Winter Newsletter

Torringford School Winter Physical Education Newsletter

Although school will soon be out of session for the holidays and kids don’t have their P.E. classes and recess, it doesn’t mean that the kids have to sit on the couch all day. Instead, you can enjoy the winter months and stay fit by getting creative and using resources around you!

5 tips for the winter months:

1. Play a game of indoor basketball. Use two clothes hampers as goals and a soft ball, or a big ball of crumpled newspaper.

2. If your kids are going to play video games, they might as well be active ones! Start a Wii dance party with friends and family, or Just Dance for kids on You Tube. Each family member can take his or her turn mastering dance moves and getting a great workout at the same time. See which games will get your kids moving the most.

3. Brave the weather! Head outside for some fun in the cold. If it isn’t raining, dress warmly and go out to play. The kids have the chance to burn their energy while you get a fire burning in the fireplace for when they return.

4. Join a local recreation league. Many local governments have great programs that can get the entire family involved. Who knows – you may even find a sport or activity that you enjoy that you’ve never tried before.

5. Take walks in the neighborhood with your family. You can bundle up and enjoy quality time together. Stroll your neighborhood and check out the beautiful holiday decorations.

P.E. Winter Curriculum

Kindergarten, First and Second Graders will continue to work on locomotor skills (skipping, hopping, running, etc) and spatial awareness (moving in open space without running into someone). Students will participate in organized fitness games which incorporate locomotor skills for cardiovascular activity. We will work on overhand throwing, underhand throwing and catching with different sized objects with partners and small groups. Students use these skills in organized games in order to transfer these individual skills into games. We will continue work on sharing, sportsmanship, game rules, class rules and boundaries. Jump Rope for Heart will be held in the month of February during Heart Awareness Month (information will be sent home at the end of January). Students will participate in a nutrition unit in the month of March, which is Nutrition Awareness Month.

Third Graders: Throughout the school year, all 3^rd grade students will be participating in a fitness challenge. This challenge will help prepare these students for the four Connecticut State Physical Fitness tests (Sit and Reach, Pacer, Sits Ups, Push Ups) which will begin in 4^th grade. For the remainder of the time until Winter Break, the students will be getting a heavy dose of fitness games designed to help them burn off their extra energy before the holidays. After the holidays, all grades will be participating in a bowling unit. Other winter activities and sports include: floor hockey, dance, gymnastics, volleyball, and nutrition. Jump Rope for Heart will be held in February (information will be sent home at the end of January).

Check out 5210 Let’s Go at http://www.how2fitkids.org/. This program uses evidence-based strategies to increase healthy eating and physical activity among children from birth to 18.

*Please visit https://sites.google.com/site/sitetorringfordschoolpe/at-home-activities for a list of activities to do at home.

Ms. McMurdy

Torringford School Physical Education Instructor

emcmurdy@torrington.org