OCTOBER

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Lower Grades:

The lower grades have spent October working hard on their throwing skills. They have practiced the motion of these skills, practiced with a target, and used them in various games!

*Sometimes you may see the same activity listed for multiple grade groups. While the objective of the activity may be similar, it is modified to fit the skill level of that group.

What SHAPE America standards are we working on?

-Performs locomotor skills (hopping, galloping, running, sliding, skipping) while maintaining balance [S1.E1.K]

-Throws underhand with opposite foot forward (S1.E13.K)

-Follows directions in group settings (safe behaviors, following rules, taking turns) (S4.E1.K)

What are we doing?

Warmups:

"Line Up Song" by The Kiboomers: Each day, the "Star of the Day" (determined by the classroom teacher) leads the class into and around the gym. They get to practice decision making and leadership as they choose the direction that the class walks. It's been fun to see their personalities shine through and their confidence grow when it's their turn to be the leader!

"Stop & Go" by Fred Koch and "The Exercise Game #1" by Mark D. Pencil: These warmup songs have us practicing the movements of walking, jumping, galloping, skating, and tiptoeing as well as listening for the "freeze" signal.

Activities:

Underhand Throwing from Line: We talked about the individual steps of throwing underhand and students practiced putting these together into one motion while saying "Step, Tick Tock"

Make It, Take It: We filled the floor with rubber spots. Students choose a spot to stand (some are close, some are far) and aim for a nearby bucket. If their beanbag made it into the bucket, they pick up and keep the spot.

Stations: This was the first time that Kindergartens worked in small groups and rotated activities during P.E. We used equipment that they have seen before and they had a chance to be creative with beanbags, scarves, and hula hoops.

Oscar's Trash Can: Inspired by Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch, gymnastics mats were stood up to create a fort that we called "the trash can." Students used their throwing skills to try to get the balls into the fort. Several students at a time were also invited into the fort to throw the balls back out. This one came with lots of giggles!

Ghost Busters: During Halloween week, Kindergarteners played their first tag game in P.E. as they tried to get past the Ghost Busters without getting tagged by a pool noodle. This was an experience in playing fair, being honest, and waiting your turn to be a tagger. They did a great job!

What SHAPE America standards are we working on?

1st Grade:

-Differentiates between strong and light force (S2.E3.1b)

-Throws underhand, demonstrating 2 of the 5 critical elements of a mature pattern (S1.E13.1)

-Catches a soft object from a self-toss before it bounces (S1.E16.1a)

-Catches various sizes of balls self-tossed or tossed by a skilled thrower (S1.E16.1b)

2nd Grade:

-Throws underhand using a mature pattern (S1.E13.2)

-Throws overhand demonstrating 2 of the 5 critical elements of a mature pattern (S1.E14.2)

-Catches a self-tossed or well-thrown large ball with hands, not trapping or cradling against the body (S1.E16.2)

What are we doing?

Warmups:

We've used these songs for a group dance, stretching, and getting our bodies ready.

"Follow The Leader" by the Soca Boys

"Warmin' Up, Pt. 1" by Greg & Steve

"Shake My Sillies Out" by Raffi

Activities:

Underhand Throwing from Line: We talked about the individual steps of throwing underhand and students practiced putting these together into one motion while saying "Step, Tick Tock"

Make It, Take It: We filled the floor with rubber spots. Students choose a spot to stand (some are close, some are far) and aim for a nearby bucket. If their beanbag made it into the bucket, they pick up and keep the spot.

Toss Tag: Students traveled throughout the gym. If they were tagged, they headed to a nearby hula hoop and tossed the object inside to themselves 5 times in order to return to the game.

Overhand Throw to Target: We learned the cues for overhand throw (Side to our target, arm in an 'L', step, twist, throw) and practiced throwing to a target.

Oscar's Trash Can: Inspired by Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch, gymnastics mats were stood up to create a fort that we called "the trash can." Students used their throwing skills to try to get the balls into the fort. Several students at a time were also invited into the fort to throw the balls back out. This one came with lots of giggles!

Hungry, Hungry Monsters: In this team game, students used both throwing and catching skills to toss balls to their teammate on the other side for a successful catch. As they played, they figured out that calling their partner's name and communicating created more success!

Ghost Busters: During Halloween week, students played this tag game as they tried to get past the Ghost Busters without getting tagged by a pool noodle. This was an experience in playing fair, being honest, and waiting your turn to be a tagger.

Mindfulness: We end many classes with a mindfulness moment to allow our bodies to take a breath and transition to classroom-ready

Upper Grades:

The upper grades have been working on strategies within games. They have also been using pedometers to track their activity and work together to complete a step challenge.

*Sometimes you may see the same activity listed for multiple grade groups. While the objective of the activity may be similar, it is modified to fit the skill level of that group.

What SHAPE America standards are we working on?

3rd Grade:

-Throws underhand to a partner or target with reasonable accuracy (S1.E13.3)

-Catches a gently tossed hand-size ball from a partner, demonstrating 4 of the 5 critical elements of a mature nature (S1.E16.3)

-Throws overhand demonstrating 3 of the 5 critical elements of a mature pattern, in non-dynamic environments (closed skills), for distance and/or force (S1.E14.3 )

4th Grade:

-Applies the concept of closing spaces in small-sided practice tasks [S2.E1.4b]

-Combines the movement concepts with skills in small-sided practice tasks, gymnastics and dance environments [S2.E2.4]

-Throws overhand using a mature pattern in non-dynamic environments (closed skills) [S1.E14.4a]

-Throws overhand to a partner or at a target with accuracy at a reasonable distance [S1.E14.4b]

-Catches a thrown ball above the head, at chest or waist level, and below the waist using a mature pattern in a non-dynamic environment (closed skills) [S1.E16.4]

What activities are we doing?

Pedometers: Students have been wearing pedometers to track their steps during P.E. class. We've been recording steps as a class to see if we could move the same distance as the Vermont Long Trail is (272 miles). We actually completed and doubled our challenge! Lots of students have been asking where they can get their own pedometer!

Prairie Dog Pickoff: Students practiced finding open space and transitioning from offense to defense in this rolling & throwing game.

Toss Tag: Students traveled throughout the gym. If they were tagged, they headed to a nearby hula hoop and tossed the object inside to themselves 5 times in order to return to the game.

Overhand Throw to Wall: We learned the cues for overhand throw (Side to our target, arm in an 'L', step, twist, throw) and practiced throwing to a target.

Dice Bonk: We used our overhand throwing skills in a partner challenge as we aimed to knock down a tower with a dice on top. When the dice fell, we added the number shown to our total score.

Ghost Busters: During this Halloween tag game, the strategy is to find open space. The "Ghost Busters" try to tag anyone running past them.

What SHAPE America standards are we working on?

5th Grade:

-Applies basic offensive and defensive strategies and tactics in invasion small-sided practice games [S2.E5.5a]

-Applies movement concepts to strategy in game situations [S2.E3.5a]

-Analyzes movement situations and applies movement concepts (eg. force, direction, speed, pathways, extensions) in small-sided practice tasks in game environments [S2.E3.5c]

6th Grade:

-Catches with a mature pattern from a variety of trajectories using different objects in varying practice tasks. [S1.M3.6]

-Passes and receives with hands in combination with locomotor patterns of running and change of direction & speed with competency in invasion games such as basketball, flag football, speedball or team handball. [S1.M4.6]

-Shoots on goal with power in a dynamic environment as appropriate to the activity. [S1.M10.6]

-Transitions from offense to defense or defense to offense by recovering quickly. [S2.M6.6]

-Identifies open spaces and attempts to strike object into that space. [S2.M10.6]

What activities are we doing?

Pedometers: Students have been wearing pedometers to track their steps during P.E. class. We've been recording steps as a class to see if we could move the same distance as the Vermont Long Trail is (272 miles). We actually completed and doubled our challenge! Lots of students have been asking where they can get their own pedometer!

Chicken Taco Tag: This is a tag game where no one is ever out and students are constantly switching between defensive and offensive strategies.

Defend the Tube: In this small group activity, students pass a ball to each other in order to create open space within the defense and knock down an object.

Tchoukball: This game from Europe, involving a bouncy rebounder, was new to most students. There is very little defense allowed so the focus is on throwing with different angles and force. Students spent 2 classes exploring and practicing responses with the rebounder then put their discoveries into a small-sided game.

Ghost Busters: During this Halloween tag game, the strategy is to find open space. The "Ghost Busters" try to tag anyone running past them.