Fitness Friday
Mayfield Elementary Physical Education
Third grade through sixth grade take part in Fitness Friday. Grades 5-6 receive their fitness cards during locker room changing time. There are class folders on the wall and students each take their fitness cards after changing into the PE clothing. Grades three and four receive their fitness cards in the gymnasium after a quick review of expectations, safety and motivation.
Fitness cards are comprised of five fitness categories: Core, Upper body, Stretch, Cardiovascular and agility. Each of those five categories contains 5 fitness activities pertaining to each fitness component. Each fitness exercise is assigned a certain number to complete. That number is broken down into sets and reps or a whole number. These assigned numbers were designed as a baseline of completion for each activity. Students are expected to increase their sets and reps at a self-driven pace throughout the school year.
After entering the gymnasium students move at a self-pace. They can work out independently, or with as many as four other students at each station. Students are expected to complete each activity properly as was demonstrated and instructed by their Physical Education teachers. Each student travels with his or her own fitness card and pencil. They are expected to document and log each of their exercises as they complete them. Students should complete one fitness activity from each fitness component first before they do a second fitness activity from each component. Our hope is that each student gets a whole body workout each Fitness Friday. We do not want students to concentrate or focus on just one specific part of their body at this age.
During Fitness Friday our gymnasium is set up and designed to accommodate 60 to 80 students at a time safety. Stations are clearly labeled and positioned so that 25 different activities can all be going on at once with seamless transition between by each student. Students are able to actively rotate at a self-pace with no wait time. There are always multiple open stations and students can quickly locate them and preform activity required.
Students are able to complete a wide range of activity during our 35 minute class period. On average 5-10 students from each grade level are able to complete all 25 activities in a class period. On average the rest of the grade level is able to complete 3 fitness activities from each category.
Fitness Friday is a fun an exciting activity for the students to participate in each Friday. As a whole students have responded very well and are excited and highly motivated for Fridays!