P.E. Christmas Games

Today was the last time I'll see my students until after Christmas.  We played a  lot of Christmas Games, and 5th graders were also given about 10 minutes to practice and be tested on the P.E. Central Challenges.

Our 5th grade Agenda today was:
Warm-Up = Christmas Match Relay (A running activity)
Skills Practice = P.E. Central Challenges and Feed the Reindeer Relay (catching/throwing activity)
Game= Santa and Mrs. Claus Tag


Kindergarten Agenda:
Warm-Up = Yoga/Exercises
Skills Practice = Feed the Reindeer Relay (catching/throwing activity)
Game = Christmas Tag

Pictures of Feed the Reindeer Relay - Students worked in groups of three.  Each child had a turn to do each "job".  One child rode the sled (scooter) to collect reindeer food (balls).  They tossed the reindeer food to the person standing inside the hula hoop and that person had to catch the food and throw it into the reindeer's bucket.  The third child's job was to be the "catcher" and try to help get the food into the buckets.  We played Christmas music during the game and switched jobs every 3 minutes.

Tossing Reindeer food into the Reindeer's bucket. The catcher had the option to hold the bucket and try to catch it.

Tosser had to stay inside the hula hoop while throwing.

Kindergartener's playing Feed the Reindeer Relay.  This is a great activity to teach them about teamwork and cooperation!

Student on the "sled" collecting "reindeer food".

Catching and Throwing Games Continued

My 5th graders have continued to practice catching and throwing skills the past few weeks. I have given opportunities during each class period for them to complete the PE Central Challenge of catching 30 in a row with a partner. We have also practiced many catching "stunts" with partners such as a two ball toss, kneel and toss, toss under leg, behind back, etc.

Here is a list of some of the games we have played this month: (Click on some for directions or videos of the game).
Jail Ball
Hoop Guard
Catch Everything (Similar to Throw Everything, except toss and catch with partner)
Keep Away
Bean Bag Battle
Dr. Mario (aka. Medic)
Star Wars
Thanksgiving Match Game (Running Relay)

I also introduced the Balance Beam Challenge to 5th graders this week from the PE Central Challenge. With a partner, students have to pass each other twice while keeping their balance to pass the challenge.

Kindergarten classes have also been working on catching and throwing. They have played a few of the games above, plus a throwing game called "Oscar's Garbage Can" and Thanksgiving Tag.

Pictures of Kindergarteners playing the Thanksgiving Match Game (Running Relay):

Students ran to the opposite end of the gym to get a Thanksgiving card (with a picture of food on it...turkey, potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc) and then ran it back to their team's "plate" to make a match.








Kindergarteners playing "Oscar's Garbage Can"

Catching and Throwing Games

This month students will be focusing on catching and throwing skills. Below are details and videos of what we did this week.

5th Graders Agenda:
Warm-Up
Catching Practice - Individual Catching Stunts/Partner Toss and Catch
Catching Games - 1) Jail Ball 2) Hoop Guard

Kindergarten Agenda:
Warm-up: Yoga
Throwing Practice: Underhand and Overhand Throwing
Throwing Game: Star Wars


Catching Practice - Students practiced individually in their own space tossing to self and catching. We caught with two hands, one hand and then did some stunts such as Toss/Clap/Catch, Toss/Kneel/Catch/Toss/Stand/Catch, Toss/Spin Around/Catch, Toss under legs/Catch.


Partner Practice - working on the Throw and Catch Challenge from pecentral.org


Game: Jail Ball - Click here for directions on how to play Jail Ball.


Game: Hoop Guard - Partners try to toss the bean bag into the other's hula hoop for a point.



Video of Yoga Exercises:


Video of Star Wars Game:

Fun P.E. Games - Pin Kickball and Battleship

Oct. 24th = After two weeks of fitness testing, I decided to rewarded my 5th grade classes with a day of fun games! They played Pinball, Pin Kickball and Battleship. Below are some video clips!

Oct. 31st = This week our school had a Halloween "Multi-age" day, so with those events going on the students did not have P.E. class. The Kindergarten class joined the activities in the gym during their P.E. time which included dances such as Monster Mash, Thriller, Chicken Dance, and "Who Let the Ghosts Out?".

Video of Battleship:


Battleship - This time I allowed two teams to join together as one fleet - a suggestion from one of my students! They enjoyed this version as well!


This video shows how teams have to begin most games we play - lined up with their team with a ball between their feet. Teams are rewarded points if they are able to get ready in 30 seconds or less (for each round). This ensures we don't waste any of our valuable P.E. minutes!


Playing Pin Kickball - kicking the balls to knock down the pins instead of rolling them like we do in the game "Pinball".

Indoor P.E. Activities - Dancing and Quiet Ball

This week the gym was being used for an assembly, and it was raining outside...so we had to have P.E. in the classrooms.  When situations like this occur, I like to do DANCES and "Quiet Ball" (aka. "Mum Ball").  Below are a few videos of my 5th graders doing the LIMBO!    I like to use Christy Lane's Party Dance Music CD for indoor dances.  She has a great variety of dances to teach elementary students. 

LIMBO - 1 = Pretty Easy Start....


LIMBO -2 = Getting harder!

LIMBO - 3 = How low can you go!??

P.E. Warm-Up, Flag Tag and Dead Ants Tag

Here was our agenda for last week:

1)  New Warm-Up Activity = Fitness Logs

2)  Flag Tag (click here for details of game)

3)  Dead Ants Tag (click here for details of game)

Videos:  Fitness Logs - In order to track progress and prepare for our fitness testing, my 5th graders are keeping a "Fitness Log" with a partner.  Each student is doing a series of ONE MINUTE tests in running, jumping rope, sit-ups and push-ups.  They record partners scores on their "fitness log" and will take these home when completed.

Flag Tag - Players had two flags (tube socks) hanging from their sides. The goal of the game is to keep your flags while others try to pull them off.



Dead Ants Tag - The tagger is called the RAID CAN and tries to run around and tag players (with the small noodle). If a player is tagged, they become a dead ant and must lay on their back with leg and arms extended. To become alive again, 4 alive ants must carry them to an ant hole.

Welcome Back to School! Icebreaker Games for P.E.

Welcome back to school everyone!  I am very happy to be teaching 5th grade and Kindergarten-A at Zinser this year!   This is my 7th year with the district.  This year I will be at Zinser on Mondays and ECC on Wednesdays.

Our first day of P.E. was great!  I already know most of the students because I taught their P.E. class when they were in 1st and 2nd grade.  It was awesome to discover they have continued to grow into wonderful, caring, and happy children.  This will be a great year for us in P.E.!

I hope you enjoy my P.E. blog.  I usually update it weekly so parents can view VIDEOS of what we are doing in class.  This blog is also for other P.E. teachers who are looking for lesson plan ideas.

This was our "Agenda" for today:
Welcome/Introductions
Discuss Expectations and Rewards
Choose squads and partners
Games:  "Grab It" and "Guard the Cookie Jar"


Videos of Grab It:  This is a game they played with their new partner.  The goal is to be the first person to grab the bean bag when I say the words "Grab It".  A point is earned for grabbing it first.  As you will see in the video, I sometimes trick them and say something other than Grab It.  If they touch the beanbag when I say a different word, a point is deducted.  This game got us all laughing!





Video of "Guard the Cookie Jar" - Similar to "Grab It", but with more movement! If a player is able to steal the cookie (the beanbag), then they become the new guard. The guards try to tag players before they steal their cookie.