Skill review

Skill review for the week of 9/28-10/2:

Design Your Own Obstacle Course!

Using physical education skills posted here and/or your own unique ideas, design your own obstacle course. This activity can be done inside or outside. Posted below is the Kilmer family doing an impromptu beach dunes obstacle course:

IMG_3995.MOV

Chalk and duct tape can be used in your design

Use any items you can find around your house

Design a Ninja Warrior Course or play "The Floor is Lava"! Make sure you check with a family member to make sure your course is safe:)

Send a picture or video of your obstacle course to gauleyd@nausetschools.org or share on Google Drive.

Skill review for the week of 10/5-10/9:

This week's skill focus is striking skills using implements

(racquets/beach paddles, bats, golf clubs)

Below are some ideas for striking practice, but you can also come up with your own! If you don't have a racquet or paddle, you can also use a fry pan or skillet, but you might want to check with an adult in your home first. As always, if you need to borrow any equipment to practice, email me gauleyd@nausetschools.org

"When striking with a racket or a paddle, children must be able to:

  • Accurately toss/drop the object to hit

  • Visually track the object while traveling.

  • Strike the object at the right moment.

Children must put all of these movements together to be successful. Striking is complex & generally one of the last skills a child develops. This should be taught after children have practiced striking with body parts (i.e., dribbling, volleying, etc). The basic action in all striking patterns is the same--giving impetus to an object with a hit, punch, or tap." PE Central

Striking Practice:

  • Grip: Shake hands with your racquet/paddle using your dominant or "favorite" hand

  • Eyes on object you are striking

  • Keep a stiff wrist ("pretend it is in a cast")

  • Keep your side to the target

  • Step with the opposite foot

  • Follow through

You can use any type of target similar to a hula hoop for Bullseye

If you do not have a net, string a rope between two stationary objects. Instead of a shuttle, you can use a balloon or other type of lightweight ball.

Batting Practice:

  • Grip the bat so the hands are close together and your favorite hand is on top

  • Stand with knees bent and your side to the pitcher, and put your back elbow up, like stretching when you yawn

  • Swing the bat nice and level (pretend you are clearing the top of a table), while "squashing the bug" with the back foot

  • Break the wrists (top hand comes over the top of the other hand) on contact of the ball

Our own Gianna Blauvelt showing us how to swing a bat--great form, Gianna!

Tees are typically used for Kindergarten and 1st grade students. If you do not have a tee, you can come up with your own or try pitching (good practice for tracking the ball!). Older students should simply practice hitting, preferably with someone pitching to you but you can also toss the ball up and hit it out of your hands.

Golfing Practice:

  • Grip the club so the hands are close together and your non-dominant hand is on top

  • Side to target

  • Turn front shoulder behind the ball

  • Arms reach back

  • Turn back shoulder past the ball and reach forward

  • Swing smoothly

  • Ferris wheel swing keeping head steady

Create your own targets like cups, laundry baskets, or a specified spot on the floor.

Skill review for the week of 10/12-10/16:

This week's skill focus is soccer skills (dribbling, kicking, juggling)

If you need a ball to practice, I can make arrangements to get one to you. My school email is gauleyd@nausetschools.org

Foot Dribble: Gently tap a ball back and forth using the inside of the foot, keeping the ball close and under control.

  • Dribble your ball and move in a zig-zag pattern.

  • Dribble your ball and move in a curved pattern.

  • Dribble your ball and move slow, then fast, then slow again.

  • Dribble your ball and move it to make a circle, a triangle, and a square.

  • Dribble your ball and move it to spell your name (then move on to other words)!

Foot Dribble (continued):

  • Dribble the ball and listen for a family member to call out the word "stop". When "stop" is called, quickly trap the ball with a foot trap (foot on top of the ball).

  • Dribble the ball and listen for a family member to call out a body part. When a body part is called, quickly stop the ball using that part of your body.

  • Dribble the ball and listen for a family member to call out the word "change". When "change" is called, switch the direction you are dribbling.

Foot Dribble (last one):

  • Dribble the ball around and through different obstacles.

  • Take turns putting obstacles in different places and then dribble through the course again.

  • See how fast you can go through the obstacle course and still keep the ball under control.

  • Place the obstacles closer together and dribble through the course.

Kicking/Shooting (at a target): Leap towards the ball, stepping alongside it with your non-kicking foot. Then, swing back and strike the ball either with the inside of your foot, or the laces of your sneakers.

  • Put your ball on a spot in front of a target. Kick the ball as straight as you can and try to knock down the target (pins, cones, tennis cans, etc.)

  • Once you knock down the target, stand it back up and try another target!

Goalie Kick (Punt): Hold the ball in your hands, step with your non-kicking foot, then swing back and up to kick the ball out of your hands. This skill is an advanced skill and may be challenging for younger students, but give it a try!

  • If you're able to have a family member be your partner: Try a kicking game called "Kickback". One person begins by punting the ball, the partner traps/catches the ball and punts back....further, if they can. At the end of 10 kicks the winner has "backed" up their partner the greatest distance.

  • If you are not able to have a partner, simply try to punt/kick up 10 times, trying to catch the ball on a bounce each time.

Juggling: Keep the soccer up using your feet and knees. Another advanced skill, but give it a try!

  • A family member counts while a partner tries to keep the ball up by bumping it with his/her knees and feet. Use the top of the knee, as well as top, inside and outside of the foot to keep the ball up. Each partner tries twice and changes places. Do 3 sets each.

  • If a family member is unavailable, you can practice on your own!

Skill review for the week of 10/19-10/23:

This week's skill focus is gymnastics skills

Gymnastics is a sport that includes exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, shoulders, back, chest, and abdominal muscle groups.

Gymnastics skills in physical education include weight-bearing and weight-transferring activities (animal walks and rolls), balancing, and jumping. Below are the activities we would typically do in the gym in station format. Pick your favorites to do at home and come up with your own gymnastics sequence (i.e. seal walk to forward roll to stork stand to star jump). Remember to only do those activities that feel comfortable and also make sure you ask for help from someone at home if you feel you need it.

Gymnastics skills can be performed anywhere--on your rug at home, in your backyard, at the beach, at a park, or on an athletic field.

Send along pics and videos of your amazing skills! gauleyd@nausetschools.org

K-2 gymnastics skills:

3rd-5th gymnastics skills:

Skill review for the week of 10/26-10/30:

This week's skill focus is ball handling/dribbling

(Extra Credit: Shooting at a hoop either inside or outside)

Use the videos below to practice ball handling and dribbling. Please email me if you need to borrow a basketball--we can make arrangements to get one for you! gauleyd@nausetschools.org

You can also use a playground ball or any other type of bouncy ball for dribbling practice.

For shooting, anything goes--even a crumpled piece of paper shot into a trash can!

Dribble to music!

B.E.E.F. method of shooting: B: Balance the ball on your dominant hand, E: Elbow in, E: Extend arm up, F: Follow-through with your hand looking like a "goose's neck" after the ball is released. Non-dominant hand is the "guide" hand which rests on the side of the ball and helps guide the ball up towards the hoop. Keep those feet shoulder-length apart with knees bent to complete the picture of a perfect basketball shot!

Skill review for the week of 11/2-11/6:

This week's skill focus is jump rope.

Jumping rope is an all-encompassing physical activity for all ages and abilities. It improves heart health, strengthens leg muscles, builds agility and quickness (why it's popular with boxers), increases bone density, and most surprisingly it's great for your brain! Studies have shown that activities with BOTH physical and mental demands (like slacklining, ballroom dancing or jumping rope) have higher impacts on cognitive functioning than exercise tasks alone (like the treadmill or stationary bike). It turns out the very best workouts for brain health involve coordination, rhythm, and strategy.

If you need a jump rope, email me and I can make arrangements to get one for you: gauleyd@nausetschools.org

Make your own rope using any rope you have at home (cut so it reaches your armpits when stepping on the middle) or DIY using recycled bags and duct tape or old T-shirts:

Jump rope daily (3 times for 10 minutes with breaks as needed):

2nd-5th grade:

    • How many in a row without a mistake--record is Graysen Foster, 111 jumps!

    • Practice both basic (single bounce, double bounce, hopping, straddle) and advanced tricks (double-unders, crossovers, pretzel)

    • Jump with a partner using one rope, face-to-face or back-to-back

    • Invisible jump rope (jump rhythmically on a trampoline without a rope)

    • Jump using rhymes from school (you can use a long rope here as well):

      • "All in together, how do you like the weather January, February,....."

      • "Mabel, Mabel set the table, don't forget the salt and pepper" (swing rope faster and faster)

      • "Tick, Tock give the time by the clock 1 o'clock, 2, 3....."

      • "I know a man named Michael Finnegan, he wore whiskers on his chin again, along came a wind and blew them in again, poor old Michael Finnegan begin again..."

K-1st/2nd grade:

    • Side-swing (swing rope on side of body while jumping rhythmically in the middle)

    • Basic jump rope (forward, backwards, hopping, jog and jump)

    • Helicopter or snake with your family (like in PE class!)

    • Jump rhythmically on a trampoline

    • Bunny or kangaroo hops in a rhythmic manner around your house or yard

More jumping/jump rope challenges:

Active@Home_Jumping_Spots.pdf
TrainingJumpRope_Poster_Final (1).pdf

Send photos and videos of you jumping or jumping rope and I'll post on the website. Check out my jump rope videos, record is 105 in a row!

Pics/videos of Mrs. G. meeting her 60 min/day (or 10,000 steps) physical activity requirement!

Skill review for the week of 11/9-11/13:

This week's skill focus is volleying and striking.

  • Keep it Up: 1. Strike a balloon or other light object straight up with your palm or a racquet/paddle if available. 2. How many strikes can you make without the balloon hitting the floor?

  • Net Ball: 1. Work with a partner to send a balloon or other light object back and forth over a rope. 2. Take turns, starting play with an underhand serve.

  • Straddleball: Almost all students know this game from PE! Use any type of ball, preferably on the softer side. Make a circle with your family members (it can also be modified to play between partners). Make a wide goal with your feet. Using your palm, try to strike the ball (you can use multiple balls to ramp up the action) through other people's feet (goals). You are allowed to block balls coming at your goal. Play for a designated amount of time, scoring 1 point for each score!

  • Spelling while Striking: Make spelling fun by striking a balloon or any light object in the air, hitting it up for each letter!

  • Play Beachball Volleyball: If a net is not available, use a rope. 3rd-5th graders played this game in December so should have a general idea of how to play!

  • Striking also includes

    • A hockey stick and a puck/ball

    • Baseball bat and ball

    • Pool noodles and balloons

    • Tennis/Pickleball

    • A golf club and ball

  • Be sure to get in lots of striking and volleying this week, there are lots of options for you! Create your own game or activity using volleying/striking and send a pic or video to my email gauleyd@nausetschools.org!

Skill review for the week of 11/16-11/20:

A word of advice for parents: Attention span is short in young children. As soon as they go off task and don’t want to practice, time is up. Make it play time without pressure. More important is that children and parents start to realize that the process of practicing is much more important than the outcome of the skill. In contrast to academic subjects, there is no perfection in physical education and skill development. Avoid quantifying everything such as counting how many times the skill is performed correctly or focusing on how many times a mistake is made.--Dr. Robert Pangrazi

One key skill will be focused on each week--this week it's the Underhand Throw.

  • Make sure your son/daughter consistently steps with his/her opposite foot (from their throwing hand) when doing the underhand throw! This is a key element to throwing correctly.

  • Daily ideas for underhand throwing activities (plan up to 50 minutes like a PE class, switching up activities as needed to maintain motivation and attention):

    • Rolling for Dollars: Roll a ball to a partner. If your partner can reach the ball without having to take a step, you earn a point. If the ball rolls onto your partner's toes, you earn 2 points. If your partner has to take more than 3 steps to touch the ball, subtract a point from your score. Play until you reach 10 points or any other designated score.

    • Carnival Throw (need a beanbag--fill a sandwich bag with rice if you don't have one--and cans): Stack cans anyway you like. Take turns with a sibling or parent throwing underhand at the cans, seeing who can topple the most. Be creative on how the cans are stacked!

    • Ring the Wrist: Throw rings or anything similar you may have in your house onto a partner's wrists!

    • Number Toss: Place a bucket on the ground/floor, then scatter cards (you can use playing cards) with numbers on them all around the bucket with higher numbers farther away. When the game begins, stand on any spot and underhand throw a beanbag or ball into the bucket. If you get it in, you keep the card! If you miss, move to another spot and try again. How many points can you get in one game?

    • Pinguard (need bowling pins or tall blocks): Players set up a pin or block behind them. Set up a rope line in between players (players must always throw behind the rope). Using the underhand throw, try to knock down your partner's pin/block. Reset pin/block if it goes down. How many times can you knock your partner's pin/block over in 2 minutes or other designated time?

    • Bean Bag Battleship (variation of Pinguard): Set up multiple pins/blocks. Play as above except once all pins/blocks are down (no resetting), your battleship is sunk!

    • Bocce, Bowling, Horseshoes or Cornhole!

    • Create your own game or activity using the underhand throw and send a pic or video to my email gauleyd@nausetschools.org!

Skill review for the week of 11/23-11/27:

One key skill will be focused on each week--this week it's the Overhand Throw.

  • K-2: Watch this quick video to make sure your technique is correct! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tqLKu1ETJs

  • 3-5: Watch this 45-second video of Drew Storen from the Washington Nationals for the ultimate in overhand throwing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZKvJY6gDfg

  • Daily ideas for overhand throwing activities (plan for 50 minutes like a PE class):

    • Throw for Distance: Find an open space and overhand throw 5 times with half-power (half-way), then do 5 throws as far as you can. Repeat this exercise 3 times.

    • Wall Challenge (use an outside wall without windows and a softer ball!): Start 3-5 giant steps away from the wall. Throw to the wall. If you hit it without a bounce, step back one giant step and throw again. How far back can you move in 2 minutes?

    • Wall Ball (3rd-5th): Many students will know this game from PE and/or Running Club, but here's a video to help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udXf9NTbbzM

    • Don't Get Burned (minimum of 2 players): Using a rope or anything similar, lay down 2 lines about 10 paces apart (adjust accordingly depending on throwing ability). Both players stand behind the line facing each other. Place any lightweight items in the middle between the lines (i.e beach balls, balloons, etc). Using the overhand throw and staying behind the line, try to hit the items in the middle and move them towards your opponent's line. You can never touch the items even when they come close to your line. When an item has crossed over a line, the player(s) that moved the ball over with their throws gets a point!

    • Battleball (minimum of 2 players): Set up pins/blocks about 10 paces apart (adjust accordingly depending on throwing ability). Players throw and try to knock over their opponent's pins/blocks. Players must throw from a designated spot in front of their pins and are allowed to block!

    • Sheet shapes: Cut out different shapes in an old sheet or tarp, hang outside and try to throw through all of the shapes!

    • Messy Backyard (can also be played indoors as Clean Your Room): The object is to have the cleanest backyard! Hang a net or rope. Put a bunch of balls (or anything else safe to throw) on the ground on both sides of the net/rope. On the word "Go", players start overhand throwing items over the rope/net, only throwing one item at a time. Play several rounds of 30-60 seconds each. You can also play music like I do in PE to signify when the game starts and ends! Check out Mrs. Gauley reading the book that tells the story of Messy Backyard Pics/videos of Mrs. G. meeting her 60 min/day (or 10,000 steps) physical activity requirement!

    • Create your own game or activity using the overhand throw and send a pic or video to my email gauleyd@nausetschools.org!

General Guidelines for the week of 11/30-12/4:

If you have any of the equipment below (frisbee, any kind of ball, jump rope or any kind of rope, balloon etc), you can practice reviewing or working on any of the skills that we’ve learned in PE class this year.

    • Jump Rope: If you have a jump rope or any kind of rope, you can simply jump rope (how many in a row without a mistake) or practice tricks (double-unders or crossovers). You can also try to jump with a partner (sibling or other family member) or use a long rope with rhymes ("All in together, how do you like the weather January, February,.....")

    • Overhand throwing and Catching: If you have space in your yard and it’s safe to go outside:

      • Try to practice catching and throwing with a family member with any kind of ball or simulated ball

      • Throw at targets (be creative!)

    • Striking a Balloon (K-2nd Grade)/Striking a Beachball (3-5):

      • Blow up a balloon and practice striking it with different body parts or different items in your house

      • What is the hardest item or body part to control the balloon with? What’s your record for the most number of hits in a row without a drop?

      • Create a beachball volleyball game with your family in the backyard (use any kind of rope as the net) or do chair volleyball on your deck (again using a rope as the net!)

    • Basketball: If you have a basketball or playground ball, practice some of the ball handling drills in the tutorials below:

  • Hula Hoop (if hoops are available or make your own out of tubing and duct tape)

Stay Safe, Have Fun and Keep Yourself Active!

(from the PE Specialist website)