|
|
It's winter in the
Northern Hemisphere, when students spend most of their time indoors.
At this time of the year children, as well as adults, tend to eat
more and exercise less. What can we do to counteract this
trend?
Although we typically
think of physical educators as being responsible for developing
fitness in school children (note the use of state mandated fitness
testing for accountability) this is an unrealistic expectation.
Children often have one hour or less of structured physical education
per week. Physical educators should teach children principles
of fitness development and help motivate them to live healthy, active
lifestyles. Classroom teachers, as well as others in the school
and community, also need to become involved.
One idea that is
successful in many classrooms is a "fitness break". Short
activity sessions can help children develop fitness as well as refocus
them on the task on hand. Fitness activities need to be encouraged.
They should be perceived as fun, rewarding and an appropriate outlet
for children. This issue will contain several ideas for fitness
activities that can be used productively by the classroom teacher.
Please
continue to send comments and suggestions to me at: smcghie@semo.edu. Thank-you.
Shauna McGhie
Interdisciplinary
Section Editor
|
| If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or
questions about particular topics, please email one of the following
Adapted PE Section Editors: |
|  |
| Activity Ideas from PECentral |
|
The
Feelings Hop
grades K-2
Purpose
of Event: To allow the students to express their emotions. To
allow the students to explore the feelings associated with different
real-life situations. To allow the students to practice the skill
of hopping.
Prerequisites: The only prerequisite for this activity is that
the students know that a smiley face symbolizes happiness, whereas
a frown symbolizes sadness. The students should review the basic
cues in the skill of hopping.
Materials Needed: A "Feelings Board" for each student
in the class (see directions on how to make a "Feelings Board"
on PE Central).
Physical activity: Hopping
Brief
Description of Activity: Children hop in different ways
to symbolize different emotions.
Cranium
Cool-Down
grades 3-5
Purpose
of Event: To allow students to cool down from physical
activity and to reinforce the location of bones.
Materials
Needed: Tape/cd player, "Marcarena" song, poster
or model of skeleton
Physical
Activity: Proper cool down and the scientific names of
bones
Brief Description of Activity: Students stand or sit
in small group and sing and touch bones to the music, Macarena.
Teacher can touch bones on poster or model during song. (see
PE Central for words)
|
"I've had smarter people
around me all my life, but I haven't run into one yet that can outwork
me. And if they can't outwork you, then smarts aren't going
to do them much good. That's just the way it is. And
if you believe that and live by it, you'd be surprised at how much
fun you can have."
~ Woody Hayes ~
|
|
|
| Other Classroom
Fitness Ideas |
|
Station
Fitness
grades 1-6
Purpose
of Event: To allow students opportunities to work on fitness
whenever appropriate.
Prerequisites:
Understand each station activity so activity can be done without
additional teacher instruction
Materials
Needed: Posters describing activity parameters for each
station.
Physical
Activity: Open to the imagination of the teacher.
Possible activities include: (jogging in place, marching in place,
stationary bicycle, safe calisthetics, curl-ups w/ variations, push-ups
w/ variations, flexibility)
Brief Description of Activity: Students can participate
in physical activity whenever the teacher deems it appropriate.
Children who finish their work more quickly than others may be encouraged
to go to a fitness station rather than waiting for the class to
finish. Children who have trouble sitting for long periods
of time can be encouraged to use excess energy in an appropriate
way rather than bothering other students.
Good
Morning World!
grades
K-8
Purpose
of Event: Start the day off right with aerobic activity.
Prerequisites:
none
Materials
Needed: none
Physical
Activity: Walk/jog
Brief Description of Activity: Students walk/jog around
the playground or any safe area (large, open areas are preferred,
but this can be done in hallways and the classroom when necessary).
Students are encouraged to walk/jog within their training zone (dependent
on understanding of child). Children are encouraged to talk
with friends while going at an appropriate pace. In large,
open areas children may be allowed to toss foam balls back and forth
while jogging. This should be approached as a FUN activity
for everyone. If laps are counted they should be combined
to reach a class goal, rather than for any competition.
|
|
|
Questions to Ask, or
Thoughts to Share?
|
|
|
|
