Warm-Up idea for P.E. class - Minute Running Club Certificates

Check out this warm-up idea that my friend and co-worker, Mrs. Bradley, thought of a few years ago.  We call this the "Minute Running Club", and it's a great way to teach jogging, pace, and endurance to elementary students.

We use this warm-up for the month before our fitness testing (March).  Begin by explaining to your students that they will be working on building endurance by jogging (without stopping to walk) for a specific time.  On day 1 you will have the students jog for 1 minute.  Day 2, the students will jog for 2 minutes, day 3 for 3 minutes, etc.  We build up to a 5 minute jog.

Watch the students as they jog to see who is able to jog without stopping.  At the end of the warm-up, any student who does not stop to walk may sign the poster (pictured below is the 3 and 4 minute posters).   Also, I give these CERTIFICATES to students at the end of class if they earn them.  The certificates are a GREAT motivator!

For more P.E. Certificates - click here! 

The top (white) certificates are the minute club certificates.  The bottom are other certificates I have for sale:  click here.  I like printing certificates on bright colored paper!

1/2 Mile Run Certificate - prints 4 per page.

My favorite - Sparkle Note - positive note home for P.E. students!

Mrs. Bradley's Minute Club posters hanging in the gym.

Jump Rope Activities - Long Rope Games, Chinese Jump Ropes. Guard the Cookie Jar and Valentine Relay

Hearts for Relay

This week the students participated with long ropes and Chinese jump ropes.  K-2 grade students learned some long rope games such as Snake in the Grass, and Waves.   2nd graders learned how to twirl and jump with the long ropes.   Kindergarten-2nd grade students also learned a "Valentine Relay" and "Valentine Tag".  Another fun Valentine game is "Hide and Seek Valentine Hearts".

3rd-5th graders learned
a new Chinese jump rope pattern called the "criss-cross" (video of this below).  Some groups also practiced long rope jumping with rhymes, and a fun long rope game called "Elimination".  A few of my classes had time to play a fun game called "Guard the Cookie Jar".  Did I mention they had FUN?!

2nd graders playing "Snake in the Grass" with  long ropes.

Playing "Snake in the Grass".

Chinese Jump Rope Patterns, Towel Push Exercise - Fun PE Activities

1st graders using the Chinese Jump Rope - Americans Pattern

This week I taught my students about Chinese Jump Ropes (K-5th grades).  It was a big hit with all grade levels!  Here is a link to many printable posters (regular paper size) which I use while teaching Chinese Jump Ropes.  

Below are also a few pictures of the "towel push" exercise which I added to our warm-up activity.  It was something fun and different for the kids and they seemed to enjoy it!  Our warm-up routine is jog 1 lap, then do 10 reps of an exercise, and repeat for 3-5 minutes.  The towel push was an exercise they could choose during this time.   This routine gets their heart rates up very quickly and provides for a lot of variety.

1st grader jumping with a Chinese Rope.

These are the doctors in the game Dr. Mario which we played last week.

Playing Dr. Mario - printable click here!

The Towel Push

Towel Push

V-sit exercise (student in the middle)

Videos Below!

 

Fun Valentine Game for P.E. - Valentine Tag

Please click here for printable directions to Valentine Tag.   

We used the flavors of chocolates as the names of boys/girls for tag.  Example: Girls= "caramel swirl"  Boys="Coconut Creme".  We changed names every few minutes:  Cocoa, Raspberry Creme, Orange Creme, Dark Chocolate, etc.  Click here for printable document of the game.

Jump Rope Unit, Warm-Up Variety, Dr. Mario Game

The students have been busy this month learning a variety of jump rope skills, new exercises for our warm-ups, and also playing some fun fitness games (Dr. Mario).  Below are a few pictures and videos!

Attention PE Teachers = I recently purchased these PE Activity Task Cards and I love them!  I printed in color and laminated them so they will last for a very long time!  (Some of them are pictured below).

One of our Agenda's from last week.  I used THESE task cards for the jump rope stations.

Here is a sample of some TASK cards that I purchased and now use as part of our "warm-up variety".

Students using the TASK Cards during "warm-up variety".

These are some posters I made and use for our "warm-up variety".

Again, more TASK cards.

Kindergarten and 1st grade students practiced jumping over their ropes - they made straight lines and circles to jump over/into.  They did 10 jumps, then practiced twirling the ropes over their heads.

1st grade student practicing jumping into her jump rope circle - with both feet together.

1st graders jumping into their circles.

Nice landing!

Jumping over her rope.

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.