KINDERGARTEN BRING-A-PARENT-TO-PE

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART EVENT

MONDAY FEB. 26 & TUESDAY FEB. 27

Kindergarten parents and guardians:

Please check your email from your child's classroom teacher for an invitation to join Physical Education class.  We will have a jump rope party on Feb. 26 & 27!  Lots of fun events planned - We hope to see you there!  Sneakers and water bottle suggested! 

November & December...Basketball and a little bit of dance!

Happy New Year Buker families!

I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday season and vacation week!

The week before Thanksgiving included some fun group dances as a warm-up. Students in all grades learned "The Turkey Tango" and "The Turkey Pokey".  Kindergarten students danced with their 5th grade buddies. It is heartwarming to watch the kindness that older students show to the younger students. The excitement on the faces of the younger students with their "PE buddies" is priceless! I love to hear the adorable conversations that happen when grades are mixed.  Possibly the cutest moment during the "Turkey Tango" was when a kindergarten boy looked up and told his very tall 5th grade buddy he needed his shoe tied - the 5th grader quickly bent down to tie his shoe so they wouldn't miss much of the dance. These are the sweet moments that make it all worthwhile.  It is fascinating to see students in a different "light" and it adds a new dimension to PE. As a new teacher to Buker this year, it shows a strong sense of community and an abundance of kindness in our school.  This dance activity turned out to be a nice way to kick-off Thanksgiving.

Students in grade K-2 continued with dance and creative movement warm-ups through the month of December.  Grade 4 will be leading an all school morning of dance movement at a later date this winter.

December Physical Education was a month full of basketball skills and fun ball handling activities.  This is a sport where students bring a range of experience and levels of abilities.  My goal was to provide a variety of fun activities to meet the needs of all students.  In trying to allow for the most success, students alway had a choice of types of balls to practice with - playground balls, mini basketballs or regular size basketballs. We talked about personal improvement and trying your best to improve individual skills regardless of their current skill level. Students participated in stations, tabata fitness circuits, and arcade-like basketball challenges and lessons. My goal in teaching any sports skill units is to encourage students and be confident enough to participate in lifetime activities.  Dabbling in different sports and fitness activities will hopefully help them find areas of fitness that interest them in the future. All lessons are organized in age appropriate motor skill development according to the SHAPE America standards for P.E.   I always try to add a fun twist with a culminating game or fun way to review skills.  I love the enthusiasm that students have for PE!  It makes my job even more fun!

I hope your children are enjoying PE this year!  As always, please feel free to contact me with any issues or concerns.

Upcoming winter units:

• Pilo Polo (modified with floor hockey rules and skills)
• Educational Gymnastics and balance unit
• Cardiovascular group games and warm-ups
• Jump rope skills
• Cardio drumming

Welcome to Tabata!

"Welcome to Tabata"...and get a PE buddy!


Tabata is a fitness circuit to upbeat music; K-3 students rotated every 20 seconds through a variety of motor skill activities and cahllenges with 10 seconds of rest/transition time in between each station.  There were 24 different stations and students worked with a partner.  During this unit, they learned about heart rate and cardiovascular fitness, which will be woven throughout many lessons this year.  Students learned how to feel their pulse and count their heart beats per minute. Tabata is a high energy, fun and engaging activity.  The students loved it and got a great workout!

Another fun twist to this Tabata unit was that students in some classes were matched up with a PE buddy from a different grade.  This is a wonderful opportunity for community building within Buker.  This called for double classes in the gymnasium at times and students had a great time meeting some new friends from different grade levels.  The classroom teachers were very supportive and accommodating in last minute schedule changes to allow for PE buddies. I hope to continue this time to time this year.  The older buddies really stepped up to the challenge and demonstrated leadership skills with their buddies.  The younger buddies were so excited to have an older buddy in PE.

The 4th and 5th graders have been continuing to focus on the "spirit of the game" concept while they play different versions of Capture the Flag - with balls, frisbees and rubber chickens, pigs, and fish.  Team strategies and cardiovascular fitness are the main focus of the these large group games. 4th and 5th graders will also be doing some Tabata in the near future!

An all school 30 minute movement event is scheduled OUTSIDE for Tuesday, November 14th.  Stay tuned for more information!

Step and throw...pass me the ball! I'm open!

We have had a pretty hot and humid start to the year.  My goal is to get PE classes outside as much as possible but due to the heat, I have kept most of the classes indoors so far...However, cooler weather is right around the corner and out we will go!  I have taken this opportunity indoors to establish routines and expectations as well as get to know everyone's names. Sending your child to school with a water bottle makes going outside for PE much easier.

Each week for the first three weeks, students have learned a new "instant warm-up activity".  My goal is to get them used to entering the gymnasium and warming up for about 3-5 minutes with a quick activity to get the wiggles and jiggles out before instructions are given for the main lesson.  I have found that children are more successful at listening to directions after a quick warm-up. Not to mention, it's just a more fun and engaging way to start class!😁  We will also end each class with a quick "calm down" activity before heading back to the classroom.

Grades K-2:  UNDERHAND THROW / ROLL

Students in grades Kindergarten - Grade 2 are working on the underhand throw and roll.  Verbal cues to help them remember the motor planning have been taught for this skill. Ask your Kindergartner, first or second grader to show you this skill and these cues at home. (Hopefully you will hear them whisper to themselves, "stay there leg - don't move, step opposite, tic-toc"). They have been practicing rolling and throwing balls to a partner and at bowling pins and mini hockey nets.  They have also had the chance to practice some defensive skills as they guard bowling pins or play goalie with mini nets while their partner rolls or throws a ball at a target.  Students in the lower grades will be given exploration time to for new skills.  We have also played some group games which focus on the underhand throw / roll.  Grade 2 students will also be working on the overhand throw. (Motor planning cues for this throw will be taught  as well.)

Grade 3: THROWING, CATCHING and LEAD-UP TEAM GAME SKILLS

Students in Grade 3 are also practicing the underhand throw and roll similar to grades K-2.  At this level an accurate overhand throw will also be emphasized. They will also have opportunity to participate in basic activities leading to Ultimate Team Handball skills (a game they will learn in grades 4 and 5).  At the 3rd grade level, simple game concepts will be broken down into activities that encourage team play and sportsmanship.  Throwing, catching, being in a "balanced and ready" position and finding an open spot on the court will be emphasized.  

Grades 4 & 5: THROWING, CATCHING, ULTIMATE TEAM HANDBALL GAMES

Students in grades 4 and 5 will be learning a modified version of game of Ultimate Team Handball.  It is a dynamic game which allows practice with throwing with accuracy, catching and working as part of a team. This is a modified version of the game with smaller teams so that everyone gets to touch the ball.  We are talking about the phrase "spirit of the game" (An ultimate frisbee term).  This involves learning how to play a team game with honesty, integrity and self control - with the end goal being able to referee your own game. Strategies for how to resolve conflicts that may arise during a game will be reinforced. We are also discussing the importance of sportsmanship being a "good winner" and a "good loser".  We will debrief on how this "spirit of the game" concept can be carried over to recreational games and "pick-up" games outside of sports and organized sports.  Grade 5 students will   be in game-like situations during the first class and grade 4 will have one class of a slower introduction to the game before playing "full speed".  This is a great game with many concepts which relate to other sports. It is an excellent opportunity to practice throwing and catching skills in a real game situation.

I hope your child is off to a great start this year.  Feel free to contact me if you have any concerns or questions this year.

~Maggie Schack

m.ward-schack@hwschools.net

Welcome to Physical Education!

Welcome to the Physical Education Blog! I am excited to join the Hamilton-Wenham school community this year.  I have been teaching PE for 15 years and am passionate about helping children learn new motor skills, gain confidence to participate in lifetime fitness activities and understand the importance of being active.

I have enjoyed meeting your children over the first two weeks. During our first class meeting, students in grades 1- 5 signed a Class Values Contract.  We discussed the importance of respect, kindness, fair play, safe play, giving your best effort, and of course, having fun.  All the students signed their grade level "contract" and we will refer back to these core values and add some additional ones throughout the year.  Kindergarten students will be signing their contracts soon.  You will see these colorful posters in the gymnasium.  Stop by and take a look for your child's name during curriculum night. I look forward to meeting you then! 

Please help your child to remember to wear sneakers on PE days.  Class time is 50 minutes and we will head out and enjoy the nice weather as much as possible.  Water bottles are helpful especially on these warmer days when we are outside. 

The gymnasium and fields will be buzzing with fitness activities, motor skill development, sports skills, group games and cooperative learning lessons. Lace up those sneakers because it's going to be a great year in PE!

~Maggie Schack