K-1 PE, and 2-4: Hula Hoops!!

In Young Fives, K, and 1st grade PE, we have started our Hula Hoop fun!

1.  Warm up!  Ship to shore, or around the circles warm-ups, and our stretches routine.
2.  Learned/reviewed "badda-boom, badda bing".  These words are a signal to stop playing with the equipment (hula hoops in this case, but we will use this phrase with bean bags, and other equipment too!), sit down, hands in your lap.
3.  Each student gets a hula hoop.  When they return to their seat, they work on balancing the hoop on different body parts (head, back, arm, elbow, fingers, upper thigh, and more!).
4.  Exploratory movement with the hula hoops:  students are encouraged to try:

• standing inside the hoop, outside, to the front, right side, left side
• jumping into and out of the hoop
• hopping in and out of the hoop (also trying their non-dominant foot)
• hopping around the outside of the hoop (also trying their non-dominant foot)
• make a balance over your hoop or part of it
• make a balance with 2 parts, 3 parts, 4 parts, 5 parts of your body touching the floor
• lay on the floor and balance your hoop on your feet and hands, rock it back and forth
• make different body shapes with your hoop on the floor (narrow, curled up, wide, stretched, etc.)
• spin the hoop:  clockwise, counter clockwise, dominant hand, non dominant hand
• spin the hoop and run around it, trying to catch it before it falls to the floor

All of these exploratory movements with the hoop are suggested and demonstrated for students, and they have opportunity to try them.  They have so much fun with this!  And, during this fun lesson, students are working on many movement and spatial awareness concepts.  

Grades 2-4 also started Hula Hoops, in their second lesson of the week (first lesson for grades 2-4 was the half or full mile pre test -- and fifth grade only has PE once per week).  Grades 2-4 do the above activities more quickly than Y5, K, and 1st grade -- and they do some more advanced activities with spinning the hula hoops.  A favorite is spinning the hoop at their seat, leaving it spinning and running to touch one or more walls in the gym.  Then, returning to the (hopefully) still spinning hoop to scoop it up before it falls to the floor.  

4th graders:  spin - touch a wall - try to catch the hoop before it falls to the floor

Hula hoop activities adapted from Landy and Landy, Ready to Use PE Activities for Grades K-2, 1992.

PE: Grades 2-5

This week, the weather has been AMAZING - so we did half mile/mile run pre-testing with grades 2-5!  Students did a fabulous job overall!  Before each class, we go over outside rules and specific information about half and mile run testing.  

Outside Rules: 
1.  Keep moving quickly:  speed walk, jog, or run the whole way
2.  Stay on the sidewalk
3.  Hands and body to yourself
4.  Listen for the whistle/megaphone

Half/Mile Testing: 
1.  6 laps = 1 mile, 3 laps = 1/2 mile
2.  Single file walk/jog/run (no side by side), even if your test is done.  This is to allow students to pass on the left.  This is a pre or post test, not a social time.  Blocking the sidewalk with large groups or students, or even two or three walking and talking, is discouraging to others still testing - and makes it difficult to pass.
3.  Trying YOUR BEST is something to be proud of - no matter if that is 17 minutes or 7 minutes.  If you try YOUR BEST, I am proud of you.
4.  Speed walk breaks are okay.  I frequently run for exercise in the mornings before school, and my running partner and I take walk breaks during our sessions.  I emphasize with students that they should be moving quickly, not taking a leisurely stroll -- even if needing a walk break.
5.  Bubble sheets:  Our tracking system for laps -- students hold a half or quarter slip of paper while they run.  Each time they complete a lap, I put a mark in the appropriate "bubble" on the sheet.  On their last lap, I record their time.  When they finish, I keep their bubble sheet and they continue walking/jogging/running to cool down while everyone finishes the pre or post test.  Below is a student's completed bubble sheet, which I then use to record scores.

Second graders' bubble sheets only have three bubbles, as they are completing a half mile at this point in the school year.

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).  

Routines...Routines...Routines!

Welcome back to Haisley Physical Education!!  This past week, students have been practicing routines and reviewing rules for our physical education classes.  Mostly, rules and routines are the same.

1, 2, 3:  New this year is a 1, 2, 3 plan for behavior issues.  This plan is similar to a stoplight format, which is used in many classrooms.  Students have three warnings for small behavior issues.  On the third warning, they take a break from the activity.  More serious behavior issues have more serious consequences, including a break from activity without being able to return, phone call home, and/or visiting the principal.  This structure is very similar to the color chart used previously in PE, but is more streamlined.

1st grade PE/Humanities - Health:  First graders will have PE for humanities!  This means first graders have 60 minutes of PE each week, and an additional 76 minutes for PE/Humanities -- Health.  During this time, we'll be experiencing the Michigan Model of Health curriculum.  First grade families, expect to see more information next week about this program!  First graders should have gym shoes on every gym day.  We will be moving every day!!

In the coming weeks, we'll be reviewing more routines, and of course, moving!  Please have your student wear comfortable clothing and gym shoes on their PE days!  PE days are:

Y5 Saenz: Monday Tuesday
K Levine:  Monday Tuesday
K Marquardt:  Tuesday Wednesday
1 Christiansen: Monday Wednesday Friday
1 Keith: Monday Wednesday Thursday
2 Everett: Wednesday Thursday
2 Murrell: Wednesday Thursday
2 Strohl: Tuesday Thursday
3 Sheets: Tuesday Friday
3 York: Tuesday Friday
3/4 Hahn: Tuesday Thursday
4 Harris: Monday Wednesday
4 McGee:  Monday Wednesday
5 Carnegie: Wednesday
5 Schafer:  Monday
5 Weindorf:  Friday

Welcome back...almost!!

Preparations are underway for the '15-16 Haisley Physical Education year!!!

As soon as available, the PE schedule will be posted on the PE website.  For the first few weeks of school, sending students with PE shoes every day is a great idea.  The schedule sometimes changes during the first few weeks of school, so it's best to be prepared!

Younger students, especially young fives, kindergarteners, and first graders, do much better wearing PE shoes to school (not having to change into gym shoes from flip flops or sandals).  Gym shoes cover toes, cover heels, and have a rubber sole.

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