Jump Rope Unit for Elementary P.E.

Happy New Year everyone!  When we go back to school next week I'll begin the Jump Rope Unit for K-5th graders.   I searched "jump rope" on my blog to pull out all of my previous posts about jump rope.  Here is the link:  http://carly3.blogspot.com/search?q=jump+rope

Below is an overview of the jump rope unit.  Please note that jump rope tricks and partner jumping is taught 2nd grade and up.  However, if I have a K or 1st grade student who has mastered basic jumping then I teach them tricks. 

1)  Getting used to the ropes (K-1st) - making shapes and letters with ropes on the floor and jumping over a rope that is laying flat on the floor.  Learning how to jump with feet together. 
2) Learning "Ready" position (see my link above - I use Rene Bibaud's technique which I have found works great for elementary students).
3)  Basic Jumping - with both feet together - single and double bounce
4)  Individual Rope Tricks - such as side swings, double side swings, criss cross, hopping on one foot, jumping with eyes closed, etc.
5)  Partner Tricks - Switching handles, jumping together with one rope, etc
6) Long Rope Jumping - Younger students learn how to twirl and the jumper starts in the middle of ropes.  Older students will learn how to jump into a rope while it's being twirled.
7)  Chinese Jump Ropes - Teaching the "American's Pattern" and the "Name Game".

Pattern Warm-Up, Volleyball, and Overhand Throw

Check out what we did this week in Physical Education!

K-2nd Graders
Pattern Warm-Up
Overhand Throwing Practice
Game:  Star Wars Throwing Game

3rd-5th Graders
Circuits (same as Pattern Warm-Up)
Volleyball Serving Practice
Newcomb (modified V-ball Game)

Below are videos of our warm-up and star wars game.

Christmas Games for PE, Partner Relays, Scooter Relays

I had such a fun week with the students!  3rd-5th grade students learned a new warm-up called Circuits (aka. Pattern Warm-Up), and began our Volleyball Unit.  They are learning the underhand and overhand (5th) serves.  We will play Newcomb next week.

Kindergarten-2nd grade students learned a new warm-up which I call the "Pattern Warm-Up", learned how to do relays with a partner, and learned how to ride scooters safely.  Students ride scooters on their bottom, belly or knees.  I also taught them the "Superman" and "Spiderman" way which is on their belly.  Superman lifts feet up like you are flying and using arms to scoot.  Spiderman lays on belly and "climbs up the building" by using hands AND feet to scoot.  The videos below show all ways.  They also learned how to push each other safely on the scooters with fingers pointing down, and not letting go of their partners.  They all did an excellent job being safe on the scooters.

Below are videos of Christmas Partner Running Relays, Scooter Relays, Christmas Tree Tag

PE Catching Game and Snow Day Tag

Kindergarten students playing the game SIX AND SWITCH.  Practicing using READY HANDS.

Kindergarten students playing the game SIX AND SWITCH.  Practicing using READY HANDS.

Kindergarten students playing the game SIX AND SWITCH.  Practicing using READY HANDS.

P.E. Tossing and Catching, Fun Thanksgiving Game

Check out what we did in P.E. class this week:

1)  Warm-Up Variety / Move and Stretch Warm-Up

2)  Tossing and Catching practice (Individual Stunts-Stations)

3)   Save the Treasure Game

4)  "The Turkey and the Farmer" Game (created by Tracy Zappone)

Enjoy the pics/videos below!

Here is a diagram of the game "The Turkey and the Farmer".

Wednesday's Agenda

Friday's Agenda

Set up for "Save the Treasure" game - Hula Hoops were the islands and the blue poly spots are where students stood to toss it to the "Islander" (the person who stood inside the hula hoop to catch "treasure" aka. beanbags.

Another view of the set up for "Save the Treasure".  Cones were used for warm-up.

Video of Catching Drills/Stunts/Tricks

Video of the game "The Turkey and the Farmer" created by Tracy Zappone:

Tossing and Catching - Elementary P.E. Class

I always enjoy teaching students about tossing and catching.  I like to begin our catching unit with students practicing individually.  After 2-3 class periods we practice tossing and catching with partners.  I usually use bean bags the first week to teach some basic catching skills and tricks/stunts, then use a variety of balls and fun objects to catch with the following week (such as bean bag animals, rubber animals, balls with different textures, etc.).

Here is what we did this week:
1) Warm Up Variety
2) Catching Drills
Details:  Catching with right and left hands, both hands, sit and catch, kneel and catch, catch switching hands, catching stunts = Toss/Clap/Catch, Toss/Kneel/Catch and Toss/Stand Up/Catch  (I teach "stunts" to 3rd-5th grades, and some easy stunts with 2nd graders. 
3) Save the Treasure Game - see videos of this game below!

For P.E. teachers who are looking for more information on my catching unit, please visit my previous blog post for catching http://carly3.blogspot.com/search?q=catching, and also refer to Robert Pangrazi's book "Dynamic Physical Education" for some great information!  This was the text book I used in college and I have found it very useful over the years.  Here is a link to his Lesson Plan Book, which also has tons of great ideas!

Very first drill was to SIT and catch - this helps students practice tossing the bean bag directly above their head and helps them stay in their own personal space "bubble".

Very first drill was to SIT and catch - this helps students practice tossing the bean bag directly above their head and helps them stay in their own personal space "bubble".

 

These two videos are students practicing the stunt "Toss/Clap/Catch"

 

The next three videos are of the game "Save The Treasure".  The mats are the pirate ship with pirate taggers on it.  The players are trying to save the treasure "bean bags" and bring it back to the "islanders" who are on the islands (hula hoops).  Players who are tagged by pirates had to do 10 jumping jacks or 5 push-ups to re-enter the game.

K-5th Grade Obstacle Course

Today I took my classes to our gym's upper level to do the Fitnessgram Flexed Arm Hang Test.  While I was testing, students were able to participate in jump rope, an obstacle course, and the monkey bar ladder.  Below is a video of a 5th grade student demonstrating the obstacle course. 

P.E. Warm-Up Activity, Real Food Day Game, Trick or Treat Tag Game

This week I taught all of my students a new Warm-Up Activity called "Warm-Up Variety".  I used to call this "Four Corners", but changed the name since I decided to use 5 cones/signs instead of 4 (for 3rd-5th grade).  Below are 3 videos of this warm-up.  Students practiced running, the crab walk, and the bear walk.  They were huffing and puffing after 3-4 minutes of this activity!  I took a close up picture of the signs I used on the cones (see below).

These sign covers were a great purchase.  I use them all the time!

Today was "Real Food Day", so my 3-5th graders learned about real foods verses processed foods.  We played a game called "Fruit and Veggie Tag" to celebrate real foods.  Players who were tagged had to sit down and wait for the helper to bring them a fruit or vegetable.  Then they ran over and classified their item as a fruit or veggie by placing it in the labeled box.  Between each 2-3 minute round of the game, I called on 3 students to give examples of real or processed foods.  See video below of this game!

The K-2nd grade students learned a variety of new exercises and practiced them during the "Trick or Treat Tag" game.  Tagged players had to go "trick or treating" - which meant they rolled the dice and did that many exercises.  They also practiced MATH by rolling 2 or 3 dice and adding them together to do more exercises.  Between each 2-3 minute round of the game we stopped and I called on 3 students to give an example of how to be SAFE if they go trick or treating.  They had a lot of fun!  See video below.

Pic of 5th graders doing the crab walk during the warm-up.

Crab Walk

Trick or Treat Tag - students going to the "Push-Up House".

P.E. Centers for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades

Yesterday my 3rd-5th graders completed some of the fitnessgram fitness tests and had choice time.  My K-2nd grade student participated in center activities.  I assessed leaping, galloping and skipping at one center while they rotated through the other centers of soccer, balloons/paddles, bean bag toss and hula hoops.  Here are a couple of videos!

Next week we will take a break from assessments and have some fun playing some fun, fitness HALLOWEEN GAMES!

PE in October - Soccer, Centers, Fitness Testing, Warm-Ups

Hi Everyone - This month the students have been finishing up our soccer unit, participating in the fall Fitnessgram fitness testing (3rd-5th), and learning how to do center activities.  I've posted many pictures and VIDEOS below.  I finally got some videos of our Kindergarten and 1st graders.  They are doing a great job listening, following directions/procedures, and playing nicely with each other.

PE Teachers - There is one printable game in this blog post for PINBALL.  I played Pin Kickball which is the same except kicking the balls to knock down pins instead of rolling them.  See diagram below and printable google doc for directions.

Friday 10-10-14

PIN KICKBALL diagram

Agenda from 10-15-14

1st graders showing me how to sit nicely at the circle.  The circle is our listening spot and the procedure is to sit with hands in laps behind the circle line.  Nice job 1st graders!

1st graders using hula hoops

Kindergartener practicing STEP-KICK to knock down his bowling pin.

Impressive!

October Games for P.E. - Halloween Tag/ Pumpkin Tag

This post is for my fellow P.E. teachers out there who are looking for fun tag games to play in October.  I like to save the last 5-7 minutes of class for games such as these.  Below are some links to previous blog posts with videos and instructions for these games.  There are also some links to google documents which are easy to print.  Enjoy!

Printable - CANDY CORN and PUMPKIN Tag
Printable - Trick or Treat Tag
Blog Post - Haunted House or Corn Maze Tag
Blog Post - Hide and Seek Trick or Treat Tag
Blog Post - Thanksgiving Tag
Blog Post - Christmas Games


New Game - Pumpkin Patch:  A fellow P.E. teacher recently told me about this game.  I am posting it here so I'll remember to play it next year!  The object of the game is for players to get pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and deliver them to the houses (to set on the front porch for Halloween night).  Each corner of the gym is a pretend house.  Make a circle area in the middle of the gym to be the pumpkin patch (mark with cones).  Place LOTS of beanbags (pumpkins) inside the circle area.  Choose 2-3 players to be Scarecrows (taggers).  Scarecrow taggers stay inside the pumpkin patch and try to tag players while they are taking a pumpkin out of the patch.  Players who are tagged sit down and wait for someone to help them (any other play can touch their back to help them).  Players may only take one pumpkin from the patch at a time.  Another option is for tagged players to do an exercise before re-entering the game (10 jumping jacks, 10 push-ups, etc). 

P.E. Lesson - Soccer Skills K-5th Grade

Here are some pictures and videos from last week. Enjoy!  

Agenda for K-2nd grade students.  We learned a stretching song this week (Dinonastics), animal walks and spacial awareness.

3rd-5th grade agenda - Practicing Soccer Skills in September - see video below for our soccer drills and soccer tag.

This is our Locomotor I CAN bulletin board.  This week we talked about leaping and practiced leaping over hurdles during the warm-up activity.

Sample bulletin boards.

Mr. Pahl made this awesome bulletin board for posting our standards so the students know what we are working on.

Close up of Mr. Pahl's bulletin board.

Our Code of Conduct in P.E.  Classes can earn 2 stars each time they come to PE.  One star for everyone wearing their gym shoes, and the other star for if everyone follows the code of conduct.

This is a 4th grade helper standing by the hurdle encouraging younger students as they practice leaping.

Video of Soccer Drills - This is my explanation of today's soccer drill - combining these skills:  passing with a partner, trapping, shooting, goal keeping, throw-ins and dribbling.

 

Below is a video of Soccer Tag - Players who are tagged move out of bounds and dribble a soccer ball down and back.

This video shows lower elementary students practicing dribbling and trapping.

Click HERE for directions for ANIMAL WALK TAG.

September P.E. Lesson - Soccer, Bean Bag Activities, and Animal Walks

This Friday my 3rd-5th grade students demonstrated their soccer skills by participating in these SOCCER COURSES.  5th graders also practiced throw-ins, passing, and trapping with a partner.  This was my first time seeing most of the students play soccer, and the courses were an easy way to keep them all active while I observed what level they are at.   I'm hoping to teach them some soccer lead-up games next week.

My K-2nd grade classes did their MOVE and STRETCH warm-up, learned a stretching song called "TUCK, PIKE STRADDLE", and did some BEAN BAG activities.  I love to use this "Dinonastics" CD for K-2nd grade.  One of my classes even had time to play BEAN BAG TAG.  2nd graders learned about ANIMAL WALKS and played ANIMAL WALK TAG.  This was a new game I came up with yesterday and worked out well! 

Soccer Obstacle Course / Constituation Day P.E. Soccer Game

Today was the first day of my Soccer Unit. The students worked on dribbling, trapping and passing.  Please see the video below for details of how I set up the soccer obstacle courses.  It was a great way for me to be able to observe the students' skills on the first day of our unit.  I also used these courses as a fitness activity at the end of class.  We put the soccer balls away and I had students run through the courses.  They got a great workout!  Today was also Constitution Day so you will see in the picture and video below how I integrated that into the lesson.

                                    

Here is a picture of a few of the Constitution Day Fun Facts posters I made to incorporate into the lesson today.  This was a quick and easy way to get more information to the students.   As shown in the video, after completing a course, the student would read ONE poster before running back to start another obstacle.  So by the end of class they had read all 6 posters, some more than once.

P.E. Lesson Plan Template

I just created this very basic lesson plan template and decided to share it for other P.E. teachers who might want to use it.  Each page is set up for one month of lessons.  There are 8 boxes because I see my classes twice per week.  There are 4 sections for each lesson - Warm-Up, Fitness, Skills/Lesson Focus, and Game....and I would simply write the name of each item next to the appropriate category.

For example, my K-2nd grade lesson from last week was:

Warm-Up - Move and Stretch
Fitness - Practice Freeze/hands on knees and do basic exercises
Skills/Lesson Focus - Spacial Awareness - Personal and General Space
Game - Soap Bubbles, Stop and Go Tag, Bridge Tag

Click here if you would like a printable document for my Scope and Sequence Charts (K-5th grade Activities/Units organized by month). 

I organize my lessons in a 3 ring binder with tabs dividing grade levels.

P.E. Lesson Ideas for Students with Special Needs / Adaptive PE

I typed up a quick list of activities that I teach my students with special needs.  I decided to share this document for other P.E. teachers who are looking for ideas for these students.  Please click HERE for a printable document.  The document also has links to former blog entries with pictures or videos of some of these activities. Enjoy!

T-ball batting cages

P.E. Scope and Sequence Charts PreK-5th grade

Below are links to my Scope and Sequence charts for Elementary Physical Education.   It is organized by month and gives a general overview of when I teach each topic.  I have received many emails recently from fellow P.E. teachers asking for this information so I thought I'd post it!  Parents of my students, this information is included in the P.E. Curriculum brochure that will be sent home this month.  Here's to a great school year!

Scope and Sequence Chart PreK-2nd grade
Scope and Sequence Chart 3rd - 5th grades

Welcome Back to School

Welcome to all of my new students and families this year!  I am so anxious to get to know you all and have a great time in P.E. class!  I will be teaching on Wednesdays and Fridays and Mr. Pahl will be teaching Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I will see many students on the first day of school, so please come prepared with gym shoes! 

Parents - A Physical Education curriculum brochure will be coming home soon, along with information for our Get Sweaty program.  

Batting Practice / T-ball and Parachute games for Elementary P.E.

Today I will be playing some PARACHUTE games with my PE classes.  I had to chuckle when one of my 1st grade students entered the gym yesterday and asked me if we were going to play with the "hot air balloon"!  So cute!  Kids always love to play parachute games, and you can click here for my blog posts with details for parachute lessons and teaching tips.

Next week my PE classes will be practicing batting.  Each student will have their own "batting cage" to use.  Please click here for a link to my blog post from last year to view pics and videos of this lesson idea!   Below are some pics of my set -up. 

This is how I arrange my "batting cages" for elementary P.E. Class.  If you do not have t-ball tees, then use the tall cones.  I use foam balls and wiffle ball bats.   Students work in groups of THREE - Catcher, Batter and Outfielder.  Students stay in their position for about 3-5 minutes, then I have them rotate.  My rule is for the catchers to have their backs to the side wall when the batter is up (behind the batters), and the outfielders have their backs on the opposite side wall.  Before batting practice, we talk about good batting form.

Snow Day Tag - Fun Winter Tag Game for Elementary Physical Education

This year my school has had SEVEN snow days!  I came up with the idea for SNOW DAY TAG on my way to school a couple of weeks ago.  The kids had a lot of fun with it.

Please click "SNOW DAY TAG" for a printable link to this game.  Enjoy! 

Pinball - A Fun PE Game

I taught my 1st graders Pinball last week and it went great!  It's one of my "oldies but goodies".  Kids always love this game and leave the gym with sweaty, red faces!

For printable directions click on "Pinball".

For a video of this game click here!