Physical Education

Week 9: Team Juggling

2011-10-18T12:12:00.001-07:00

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

2011-10-12T08:57:00.001-07:00

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!

2011-10-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

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.

Week 5 & 6 Rockwall!

2011-09-15T07:17:00.001-07:00

This week in PE we are warming up with jump rope and climbing the rock wall. This is the first time we will have used the rock wall this year and hope to get everyone involved and having a great time. Our rock wall at Osuna is a traverse wall which means the main focus is getting across not going up the wall. All students have the protection of a crash mat below if they have to come off the wall. Rock climbing is great for upper body strength and endurance.

For the primary grades, students will be challenged to make it across the entire wall without coming off. This is a difficult task because are rock wall spans the length of the gym and gets more difficult as you go down the wall. Older students will be given a similar challenge however it will be taken a step further as students will be challenged to only use certain colors of rocks as they make their way across the wall. Another challenge to be given will be to make it through a series of obstacles that will be placed on the wall. This week all students will be assessed on effort and NM state standard # 3 and 4.

Week 4 Pacer!

2011-09-09T09:05:00.001-07:00

This week in PE we are running the Pacer. The pacer is a cardiovascular endurance test that takes place in the gym. Students run across the gym to a prerecorded CD that beeps every 30 seconds. The beeps get faster as times goes on. If you do not make it to the other side of the gym before the CD beeps then you get a “Mistake,” you are allowed two mistakes and then your test is over. The Osuna pacer record was set last year by a 5th grader with 110 laps.

This year I will be doing the pacer two times, once in the fall and once in the spring to measure fitness and also possible improvement throughout the year. Students are encouraged to go as long as they can within their limit. We discuss cardiovascular endurance and pacing themselves prior to the test.

If any time remains at the end of class students will be allowed to jump rope or play helicopter. For more info about the pacer check out these links:

http://www.fitnessgram.net/protocols/pacer.pdf
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/pacer-test.htm

Week 3 Battleship!

2011-09-09T09:04:00.001-07:00

Students are participating in a PE favorite called battleship this week. It works on both the overhand and underhand throw. It also works on teamwork and game strategy. The object of the game is to sink everyone’s battleship before your own battleship is sunk. Ships are sunk when all their pins, lined up on the corners of the ship, are knocked down. Students must stay on their mat (battleship) unless they are the team’s dolphin, in which case they are on a scooter and retrieving balls (cannons) for their team. This game is very fast pasted and games only last 3-5 minutes. New dolphins are selected each time and strategy time is given to teams to discuss ways to protect their battleship while trying to sink others ships. Grades K-2 are assessed on underhand throwing and teamwork. Grades 3-5 are assessed on overhand throwing and teamwork. PE standards covered this week include standard 1 and standard 5.

Week 1 and 2 WELCOME BACK!

2011-08-23T12:52:00.001-07:00

Welcome back everyone!! I hope everyone had an active summer and you are energized for another great year at Osuna. I enjoyed my summer at the Albuquerque Academy and working hard on my large list of Honey Do's :) I am really excited to introduce some new activities and of course re-teach some of our favorites.

Our first week of PE will consist of reviewing all of our PE rules and guidelines. We will warm our brains and bodies up with some fun warm-up games. We will also cover playground games and the proper way to use all equipment. Don’t forget to check the website to see what your child is doing in PE each week.

Remember to take note of your child’s PE day so they have the proper clothing and tennis shoes.

Week 29 & 30: Summer Fitness

2011-05-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

Play 60 is a program sponsored by the NFL that encourages students to get 60 minutes of exercise a day. Here at Osuna we strive to get each student as much activity as possible, however they still need to find time to exercise outside of school.

This next two weeks we are participating in fitness stations that are designed to be done at home over the summer. All of the stations are simple and can be done daily if desired. I have put in parenthesis ways that they can be done at home. These stations include:

Rock climbing ( Stone age, foothills, city rock walls)
Jogging (Jog the academy, around your neighborhood, or go for a hike)
Jump Rope (Jump rope each morning cheap, easy and fun)
Scooter riding (Ride your scooter or your bike around your neighborhood)
Hula Hoop (Get a hoop and get going)
Hopscotch ( Draw your own pattern with calk at your house)
Yoga (Find family classes, at home videos, or make your own up)
Core exercises (Make a daily routine)
Resistance training
And much more

I am encouraging all students to make time for exercise over the summer time. There are tons of ways we can all stay active and have fun this summer. At the end of the unit, all students are writing out their goals for exercising this summer. They are writing out 5 to 10 activities that they can do this summer and will be bringing it home next week. Enjoy the summer and I will see many of you for Playday 2011 on Tuesday, May 24th.

Week 28: Volleyball

2011-05-27T06:29:00.001-07:00

This week in PE we are working on our volleyball skills. We will have four stations set up around the gym that work on the basics of volleyball.

Stations:
1. Underhand Serve- Students will be practicing serving underhand to a partner on the other side of the net. Younger students will use modified equipment and will not go over the net.
2. Bump- A student will underhand throw to their partner while the other student bumps it back. After five attempts students switch roles.
3. Setting- At this station student will practice setting using a beach volleyball against the wall.
4. 4 Square Volleyball- All the same rules as four square except the server must use an underhand serve to start and every hit after must be a bump with two hands instead of just using one.

If class progress at a high skill level, two small sided games of beach volleyball will be played with remaining 10 minutes.

Week 26 and 27 Frisbee!!

2011-05-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

These next two weeks we will be starting our Frisbee unit. Our first class will be devoted to learning the basics of throwing and catching a Frisbee. As their skill level goes up we will be playing target games, as well as small sided ultimate Frisbee games for our 3rd through 5th graders.

Basics throwing techniques that will be stressed:
1. Stepping with the same foot as you throw
2. Pointing to target
3. Flicking the wrist
4. Keep the Frisbee level upon release

We will focus on three basic catches that will include:
1. Alligator catch
2. Two handed catch
3. One handed catch

Week 2, we will be playing the Frisbee golf out on the grass field. This will stress a variety of skills that include long and short distance throwing as well as accuracy when throwing a Frisbee. Older kids will be keeping a score card while K- 2nd will just be learning the course and the basics.

I will be looking to meet NM State Standard # 1, and students will be assessed on how well they complete all four basic throwing techniques.

Week 24: Soccer Skills

2011-04-05T12:20:00.001-07:00

This week in PE we are working on soccer skills. The younger students will be focusing primarily on soccer dribbling. All students will have their own soccer ball and we will be dribbling in self space around the gym. We will be working on ball control and small touches. Once we have had a chance to practice, we will play dribble take away. Primary grades will move on to red light green light with soccer balls. If time permits then we will move to some dribbling races.

Older students will start much the same but will quickly progress into dribble take away where some students will not have a soccer ball will be challenged to take a ball away from a student that does not have a ball.

We will then move to practicing soccer passing in groups. After students are comfortable with passing a defender will be added to passing activity.

All skill work will lead up to game play the following week.

Week 22 and 23 Fitness is Fun Stations.

2011-04-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

This week we are gearing up for testing and for the next two weeks we will be doing Fitness is FUN Stations! We have 11 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 vigorous activity everyday)With only 1 or 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. Penny Stackers
2. Jumping Jacks
3. Big Hops
4. Basketball fitness
5. Sit-ups
6. Balance Machine
7. Hoop Run-Thru
8. Hockey shoot-out
9. Superman’s
10. Flexibility Central
11. Shuttle Run

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 number 4.

Week 20 & 21

2011-02-14T13:01:00.000-08:00

For the next two weeks in PE we will be doing our hockey unit. For the first week we will be working on skill development through hockey stations.
1. Goalie shoot-out
2. Hot potato passing
3. Hockey bowling (shooting)
4. Forehand/ backhand passing
5. Dribbling

These stations are designed to give maximum activity and practice time before our modified games next week. My biggest emphasis will be on safety and keeping the stick below their knees. I will also be stressing proper grip and practicing puck control.

During week two we will play some small sided hockey games such as battleship hockey, and horse hockey. Older kids may get to play sideline hockey if their skill level permits other wise small sided games will be repeated. During these two weeks in PE I will be looking to meet NM State PE standard # 1. All students will be assessed on proper grip and dribbling control.

Week 19: Heart Beat!

2010-12-01T14:08:00.001-08:00

This week in PE we are talking about heart rate. We are discussing how to find out heart rate, what our resting heart rate is and what our max heart rate is (220 - your age = your max heart rate). We are then participating in a series of tag games and measuring how our heart rate goes up and down with activity and rest.

Tag Games
1. Tangle Tag- A group of three students join hands and move in a circle in order to protect one student from the tagger who is the fourth person in the group. The tagger has to go around right or left in order to tag a designated student.
2. Pac Man- This an Osuna favorite. It is basically modified line tag. Students can only move on the lines inside the gym using different locomotor patterns (walking, galloping, hopping, skipping etc.). There are three taggers (pac-man) who hold power balls and attempt to tag other students. If you are tagged you must do 10 jumping jacks and then you can re-enter.
3. Hoop Tag- This is good old fashion tag with one big twist, you play with a partner and you must only move within the confines of a hula hoop that is on the ground. You must tag your partners hoop with your own. If tagged you must do three hula hoops and then you can try to tag your partner.

During this series of tag games we stop and check our heart rate and discuss what is taking place inside of our bodies. It is a great opportunity to talk about the benefits of staying physically fit and the importance of exercise. It is going to be a great week!!

Week 11: Karate and Crab Soccer!!

2010-11-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

This week in PE is very unique. We have the owners of Mountain Eagle Karate coming to teach our Kindergarteners and 1st graders all about karate. Many of you may remember them from last year when they came for the older grades.

Mountain Eagle Karate Children’s Program reinforces family values such as honesty, loyalty, integrity, and responsibility, and good manners; and introduces goal-setting. Mountain Eagle Karate Academy children are empowered with greater self-control, discipline, and self-esteem, which are tremendous assets to posses in life and transfer to all areas of life. Mountain Eagle Karate Academy children develop an improved attention span, focus, strength, coordination, and flexibility.

You will be receiving the opportunity to sign your son or daughter up for this wonderful program this week. We will be sending home sign up forms that are due back no later than November 9th as the classes will start November 10th in the gym after school. They will go for two week in the gym and end with a graduation at Mountain Eagle Karate. For more information do hesitate to call or email me. And if you would like more information about Mountain Eagle Karate you can visit their website at www.mountaineaglekarate.com It’s going to be a great week!!

For 2nd- 5th grade we will be playing an old PE favorite crab soccer. This game works on muscular strength and endurance as well as teaching students how to work on a team. All students in class will be in crab position and must try to kick a giant omnikin ball to the other sides of the gym. A team is awarded a point each time they can successfully kick it over the other teams head. It’s going to be great FUN!

Week 9: Team Juggling!

2010-10-19T07:56:00.001-07:00

Week 8 :Bowling

2010-10-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

This week in PE we are turning the gym into a bowling alley. All students will get the opportunity to bowl at Tiger Lanes. Before we get to rolling we will warm up with jump rope to get our heart rates up as we jump for 10 minutes.

After our warm-up I will be explaining the importance of a proper grip, stepping with the opposite foot, and releasing the ball low in order to get a nice roll. This will be building on our previous unit in which we covered underhand throwing. The rolling technique is very similar and we even use the same cues of facing your target, stepping in opposition, and “tick tock.” Older students will keep track of their games and have their own score card while the younger students will just be introduced to the basics. We have different size bowling balls and equipment in order to modify for all ages and skill levels. It’s going to be a great week!!

Week 7: Throwing and catching

2010-10-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

This week in PE we are working on throwing and catching. For the younger grades we will focus on the underhand throw and catching with two hands. The main cues for the under hand throw are “Tick Tock.” We will start by throwing to a target and move on to partners and then put it into a small game called Oscar’s garbage can. During this game students must use an underhand throw to the garbage can (mats that are standing up) while two students are in the garbage can throwing is back out.

For the older grades we will be outside if the weather permits and working on the overhand throw. We will have all different kinds of equipment to throw, things ranging from a football to a yarn ball. The main cues for the overhand throw are
1. Side to target
2. Step with the opposite foot
3. Make an L- Shape with the arm you are throwing with
4. Follow through

After throwing to one another for a while we will work on throwing to a moving target and then put it all into a game called ultimate football. I am more focused on the throwing this week and less concerned about the catching however next week we will primarily focus on the catch side of things.

Week 4 & 5: Rock Climbing!

2010-09-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

Week 3: Pacer!

2010-09-07T05:32:00.000-07:00

Week 2: Battleship!

2010-08-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back!!!!

2010-08-17T09:22:00.001-07:00

Welcome back everyone!! I hope everyone had an active summer and you are energized for another great year at Osuna. I enjoyed my summer at the Albuquerque Academy and making many changes to our new home. I am really excited to introduce some new activities and of course re-teach some of our favorites.

Our first week of PE will consist of reviewing all of our PE rules and guidelines. We will warm our brains and bodies up with some fun warm-up games. We will also cover playground games and the proper way to use all equipment. Don’t forget to check the website to see what your child is doing in PE each week.

Remember to take note of your child’s PE day so they have the proper clothing and tennis shoes.

Week 29 & 30: Frisbee Frenzy

2010-04-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

Week 27: Fitness Stations

2010-03-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

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 vigorous activity 3 to 5 times a week for at least 20 minutes) 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. Penny Stackers
2. Jumping Jacks
3. Big Hops
4. Basketball fitness
5. Sit-ups
6. Balance Machine
7. Hoop Run-Thru
8. Jump Rope
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 number 4.

Week 23-25: Basketball

2010-02-23T18:26:00.000-08:00

During week 1 of basketball we will be learning one of the essential skills of the game and that is dribbling. We will discuss ball control and discuss the different cues for being a successful dribbler.
1. Use finger pads
2. Bend knees and keep ball below waist
3. Use non dribbling hand to guard ball
4. Keep head up
These basic cues will be covered while we play games like, rings of fire, berry monster, and dribble take away. We will end each class with a shooting game and this week it will be around the world.

During week 2 we will cover passing. We will discuss the importance of passing in basketball and cover the three basic passes in basketball, the chest pass, bounce pass and over head pass. We will have a triangle passing activity, monkey in the middle passing, and over the hill passing activity. We will again end the day with a shooting game and this week it will be H.O.R.S.E. Shooting cues that will be emphasized will be a simple acronym call B.E.E.F.

B-bend- bend you knees and shooting elbow.
E-elbow in-make sure your elbow is in line with the basketball hoop.
E- extend- extend elbow as you shoot the ball
F-follow through- Make sure you follow through when releasing your shot. (Finish with your hand in the cookie jar)

During the 3rd and final week the older kids will be starting small 3v3 games in a format I like to call king of the court. First to 3 points and then teams switch. This keeps games moving and many students involved. For the younger grades we will play a shooting game called HOT SHOT which has become an Osuna favorite. We will also have some free shooting and students will have the option to play other shooting games learned. We are just going to have to much fun these next couple weeks while I will look to align all classes with standard number 1 (The student demonstrates competency in many movement forms and proficiency in few).

AT END OF THE BASKETBALL UNIT WE WILL HAVE OUR SECOND ANNUL MARCH MADNESS 3 ON 3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN THE GYM AT RECESS FOR ALL 4TH & 5TH GRADERS. WINNERS WIN SPECIAL PRIZES TBA!!!

Week 21: Jump Rope for Heart!!

2010-02-10T08:54:00.000-08:00

Jump Rope for heart kicks off this week!! We will be raising money as a school for the American heart association as we jump during all of our PE classes. Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer in America? All the money raised will be donated to help fund heart research, help kids and adults with heart complications, and help save lives. During class we will start with a free jump followed by the introduction of some partner tricks. One of the things that makes jump rope so great is that you can work with a team and you have to use cooperation in order to accomplish a trick or task. The day will end with four fun long rope stations!
1. Long rope/ Double Dutch
2. Mouse Trap
3. Snake
4. School
Thanks to the community I know our event will be a huge success. Track our progress or get more information online at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2360

Week 20: Battleship

2010-02-04T08:44:00.001-08:00

Week 18 & 19: Fitness Testing

2010-01-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

This next two weeks we are doing fitness testing during PE. All students 2nd grade thru 5th will participate in a national fitness test called the FitnessGram (for more information on the FitnessGram you can visit their website at http://www.fitnessgram.net/home/. I have chosen 6 different FitnessGram tests that the students will record. These tests seek to measure four different areas of physical fitness which include flexibility, cardiovascular strength, muscular endurance and muscular strength. The primary goals of these tests are to promote enjoyable regular physical activity as well as educate students on the importance of regular physical activity. This test does not seek to attain extremely high levels of physical fitness but rather the help a majority of students to be successful at a good level of physical fitness. All students are encouraged to do their best and to stop when any test is too much. I am excited to see our wonderful Osuna students succeed these next couple weeks. New Mexico State Standard four is being met during the FitnessGram.

FITNESSGRAM TESTS:
1. Pacer Test (Aerobic Capacity)
2. Back Saver Sit and Reach (Flexibility)
3. Shoulder Stretch (Flexibility)
4. Push-ups (Muscular Strength and Endurance)
5. Curl-ups (Muscular Strength and Endurance)

Week 17: Team Juggling!!

2010-01-05T06:35:00.001-08:00

Welcome back! It was a very restful break and happy new year to all! This week we are doing a cooperative game called team juggling. 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 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 14 & 15: Cup Stacking

2009-12-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

This week in PE we are doing Cup Stacking at Osuna Elementary! Cup stacking is team as well as individual sport. When I first discovered cup stacking I had some doubts to the benefits but as I have witnessed fellow colleagues present this unit I have seen the great results to this activity. So what is cup stacking? The name says it all it is stacking cups in certain patterns. Some of the basic stacks include the 3-3-3 stack, the 3-6-3, the 6-6 and the 1-10-1. Students are introduced to these various stacks and then given practice time. After practice they can pair and compete against their classmates. This activity helps students to use both their dominant and non-dominant hand, as well as improve hand-eye coordination. It helps students to cross the mid-line of their brain and increase brain activity. I also intend to use this activity for rainy days, indoor recess, and other unpredicted events. Right now we are borrowing cups from another school but are looking to buy our own if we can get the funding. For more information about cup stacking visit their website at http://www.speedstacks.com/. This week I am looking to meet New Mexico State Standard number 2.

Week 11 & 12: Floor Hockey

2009-11-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

Week 10: Volleyball

2009-11-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

Week 9: Halloween Fun House

2009-10-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

This week we have a real treat for all the students in PE. We are doing a Halloween fun house that will feature three different stations. All stations are review from this year so far.

Our first station will be a jump rope station that students will be able to practice basic jump rope skills and partner skills. They will also have the option to do long ropes at this station. The second station will be the full rock wall challenge. Students will be challenged to climb all the way across the gym without stopping. The last station will be a student favorite as they will get to ride scooters around the gym.

Light will be turned off and specialty lights will be used to light the gym. We will also feature a fog machine and a special Halloween treat at the end of the day. Looks to be a great week in PE!

Week 8: Rock climbing!!

2009-10-19T11:38:00.001-07:00

Week 7: Soccer skills

2009-10-06T20:35:00.001-07:00

Week 6: Overhand throwing

2009-09-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

This week in PE we are having a paper and pencil assessment on the overhand throw. We covered the overhand throw this last week and we are review it again this week in the form of an assessment and also some great games. Younger students will be informally assessed rather than a paper and pencil assessment.

After the assessment we will be doing an activity called clean out your backyard. This activity seeks to give all the students several opportunities to practice the overhand throw. The object of the game is to keep you backyard clean (your side of the gym) by throwing all the balls on your side to the other side. The middle of the gym is separated by a volleyball net and the balls must go over the net. Both sides battle to see who can have the least amount of balls on their side when the music stops.

At the end of class students will be given some free time to throw paper airplanes around the gym and again practice the overhand throw.

Week 5: Throwing and Catching

2009-09-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Week 4: Pacer

2009-09-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

This week in PE we are running the Pacer. The pacer is a cardiovascular endurance test that takes place in the gym. Students run across the gym to a prerecorded CD that beeps every 30 seconds. The beeps get faster as times goes on. If you do not make it to the other side of the gym before the CD beeps then you get a “Mistake,” you are allowed two mistakes and then your test is over. The Osuna pacer record was set last year by a 5th grader with 110 laps.

This year I will be doing the pacer two times, once in the fall and once in the spring to measure fitness and also possible improvement throughout the year. Students are encouraged to go as long as they can within their limit. We discuss cardiovascular endurance and pacing themselves prior to the test.

If any time remains at the end of class students will be allowed to jump rope or play helicopter. For more info about the pacer check out these links:

http://www.fitnessgram.net/protocols/pacer.pdf http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/pacer-test.htm

Week 3: Battleship!

2009-09-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Week 2: Pedometer Power!!

2009-09-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

This week during PE we will start to talk about Pedometers and how we are going to use them throughout the year. Because we were so successful during our jump rope for Osuna last year, I have purchased a classroom set of pedometers and we will be using them for the first time this week! (a pedometer is a device used to count the amount of steps a student takes) We will be introducing them with some fitness activities and I will be keeping track of how many steps each class takes through out the week and year. Hopefully this will encourage even more exercise for all students at Osuna.

The two activities that will be performed will be:
1. Four corners tag
2. Fitness scavenger hunt

Both of these games can be found on www.pecentral.com at these links,

http://www.pecentral.com/lessonideas/ViewLesson.asp?ID=684
http://www.pecentral.com/lessonideas/ViewLesson.asp?ID=680

For more information about pedometers check this out,

http://www.walkingworksforschoolstn.com/teachers_tools/usingyourpedometer.shtml

Week 1: WELCOME BACK!

2009-08-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to another exciting year at Osuna Elementary!! I can not wait to get the year started and get our kids moving! I hope everyone had an active summer. I had a great summer working at the Academy and running the La Luz trail run for the first time, boy was that an adventure!

Our first week of PE will consist of reviewing all of our PE rules and guidelines. We will warm our brains and bodies up with some fun warm-up games. We will also cover playground games and the proper way to use all equipment. With all the money that we were able to raise last year we have plenty of NEW equipment that I am excited to use! It is going to be a great year. Don’t forget to check the website to see what your child is doing in PE each week.

Remember to take note of your child’s PE day so they have the proper clothing and tennis shoes.

Summer Time!!

2009-05-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone who helped with this years Water Works Playday!! It was a huge success and for the most part the weather held up. Parents I could not have done it without you. Have a great summer and to all the 5th graders good luck in the years to come. Parents and students don’t forget to exercise over summer break. Ride your bike, go for a hike, walk the dog, go swimming, roller blade, ride your scooter or skateboard, join a sports team, fly a kite, play tag with kids on the block, enter a city race with your kids, sign up for a sports camp, go to the park, the opportunities are unlimited, JUST BE ACTIVE! A scary stat I read the other day said, “only 4% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 were considered overweight in a 1971-1974 survey, while 18.8% of children at this age were overweight in a more recent 2003-2004 survey” You can help turn this around!! Have a great and safe summer!

Week 33 & 34: Frisbee Frenzy

2009-04-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

Week 32 FITNESS IS FUN!!

2009-04-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

This week we are gearing up the 1/2 Mile run with Fitness is FUN Stations! We have 11 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 vigorous activity 3 to 5 times a week for at least 20 minutes) 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. Penny Stackers
2. Jumping Jacks
3. Big Hops
4. Basketball fitness
5. Sit-ups
6. Balance Machine
7. Hoop Run-Thru
8. Hockey shoot-out
9. Superman’s
10. Flexibility Central
11. Shuttle Run

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 number 4.

Week 30 & 31

2009-03-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

Week 29: Fitness Test & Battleship

2009-03-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

This week we are warming up for our 1/2 mile fitness test that we will be taking in April. During this week 3rd-5th grade will run the 1/2 mile but scores will not be recorded. I would like the students to see where they stand in terms of cardiovascular endurance. Since many of the middle schools around town run the mile as part of there fitness testing I think it will be valuable for the older kids to measure their progress starting in Elementary. In April scores will be recorded and the students will get see the national standards for other students their age.

After the 1/2 mile we are playing a PE favorite called battleship. It works on both the overhand and underhand throw. It also works on teamwork and game strategy. The object of the game is to sink everyone’s battleship before your own battleship is sunk. Ships are sunk when all their pins, lined up on the corners of the ship, are knocked down. Students must stay on their mat (battleship) unless they are the team’s dolphin, in which case they are on a scooter and retrieving balls (cannons) for their team. This game is very fast pasted and games only last 3-5 minutes. New dolphins and selected each time and strategy time is given to teams to discuss ways to protect their battleship while trying to sink others ships. Grades K-2 are assessed on underhand throwing and teamwork. Grades 3-5 are assessed on overhand throwing and teamwork. PE standards covered this week include standard 1 and standard 5.

Week 28: OSUNA JUMP-A-THON!!!

2009-03-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

Our Osuna Jump-a-thon is finally here. All week in PE we will be doing our jump-a-thon during class to raise money for the PE program. We have many great games planned for this fun filled week. Some of those activities include;

Free style jump rope
Long ropes
Double Dutch
Jump competitions
Last jumper standing
Stations games
And much more!!!!!

Our younger jumpers will be leaning more basics of jump rope and will be introduced to long rope for the first time at Osuna. This week is going to be loads of fun! For more information regarding the jump-a-thon you can refer to your orange packets or visit www.osunajumpathon.blogspot.com

Week 25-27: Basketball!!

2009-02-20T06:29:00.002-08:00

During week 1 of basketball we will be learning one of the essential skills of the game and that is dribbling. We will discuss ball control and discuss the different cues for being a successful dribbler.
1. Use finger pads
2. Bend knees and keep ball below waist
3. Use non dribbling hand to guard ball
4. Keep head up
These basic cues will be covered while we play games like, rings of fire, berry monster, and dribble take away. We will end each class with a shooting game and this week it will be around the world.

During week 2 we will cover passing. We will discuss the importance of passing in basketball and cover the three basic passes in basketball, the chest pass, bounce pass and over head pass. We will have a triangle passing activity, monkey in the middle passing, and over the hill passing activity. We will again end the day with a shooting game and this week it will be H.O.R.S.E. Shooting cues that will be emphasized will be a simple acronym call B.E.E.F.

B-balance- get your balance. Make sure you are steady.
E-eyes-look at the rim, either the back or the front, it really doesn’t matter.
E-elbow-make sure your elbow is in line with the basketball hoop.
F-follow through- Make sure you follow thru when releasing your shot.

During the 3rd and final week the older kids will be starting small 3v3 games in a format I like to call king of the court. First to 3 points and then teams switch. This keeps games moving and many students involved. For the younger grades we will play a shooting game called HOT SHOT which has become an Osuna favorite. We will also have some free shooting and students will have the option to play other shooting games learned. We are just going to have to much fun these next couple weeks while I will look to align all classes with standard number 1 (The student demonstrates competency in many movement forms and proficiency in few).

AT END OF THE BASKETBALL UNIT WE WILL HAVE OUR SECOND ANNUL MARCH MADNESS 3 ON 3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN THE GYM AT RECESS FOR ALL 3RD THROUGH 5TH GRADERS. WINNERS WIN SPECIAL PRIZES TBA!!!

Week 24: Cross the River

2009-02-20T06:29:00.001-08:00

This week in PE we are doing one of my personal favorite activities and that is cooperative games. The idea of cooperative games is the whole is greater than the individual. We will start each class with dice warm-up in which a selected student will roll the dice to decide from a list of 12 different exercises. After our warm-up we will complete an activity called “cross the river.” During this game students will have to work in teams to cross a “river” (the gym floor) without touching any part of the floor. Each group will be given a scooter, rope, and a tire. They will have an island (mat) in the middle of the gym to assist them and all equipment must be carried across along with their entire team. After completion of this activity the students must untangle from a team knot as well as complete the floating rod. During these activities I will be looking for teamwork, group cooperation, and sportsmanship. All students will be graded on NM state standard number 5.

Week 22 & 23: Fitness Testing

2009-01-26T15:40:00.000-08:00

Week 20 & 21: Cup Stacking

2009-01-12T10:07:00.000-08:00

This week in PE we are doing Cup Stacking for the first time at Osuna Elementary! Cup stacking is team as well as individual sport. When I first discovered cup stacking I had some doubts to the benefits but as I have witnessed fellow colleagues present this unit I have seen the great results to this activity. So what is cup stacking? The name says it all it is stacking cups in certain patterns. Some of the basic stacks include the 3-3-3 stack, the 3-6-3, the 6-6 and the 1-10-1. Students are introduced to these various stacks and then given practice time. After practice they can pair and compete against their classmates. This activity helps students to use both their dominant and non-dominant hand, as well as improve hand-eye coordination. It helps students to cross the mid-line of their brain and increase brain activity. I also intend to use this activity for rainy days, indoor recess, and other unpredicted events. Right now we are borrowing cups from another school but are looking to buy our own if we can get the funding. For more information about cup stacking visit their website at http://www.speedstacks.com/. This week I am looking to meet New Mexico State Standard number 2.

Week 19: Team Juggling!

2009-01-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

Welcome back! It was a very restful break and my elbow surgery went well and recovery is also coming along. This week we are doing a cooperative game called team juggling. 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 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 18: Stations

2008-12-15T06:12:00.000-08:00

This week in PE, we will be reviewing some of the skills that we covered the first 17 weeks of PE. We will be reviewing these skills in the form of stations for all of our students. We will begin our day with our jump rope warm-up and then move into our stations. Each station will be set-up in a different part of the gym and each station will last 5 minutes. If time permits, students may do a station more than once. These stations include:
1. Free style jump rope station
2. Throwing station
3. Catching station
4. Helicopter station
5. Shooting station
I will be at school on Monday but will be out the rest of the week due to surgery. I will be getting surgery on my right elbow to repair some ligaments that have been stretched for some time now. We will have a wonderful Osuna sub that will be in the gym from Tuesday to Friday. Have a great winter break!

Week 16 & 17 Dance!!

2008-12-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

This week in physical education we are having too much fun with our dance unit. We are learning many popular party dances and next week (week 17) we will be learning some cultural dances from all over the world. It is always great to watch the students come in a little apprehensive at first, and then watch them come out of their shell as the class wears on. Some of the dances we are covering this week include:
1. Hokey Pokey
2. Chicken Dance
3. Cha Cha Slide
4. Macarena
5. YMCA
6. Any Turkey can Tango
7. Mr. Bones
8. Locomotion

Week 17 we will be learning dance from different cultures. We will be talking about diversity and talking about some dances that the students may have in their own culture. Some of these dances include:
1. Hava Nagilah (Israel)
2. Hukilau (Hawaii)
3. D’ hammerschmiedsgselln (Germany)

Some classes will get the opportunity to create their own personal dances and perform them with one another at the end of week 17. The Standard were are striving to meet this week is New Mexico state standard number seven which says, the student understands that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self expression and social interaction.

Week 15: Jump Rope Assessment

2008-11-24T10:39:00.001-08:00

This week is a short week in PE due to thanksgiving break! We are having a jump rope assessment to measure how many jumps our students can do in two minutes. They are instructed to jump continuously without stopping and are allowed as many mess-ups as they want. At the end of two minutes their partner will tell them how many jumps they had and our 2nd thru 5th grades will record it on their score sheet. Our K and 1st graders will not be required to record their score but have their partner verbalize it. They will be given two trials and encouraged to improve on their second trial. I will keep their score sheets all year and every couple of months we will see how the students have improved. Since, we often warm-up with jump rope I think they will see much progress. If there is time at the end we will have a free jump. This week we are focusing on PE standard number 4, which is the student achieves and maintains a health enhancing level of fitness.

Week14: Battleship

2008-11-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

It is parent teacher conference week and we have a slightly different schedule for PE. Each class gets one thirty minute PE for this week. PE is also in a different time slot this week because school is dismissed at 1:25 all week. We are playing a PE favorite called battleship. It works on both the overhand and underhand throw. It also works on teamwork and game strategy. The object of the game is to sink everyone’s battleship before your own battleship is sunk. Ships are sunk when all their pins, lined up on the corners of the ship, are knocked down. Students must stay on their mat (battleship) unless they are the team’s dolphin, in which case they are on a scooter and retrieving balls (cannons) for their team. This game is very fast pasted and games only last 3-5 minutes. New dolphins and selected each time and strategy time is given to teams to discuss ways to protect their battleship while trying to sink others ships. Grades K-2 are assessed on underhand throwing and teamwork. Grades 3-5 are assessed on overhand throwing and teamwork. PE standards covered this week include standard 1 and standard 5.

Week 13: Mat Wrestling

2008-11-12T07:51:00.000-08:00

This week in physical education the students are participating in non-traditional wrestling. It is not the wresting you may have grown up with or see at a normal high school wrestling match. It highly modified to fit the needs of our K thru 5th graders. All our wrestling games are set up the same basic way, two students on each end of matt with a referee off the matt in the middle, and a student waiting behind the referee. It is the referees job to make sure both students are ready, to say go and to determine a winner if a dispute arises. The referee also determines if any rules are broken and if a student is being too rough.

Matt Wrestling Games:
1.Capture the flag wresting- Each student is trying to take the other students flag out of the cone before their flag is taken. The flag and cones are placed directly behind each student at the start.
2.Tail Wrestling- Each student receives a flag and places it in their back pocket (their tail), the object of the game is each student is trying to pull the flag out of the other students pocket before their flag is pulled.
3.Flamingo Wrestling- Each student starts by holding one leg up (like a flamingo). The object of the game to try to make the other student let go of their leg or bump them off the matt.
4.Bumper Car Wrestling- Each student starts by connecting their hands behind their knee so they are in a squat position. The object of the game is to try to make the other wrestler let go of there stance or “bump” them off the matt.
5.Ball Wrestling- This game starts in the middle of the matt and uses a giant four square ball. The object is to take the ball from the middle of the matt and touch your cone with it.

These games can become competitive and we start the day off by discussing sportsmanship and fair play. I feel it is good for the students to be competitive at times in a controlled environment. The physical education standard we are striving to meet this week is standard number 5, the student exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.

Week 11 & 12 Gymnastics

2008-11-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

This week in physical education the students at Osuna are learning basic tumbling skills. We start with 3 warm-up laps which are followed by our stretching routine and then basic positions.
5 Basic Positions:
1. Pike
2. Straddle
3. Squat
4. Tuck
5. Layout

We then move on to basic balances. All balances we preform must be held for a minimum of 3 seconds. We start balances by balancing on any 6 body parts, and then we move to 5 body parts, and then 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 body part. After these balances are performed we learn basic gymnastic balances.
5 Basic Balances:
1. Table
2. Bridge
3. V-Seat
4. Tri-pod
5. Hand stand (if students show they are ready)

After balances are performed we move to basic rolls:
5 Basic Rolls
1. Log Roll
2. Egg Roll
3. Forward Roll to pike
4. Forward Roll to stand
5. Backward roll (if students show they are ready)

Cartwheels are performed last if students show they are ready.