Happy Thanksgiving!

It's been a while since I last filled you in on our happenings in PE. I was fortunate to present two sessions at the ISACS Conference in Ohio the first week in November. The first presentation was done with Mrs. Margie Voss, Learning Center Specialist on our Action Based Learning Lab. Secondly, I presented a session on Team Building and what we do with our 3rd and 4th graders at USM. Both sessions were well received and it was a pleasure and honor to represent USM and to share some of the great things we do here at school.

With the holiday seasons coming up, it is important to make sure you and your families stay active. Check out the web site listed on the portal this week for an article on "Getting Active Indoors." The link to this article will be in the Electronic Friday Folder. Also make a copy of the Elementary PE Calendar and post it on your fridge so your child will try some of the daily challenges. Small steps to keeping kids active.

Senior Kindergarten
We finished our bowling/rolling unit with our "Bowling for Dollars" activity. You may have seen your child's wallet with their dollars. For each pin they were able to knock over they earned some dollars - $1 for one pin, $5 for two pins and $10 for all three pins. Not only did we work on our rolling skills, we integrated money recognition - what fun!
This week we began working on the underhand throw. The key elements we worked on were the three steps (tick - arm swings backward, step - in opposition from throwing arm, toss - throwing the ball toward the intended target). I helped the children recognize their dominant hand (throwing hand)by putting a dot on their hand and then I put a sticker on their opposite foot to help the children have a visual cue to help them distinguish these opposite body parts. This opposition position with hand andfoot will be used in many activities, such as the overhand throw, any striking activities (tennis)and balance activities. If you have a soft ball (yarn, or soft foam)encourage practice at home along with using the cues - tick, step, toss. Happy underhand throwing!!!

1st and 2nd Grade
We have been rocking out in PE this past week. Mrs. Griffin and I have joined our classes together this week and next to do our dance unit. The children are learning fun scatter square dance skills and various line dances using current music to add to the exercise and fun!! The smiles and expressions on their faces have been priceless! We have also learned that dancing is a terrific workout - fast beating hearts, sweaty bodies and thirsty kids! We have a special dance party planned for Tuesday next week - should be TONS of fun!!! Mrs. Griffin and I sure have had lots of fun doing the dances with the children.

3rd and 4th Grade
Health - the third grade completed their second body system - the digestive system. We learned about the parts and their jobs in the process of digestion. In the fourth grade - the students will begin their third unit in the Drug Defense curriculum and how advertising can influence some of our choices.

In PE we have been working this past week on the overhand throw and catching. The key elements of the overhand throw are: ready position, side to the target, elbow up, step - with the opposite foot, follow-through across the body. We concentrated on the execution of the throw and then we have been playing games that put their skills into practice. We have also worked on catching focusing on pulling the ball in toward the body to assist in the success of controlling the ball when it is caught. Next week,students will have the opportunity to observe a classmate and give them feedback on their skills. It is a good way for the children to observe and give helpful feedback to encourage their peers on how to further develop their throwing skills.

Team building this past week focused on cooperation and collaboration. As we worked through the definitions of these words, we also had a chance to do several activities that gave the children an opportunity to practice these concepts in a fun way. We will continue to work on how we use these two concepts in PE throughout the school year. We also drew on how these two words play a part in our everyday life - like in the classroom. It is important to make connections with their "real world" and how they can apply these concepts outside the PE classroom.