2024-2025 Archive

Welcome Back!!!! 

September

During our first month of school K-2nd graders have been working on developing their foundational locomotor skills. These included jumping, hopping, skipping, galloping, sliding, leaping, crawling, jogging, and running. In the photos above students are working on practicing their locomotor skills in different setting and on different pathways. 

During our first month of school students in grades 3-5th have been working on cooperative games. In class we have been discussing the importance of working together, taking turns, problem solving,  and developing our communication skills to achieve a common goal. 

October

In October in students in all grades (K-5) have been working on throwing and catching skills. These included the overhand throw, underhand toss, and catching skills. 

Students have been focusing on developing their throwing and catching skills through a variety of engaging activities and drills. They have been practicing proper grip, stance, and arm mechanics for accurate and controlled throws, as well as improving their hand-eye coordination and reaction time for successful catches. Students have worked with different types of balls, from soft to slightly firmer, to build confidence and technique. Through partner drills, small group games, and team challenges, they’ve learned how to adjust their throws to different distances and speeds, while also strengthening their ability to anticipate and track the path of a thrown object. These skills are being developed progressively, with students demonstrating increased accuracy, coordination, and teamwork as they refine their abilities.

November

In November, students have been developing their soccer and foot skills through a variety of drills and activities designed to improve their control, passing, dribbling, and shooting techniques. They have been practicing using different parts of the foot—such as the inside, outside, and sole—to maintain better control of the ball while moving at different speeds. Through dribbling exercises, students have focused on improving their agility and coordination, while passing drills have helped them develop accuracy and timing. As students gain confidence in their ability to manipulate the ball, they’ve also worked on their shooting skills, learning to aim and strike with precision. These activities not only enhance individual technical abilities but also encourage teamwork, reinforcing the importance of communication and collaboration in soccer.

December

In December, students in grades K-5 focused on developing their bowling skills during physical education. They practiced the fundamental techniques of bowling, including the 4-step approach, which emphasizes proper footwork and timing to enhance accuracy and consistency. Through engaging activities and drills, students learned how to align their movements, aim effectively, and release the ball with precision. This unit not only introduced the mechanics of bowling but also encouraged teamwork, hand-eye coordination, and focus, providing a fun and educational experience for all participants.

Later in December, students in grades K-2 explored parachute skills, enjoying activities that emphasized teamwork, coordination, and spatial awareness. They worked together to create waves, launch objects, and engage in creative parachute games, fostering collaboration and excitement. Additionally, all students in grades K-5 participated in winter-themed cooperative games, including the "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" relay, as shown in the photo above. These activities encouraged students to work as a team to complete fun and festive challenges, blending physical activity with the seasonal-holiday spirit. The games emphasized problem-solving, communication, and a sense of community, making the season both active and memorable.

January

In January, students focused on both nutrition and fitness as part of their physical education curriculum. Our nutrition lessons introduced the MyPlate model, helping students understand the different food groups and how to build balanced, healthy meals. We also discussed "sometimes" vs. "anytime" foods, guiding students in making smarter, healthier food choices.

On the fitness front, students explored the components of both health-related and skill-related fitness. They had the opportunity to test their performance in skill-related components including balance, coordination, reaction time, speed, power, and agility. Additionally, we introduced exercises and sports designed to improve health-related fitness areas like cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility.

Overall, January was a month filled with valuable lessons on making healthy choices and staying active to support lifelong fitness and wellness.

February

In February, our students took on the challenge of jump rope during physical education, working on fundamental skills, perseverance, and personal growth.

In grades K-2, students focused on developing their basic jumping skills through modified activities. They practiced jumping over moving objects, progressing to self-spinning and eventually jumping over a moving rope. By the end of the unit, students successfully jumped over a teacher-spun long rope—a huge accomplishment!

In grades 3-5, students refined their independent jump rope skills and explored long rope techniques, including jumping into a student-spun moving rope. They also worked on beginner, intermediate, and advanced jump rope tricks, choosing challenges that suited their skill levels.

Across all grades, we emphasized that jump rope is a challenging skill requiring hard work, dedication, and perseverance. We discussed the power of a growth mindset—rather than saying, "I can't do it," we reminded ourselves to say, "I can't do it YET."

I am incredibly proud of the progress and determination shown by all our students. The improvement across all grades was truly commendable!

March - Part 1

During the beginning of March, students participated in a hand volleying unit that introduced and developed key volleying skills across all grade levels.

K-2 students began by practicing individual hand volleying tasks using balloons, focusing on control and consistency. They progressed to working in pairs and small groups, eventually rallying over a barrier in teams to build cooperation and tracking skills.

3rd-5th grade students also started with balloons to refine their volleying technique before transitioning to beach balls for modified Newcomb games. As they advanced, they learned introductory volleyball skills, including the underhand serve and set. In addition to skill development, students were introduced to volleyball etiquette and basic rules, which they applied while playing their modified games, reinforcing teamwork and sportsmanship.

This unit provided an engaging foundation for hand-eye coordination, cooperation, and an appreciation for volleyball-style play.

March - Part 2

During the second half of March, students developed their striking skills using various implements, progressing from basic coordination drills to more structured games.

K-2 students explored striking by using balloons and a variety of implements, including pool noodles and lollipop paddles. They practiced individual striking tasks to build control and accuracy before advancing to “keep it up” games, where they worked in pairs and small groups to rally over a barrier, reinforcing teamwork and spatial awareness.

3rd-5th grade students focused on foundational racket skills, beginning with the proper beginner universal grip for racket sports. They learned to identify and name different parts of a racket while practicing ball control drills. As they progressed, they developed forehand and backhand strokes, working on technique and consistency. Students also worked up to rallying over a barrier and hitting the ball off a bounce to start a rally. To aid skill development, they used modified USTA balls, which allowed for better control and success as they refined their striking abilities.

This unit helped students improve hand-eye coordination, striking mechanics, and cooperative play, laying a foundation for future racket sports.

April

The month of April was our basketball unit. Students in both K–2nd and 3rd–5th grades actively developed a variety of fundamental movement and sport-specific skills in a fun and supportive environment. 

Students in grades K-2 focused on foundational basketball skills through modified, age-appropriate activities. They learn the technique and practiced: dribbling (with both hands while stationary and moving), passing (using chest passes and bounce passes), and shooting (with proper hand placement and balance using lowered  and modified hoops).  They engaged in games and drills that were simplified and emphasized coordination, control and teamwork.  This helped students to build confidence while promoting active participation and enjoyment.

Students in grades 3-5 refined their basketball skills with increased complexity and game-like scenarios. They focused on: controlled dribbling (with dominant and non-dominant hands while incorporating direction changes and maintaining possession from defenders), various passing techniques (including chest, bounce, and overhead passes), proper shooting form (including B.E.E.F- balance, eyes, elbow, follow through while using shooting and guide hands), basic offensive and defensive concepts (spacing, ball protection, pivoting and marking an opponent), and teamwork and strategy (during modified gameplay). To develop these skills student engaged in skill based stations, drills, and small sided games to provide practice opportunities and reinforce cooperation, communication and sportsmanship.

All students made great strides in this unit and I'm very proud of their skill development!!!!

May -- Field Day Preperation