#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.]