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A few weeks ago I raised the question of whether PE teachers should be trying to integrate classroom content, or whether classroom teachers should use more movement activities. I pointed out that PE teachers just don't have enough time to do everything, and suggested that maybe we should just focus on movement.
This week I read an article by Thom McKenzie & Jim Sallis that also addressed the time challenge we face. They noted, "To better serve elementary school pupils, schools might consider modifying the role of specialists to take on new duties - as consultants." They then described how PE teachers could help structure the entire school environment to encourage all students to find ways to stay sufficiently active on a daily basis.
Should future PE teachers be trained to be both instructors and consultants? Should we be concerned less with conducting lessons ourselves, and more with training other teachers in our schools to integrate movement into their lessons? What do you think? Click here to respond on our PE Forum.
Steve Jefferies
Guest Section Editor
PS. Oh yes, the article I read was chp. 12 in the book "Student Learning in Physical Education: Applying Research to Enhance Instruction" by Steve Silverman and Cathy Ennis. Highly recommended!
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The Trouble Tree
The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start.
While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again."
"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."
- author unknown
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| Environmental & Health Issues |
Active & Safe Routes to School Program
All grades; Focuses on how communities can improve their environments and their health
Active & Safe Routes to School is a national Canadian program encouraging the use of active modes of transportation to and from school.
The benefits include:
 | Increased physical activity for children and youth. |
| A healthier lifestyle for the whole family. |
| Less traffic congestion around schools. |
| Safer, calmer streets and neighborhoods. |
| Improved air quality and a cleaner environment.
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This innovative program encourages adults to walk, rather than drive their children to school. It also proposes parking cars and buses away from the immediate school vicinity, both to cut air pollution and to increase physical activity.
An "International Walk to School Day" is planned for October 2nd. Details on organizing a "Walk to School Event" can be downloaded from the site.
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Them Bones: Grades 2-5
Helps students learn the correct names of various bones in the human body, while using locomotor skills.
By Deborah Stevens; PE Central.
"Them Bones" first requires making the various shapes of the bones of the human skeleton from cardboard and marking the correct names. Groups then compete to create a skeleton. Students can be challenged to use different fundamental movement skills during the construction process.
Lots of variations possible and downloadable worksheets provided. For full details click here.
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If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email one of the following Interdisciplinary PE Section Editors:
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Help to support quality physical education and health education by contributing to this site.
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States of Fitness: Grades 1-3
Integration of core curriculum; ie., geography, reading, reading comprehension, map skills
By John Williams and Erika Leeson
"States of Fitness" first involves making cards with names of states and lists of different physical activities (authors suggest many for you!).
Students walk and sit at a state of their choosing. They can do this as individuals, or if they are uncomfortable with their reading and comprehension abilities, they may partner up with someone to help them.
On the teacher's signal, the students may begin. Students then read the activity on the back of the state. When they know what to do, they go perform that activity. When finished, the students go find the next state that was named on the back of the state they were just on.
To help the students find the next state, they use the wall map. They will look for the state and determine which zone or region it is in, and then go to that area to look for the next state.
For full details click here
Bodies of Letters: Grades K-4
Learning the alphabet, and about their bodies
This activity is included on John William's site, and was submitted by Erlex U. Hermogino
In "Bodies of Letters" students are challenged to form letters using their bodies, and cooperate as part of a group to make a word. First, the teacher explains how the joints of the body work and their movement limitations. Groups are given a word to create, and the other students are invited to guess the word.
For full details click here.
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Pac Man Chomps Again: Grades 1-3
Math reasoning skills
By Jennifer Worgan; PE Central
"Pac Man Chomps Again" involves teaching students about the meaning of the "lesser than" and "greater than" signs in math. Students are grouped to illustrate the difference physically. A game similar to "Freeze Tag" can then be played that requires students to solve various mathematical equations. Lots of modifications possible for different abilities.
For full details click here.
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