#17

K, 1st and 2nd used parachutes celebrated Christmas with games and activities using the Parachute. Students reviewed levels (high, low, etc) and speed (fast, slow etc) while manipulating the parachute. A favorite activity among students was Santa's igloo. Students finished class learning about the 7 continents while everyone had a chance to ride Santa's sleigh visiting each continent to drop off presents.

4th, 5th and 6th participated in the last class for hockey this week. Some classes warmed up with 1 on 1 Hockey while others participated in Ground Attack. This lead into playing two simultaneous games of either Pin Hockey and Regular Floor Hockey. Students had a chance to compare the differences in each game and vote on which they liked better. Class ended with a 5-10 minute period of Your Choice where students were able to select the activity they wanted to participate in. Other classes ended with Snowball Alley to celebrate the first snowfall of the season.

7th and 8th grades completed their Floor Hockey Unit playing 4 simultaneous games of Pin Hockey and Regular Floor Hockey. To warm up, students worked on offensive and defensive skills in 1 on 1 hockey. Classes ended with a Your Choice option with some classes also participating in Snowball Alley, celebrating the first snowfall of the season.

#15

Kindergarteners were introduced to activities requiring scooter use. Scooter safety was compared to driving a car on the road. (I will keep the parent's driving stories shared by their dear young ones to myself. i.e. Sometimes when my Dad drives he will...) Students strengthened their leg, arm and abdominal muscles in relay races through out class.

1st, 2nd and 3rd graders were taught a version of Scooter Hockey, which half the class played together while the other half of the class participated in Revolving Door for the first time. We had many success stories with running through a long rope this week. This helps to prepare students with the rhythm of jumping into a long rope along with reducing the anxiety many students face about getting hit by the jump rope.

4th through 8th grade warmed up with Revolving Door. This game is a great way to add rhythmic activities to a lesson in a fun and challenging manner. The rest of time was spent in Scooter Hockey. With two games going on simultaneously, students were instructed to officiate themselves, taking responsibility for actions and encouraging honest, cooperative decision-making.

#14- Recreational Games/ Grandparent's Day

This week all classes participated in Recreational game including Tetherball, Ladder Golf, Corn Hole, Hole-in-One miniature golf, Magnetic Rocket Toss, Four Square and Ping Pong. K-3 participated in modified versions of these games that fit their learning level ability. Grandparent's Day is a great opportunity to see the value in physical activity for life. Participating in regular physical activity helps to increase quality of life and the length of one's life. Many of 7-1's Grandparent's showed this to be true as they participating with their grandchild.

#13

K-2nd grades played Fitness Skillastics. This physically active board game was created to make fitness and calisthenics fun rather than punishment. (Why are so many students and athletes punished by running laps? Running should be fun!) Fitness Skillastics features 26 fitness exercises, all approved by leading fitness experts, covering all four of the fitness components - flexibility, cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, muscle strength and muscle endurance.

3rd, 4th and 5th grades warmed up with Jake the Snake, a rope jumping game that helps students learn the timing of individual and long rope jumping better. Students then practiced their double jumps, speed jumps and "X" crossing skills along with jumping an individual length jump rope with a partner. Classes finished with learning how to jump into a long rope. Groups seeking more of a challenge went on to play Cat and Mouse, a jump rope tag game.

6th, 7th and 8th grades started with a muscular strength/ endurance (MS/E) activity called Push Up Pull focusing on building upper body strength in push up position. Heart Rate and the Physical Activity Pyramid were introduced and were the primary focus of the lesson. Students compared their resting heart rate and target heart rate through out activities (Crackabout, Partner Dodge and/or Turkey Toss) using their carotid pulse. We looked at the Physical Activity Pyramid, learning about the 

FITT Principle and how it is applied to activity. [F- Frequency (# days/ week); I-Intensity (Easy/Moderate/Vigorous)  ; T- Time (# Minutes)  ; T- Type (Cardiovascular Endurance- Aerobic; Anaerobic; Muscular Strength/ Endurance; Flexibility; etc.]