This week we are doing a cooperative game called team juggling. This comes on the heals of our underhand throwing unit for all grades. This is a great unit that helps students work together and realize the importance of a team. It differs from regular juggling because 10-12 students are placed in a circle and given one ball to start. They proceed to underhand toss it to the person across from them, then that student tosses it to a different person across from them, this continues until all players on the team have caught and thrown the ball. The pattern stays the same for the rest of the game. It continues to get harder because different equipment is added to the pattern so as many as 4 objects are going at once. When they have practiced for some time, then I time each team to see who has the least amount of drops in 1 minute. Last year we only had two teams in the whole school that didn’t drop a ball for the whole minute. I also include a 5 minute session where teams can give suggestions on what they can do better and come up with strategies to help them be successful. The standard I am looking to meet is New Mexico State Standard # 5 (Check out all our standards under the Great PE Links section).
Week 8 Juggling
This week in PE we are learning how to juggle. Juggling is a great activity that teaches kids hand-eye coordination, focus, and body awareness. We will start the day with a warm-up game called hoop tag. As soon as students enter the gym we will begin hoop tag which is a fast pasted high energy game to get our blood flowing and our heart pumping. After about 10 minutes of play, hoops will be put up and we will begin our juggling lesson. We will start the day with one juggling scarf. These scarves are specially designed to float in the air for extended periods of time. First the students will practice throwing up the scarf with one hand and catching it with the other. An emphasis will be placed on crossing the mid-line of our bodies as the students toss the scarf up. After some practice, another scarf will be added. The students will practice throw throw catch catch using both hands. This will lead into one handed juggling with two scarves and then finally to juggling with three scarves. All students will be given time for practice before the 3rd and final scarf is added. When mastery is achieved with the scarves some students will be given tennis balls. (Younger students will not get to three scarves in this week’s lesson)
After practicing the proper motion for a while we will end the day with cooperative juggling. This will be done in groups. Student will be encouraged to work together in order to throw their scarves while catching someone else’s scarf. This will prepare us for next week’s lesson in team juggling.
Student will be assessed on visually tracking the scarves and body control while juggling.
Scoring Rubric:
4- Student watches scarves, maintains body control and completes all challenges as well as helps others.
3- Student watches scarves and maintains body control. Completes most of the challenges.
2- Student struggles to track scarf, and loses balance at times. Has trouble completing most of the challenges.
1- Student does not track scarf and cannot maintain balance. Cannot complete any of the challenges given.
I will be looking to meet National PE Standard 1 and 2. The student demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities. Standard 2; The student demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical activities
Week 7: Fitness Stations!
This week in PE we have 12 fitness stations that will keep everyone moving and breathing hard.
The key to keeping our epidemic child obesity rate down is regular physical activity. Unfortunately not all of our students get the recommended exercise that they need per week. (The CDC recommends 60 minutes of activity EVERYDAY!) With only 1 to 2 PE classes per week this does not give everyone adequate exercise for the week and therefore we will be focused on ways we can exercise outside of school.
11 FITNESS IS FUN STATIONS:
1. Plank
2. Jumping Jacks
3. Big Hops
4. Jump Rope
5. Sit-ups
6. Balance Machine
7. Hoop Run-Thru
8. Toss out fitness
9. Gym Laps
10. Flexibility Central
11. Shuttle Run
12. Balance Beam
Each Student will have a partner and go through all stations twice. Each station will be one minute long with a 10 second rest between each station. During this week I will be looking to meet NM State Standard 3; Participates regularly in physical activity and Standard 4; Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness.
