Recycle! Recycle!

The use of "junk" to create your physical education equipment
needs is a cool and creative way to address both program goals and
promote recycling teaching objectives.
My PE equipment room, comprises more 'self-made' equipment than
professional PE equipment. From coffee cans to nylon stockings!
Old socks, tires and empty fax roll tubes! Due to a limited PE budget
and the lack of a professional PE supplier for Elementary PE, the
maxim "Necessity is the mother of invention" drives me
on.
O-ring scrap rubber & Pringle Cans:
These are great for the practice of throwing skills! Due to the
breezy conditions predominant on my outdoor playground, I stuffed
loads of Pringle Cans with scrap rubber, from a local factory that
manufactures o-rings. Secure the lid with tape so that the contents
do not spill when they are knocked over. These cans can be used
in myriad of ways - they can be used as cones, to create pathways,
to create posts, as shakers or as hand weights! Creative thought
is the limit really.
This scrap rubber has also been an ideal alternative to the traditional
stuffing of beanbags. Unlike roasted beans, beanbags stuffed with
rubber scraps are softer, do not rot in humid conditions and are
washable. We have also used them to make "medicine" balls.
Home Made Equipement Resources On PE Central
PE Central lists some good books on Home made equipment, here.
The Preschool Section provides several ideas of making home made
equipment. Click here.
Another book is Jim Stillwell's "Making and Using Creative
Play Equipment", available through Human Kinetics Publishers.
(1987) ISBN 0-87322-084-6
Marina Bonello
Elementary Section
Editor
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Enthusiasm is the greatest asset
in the world. It beats money and power and
influence.
-Henry Chester
"Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot
be great."
-Machiavelli
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Online Interactive Sites for Kids!
If you are looking for online sites that supplement your PE program,
check out Hartcourts' Skeleton
Shake Down or Nothing
but tooth! They are great fun. These games require Shockwave,
which you can download for free.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
In Fitness & Health!
Hi all! Welcome to the first Elementary page of the 2002! By golly
how the school months are rolling by! Hope everyone had a well earned
break, but now we are due to warm up into the next scholastic term!
We thank all the awesome PE teachers who have been sharing their
ideas through this site. If you would like to share ideas or forward
suggestions, please contact any of the Elementary Section Editors
below. Should you like to peek into previous issues of the Elementary
Page, you can check out the Archives
Section.
Welcome once again into the dynamic world of elementary physical
education for kids!
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Need Music for your
web-page? Try Kazaa.com
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Have you visited Kazaa.com yet?
This is a really neat site throught which I have located numerous
children songs. You can sign up for free. Once you install the software,
you will be able to access a very rich musical resource.
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Questions to Ask, or
Thoughts to Share?
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If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions
about particular topics, please email one of the following Elementary
Section Editors: |
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Mascots in PE!
Mascots are a really cool way of bring some fantasy into a early
elementary PE program. This year, our mascot family has sprouted
to include new "friends" that returned home with me from
my trips abroad!
I have used the mascots in so many different ways - for demonstrations,
to organize the class into teams, to play the ventriloquist to check
for understanding, to reach children who might need direction (i.e.
off task e.g. "Hey Timmy, Delphi just told me that you were
not really focusing on your throwing..do you need any help?"...I
have used them also for positive reinforcement and also for "hugs"
when needed (e.g. recently when the pet of one my pupils died, Hokie
stayed by her during class time).
My using mascots stemmed from an internet PE project that I shared
with Deb Summers, from Monocacy
Elementary, MD, some 2 years back. The Fitness Flamingo project
was such a success with my pupils that we now have a family of flamingos
residing in Malta too! Our lessons would not be complete without
our Mascot family!
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Did you know that Unesco have an action plan aimed at promoting
a Culture of Peace?
The 2001-2010 is the International
Decade for a Culture of Peace and non-violence for the children
of the world.
I explored this theme in various way throughout
the scholastic year 2000-2001! The culminating event was Field
day which was called "PEACE lympics"! Once the theme
was developed, the logo and slogans evolved to tie in with the
promotion of peace and understanding through the physical education
program

Exploring body letters led to the discovery of an acronym "Physical
Education Among Children Everywhere"! The emphasis
was on teamwork, respect for diversity, collaboration and fair-play!
P = Physical
E = Education
A=Among
C= Children
E=Everywhere
I also use the "PEACE" letters to develop
a motto " I am a PE- Ace!"
...and the children were encouraged to try their very best and
be an ace in PE!
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