fruits.  We also talked about what physical activity is (moving parts of our bodies and making our hearts beat faster), and why it's important.  We learned there are three main benefits to physical activity:

• Flexibility:  when we are active, we encourage flexibility - especially when we stretch after an activity.  Healthy muscles are flexible.  Like a rubber band, we want our muscles to be stretchy so they don't tear or break.  
• Strength:  activity can help make our muscles stronger, making it easier for us to move and lift things.  Our heart is a muscle, too, and gets stronger and more healthy when we are active!  
• Endurance:  activities can help us move and play longer without being tired.  

Next week, we'll talk about our pulse and learn how to check it.  Students will also get an log to keep track of physical activities for one week.  I plan to post the ones returned on the bulletin board outside of the gym!  

K Health: Two Ds for Telling and Safety When Moving around

In Kindergarten health this week, we are starting our safety unit.  The first lesson focuses on self management skills of knowing when it's important to tell an adult about a situation.  Students begin by brainstorming safety rules of all kinds.  Examples include walking in the hallway, no jumping off of swings, hands to self, kind words and actions, and more.

Then, we talk about a rule we're learning about when to ask for help from an adult:  The Two Ds for Telling.  If a situation is dangerous or destructive, always tell an adult.

Then, we brainstorm situations that might be dangerous, destructive, or both.  Examples include: 

• drinking, eating, touching, smelling an unknown product, poisons, medicine
• playing with or being near weapons or other dangerous objects
• not wearing a seatbelt or bike helmet
• not staying with the class or group on a field trip
• playing in or near water without an adult
• trying to touch or play with an unfamiliar animal
• riding a bike in a busy street without adult help
• skateboarding in a busy parking lot

The difference between tattling and reporting is something most kindergarteners are working on, and we discuss it during this lesson.  Tattling is telling an adult about something in order to get someone in trouble.  Reporting is telling an adult about a situation you feel may be dangerous or destructive.  We then discuss adults that can help in a dangerous or destructive situation (teachers, principal, mom, dad, other relative, friend's mom or dad, etc.).

We also talked about safety while moving around -- walking and biking.  Students brainstormed safety rules, and I added a few, too:

• always have permission from an adult to take a walk or bike ride
• wear safety equipment when on a bike/scooter/etc (helmet) 
• look both ways when crossing the street
• always watch for driveway danger
• no goofing around when in or near streets/parking lots/where cars or bikes are
• if with an adult, follow the rules for crossing the street or going ahead of the adult (example:  holding hands when crossing the street, waiting at corners for the adult to catch up)
• walk on the sidewalk whenever possible
• watch where you're going!   

1st Grade Health: Safety on Wheels

During health this week, first graders discussed Safety on Wheels.  Students brainstormed things they use with wheels, and students came up with very expansive lists of ideas (including planes, tractors, cars, trucks, front loaders, bikes, scooters, skateboards, skates, and more!!)!  We then talked about how some of these (bikes, scooters, skateboards, tricycles, roller skates, inline skates) involve physical activity.  Using these things can be a part of our 60 minutes of physical activity each day!!

Then we discussed some basic safety rules with bikes, scooters, skateboards, and skates.  Students did a fabulous job making connections to personal experiences!!  We talked about WHY each of these rules is important to follow, and what could happen if these guidelines aren't followed.

1st Grade and Kindergarten Humanities: Week of 12/8/2014

Months of the Year

We have started our first grade and kindergarten nutrition unit for health, and will continue learning about food groups next week.  I thought we should take one class period and learn the Months of the Year dance.  This is something we will practice and do throughout the remainder of the school year.  Learning something to music and with motions helps us learn it better, faster, and retain it longer.

Students can practice this at home, with or without the actual song we use at school.  The motions are just like the Macarena.  Here are the directions:

1.  January:  Put your right arm straight in front with palm down.
2.  February:  Put your left arm straight in front with palm down.
3.  March:  Flip your right hand over.
4.  April:  Flip your left hand over.
5.  May:  Touch one hand to the opposite shoulder.
6.  June:  Touch other hand to the opposite shoulder.
7.  July:  Touch right hand to the right side of your head.
8.  August:  Touch left hand to left side of your head.
9.  September:  Put your right hand on your left front hip.
10.  October:  Put your left hand on your right front hip.
11. November:  Right hand on right hip.
12.  December:   Left hand on left hip.

PE/Humanities - Health!!

First grade and kindergarten students have been working hard during their PE/Humanities - Health time in the gym.  We have been learning about social/emotional health, including how to have positive relationships with others, and learning about feelings.

First grade students illustrated how they are good helpers at home and at school.  Kindergarten students created a coupon booklet for a special adult at home.  Each coupon can be redeemed for a job around the house, such as making a bed or helping with laundry.

First grade students illustrating how they help others at home and at school.