Since many classes did not have much time to play volleyball, Mrs. Hitchcock decided to continue the popular volleyball unit. BUT…classes really needed to start their bones/skeleton system unit also so, she mixed the two! 2nd and 3rd graders had the chance to start the unit, first by playing a volleyball game then learning some upper body bones. After that, they had the opportunity to use balloons and their bones to play “volleybones”. Mrs. H would shout out a bone and the students had to try and keep the balloon in the air while using that bone only. Some of the favorites (and funniest to watch) were the ribs, spine and carpals. Fun was had by all and at the end of class, ALL students were assessed on the bones by asking each one to name a bone they learned today. Most bones were pronounced correctly however, a few were called “carnivals”, “phanges” and “clavica”. Here is a list of the bones learned so far:

-Skull

-Spinal Column

-Clavicle (collar bone)

-Rib Cage

-Humerus

-Radius

-Ulna

-Carpals

-Metacarpals

-Phalanges

Learn all about your bones here!

Today was a skeleton-packed day of P.E.! We started out with our warm up as usual then moved into skeleton tag. In this game, students are told the “safety bone” and are required to show and tell where it is in order to be safe from the tagger. If they can not correctly identify what and where the bone is, they have to walk like a skeleton to the “bone yard” and wait to be saved by another skeleton.

After that, they played skeleton search, a game where color groups have to find 16 skeleton pieces that match their color. When they find all of the pieces (16 out of 80 bones!!!!), they can start putting their skeleton together. Groups are not done until the bones are “attached” properly and on the correct side of the body.

Our last activity was called Build-a-Bone Relay. Color groups have 6 activities to do before their bones are complete. One by one, students ran to their color group box and had to do the following:

1. Place a piece of paper on the floor
2. Flip all of the bones right side up on the paper
3. Color each bone a different color
4. Arrange the bones in the correct place
5. Fix the bone order if needed
6. Glue the bones together

After all of the bone pieces were assembled, the class watched in excitement as I glued the entire skeleton together to make him come ALIVE!! Next week, students will participate in Skeleton Stations including more volleybones activities, decorating a Halloween costume for their skeleton and giving them names!

Mrs. Rockwell's Class Skeleton!

Students are now in the final stage of the skeleton unit. After learning the upper body bones, lower body bones, how they fit together and where the bones are- they are ready to build and decorate a skeleton of their own! Each class builds a paper skeleton together then groups take turns decorating the skeletons in a costume voted on by the class. The students first put their skeleton together by participating in the build-a-bone relay. Then, during skeleton stations, are required to decorate the skeleton to best display the costume the class voted for. So far, the two skeletons that are completed are Mrs. Rockwell’s 2nd grade and Ms. McNeal’s 3rd grade. The students decorate the skeletons by reusing construction paper scraps from the teacher’s office supplies. This provides a great way to recycle, plus sparks the student’s imaginations when they find a scrap of paper that looks like a shoe, hat or glasses. They are encouraged to tear, fold and crinkle the paper to make the desired effect look real. The skeletons will be on display in the P.E. hallway until after the Halloween Carnival on the 25th. Here are the completed skeletons so far:

Class: Mrs. Rockwell’s 2nd Grade                      Skeleton Name: Mrs. Hitchcock (notice the whistle in the mouth!)

Class: Ms. McNeal's 3rd Grade Skeleton Name: R2-D2

Here are the rest of the skeletons completed on 10/22/08:

Mr. DiFiore's 4/5th grade Skeleton Name: Iron Man's Cousin It

Class: Mr. Barbera's 1st Grade Skeleton Name: Unnamed

Class: Mrs. Ferguson's K Skeleton Name: Unnamed

Class: Mrs. Christensen's 4/5th Grade Skeleton Name: Mr. Hands

Kindergarten and first grade students were tested today on a few of their bones. I picked the bones that we had studied the most (and the easiest for the kids to remember). I also threw in some “extra credit” bones that were harder for them to remember. Students were asked to make an X on the skull, circle the ribs, circle the phalanges and color in the pelvis. If they colored in the patella, femur or radius, they received extra points. 2nd-5th will also be tested this week. They will have an opportunity to quiz their peers then will be tested on 13 bones.

With a limited amount of time for P.E. before Thanksgiving break (only 3 days of P.E. in 3 weeks) I wanted to think of a unit that would give the kids the most “bang for their buck”. I also wanted a unit that started with an “N” because of November…hence, Neuro-November!

Neuro-November incorporates brain gym and crossing-the-midline activities. Some of our activities include: cup stacking, dribbling, mirror games, criss-cross walk, brain gym movements and more. This will be a perfect lead into the December unit: Juggling.

The first day of the unit was Neuro-stations, 4 stations that consisted of a normal activity but with a twist. Everything the students did required them to cross the midline in order to complete the activity. The challenges caused them (and their brains) to stop and think of a way to execute the activity. If classes had free time, they got to participate in cup stack races.

The second class was focused more on partner activities and peer teaching. Students had the opportunity to mirror their partner the opposite way. It was a very challenging activity and I enjoyed playing the whole class! Facing them, if I moved to my right, they were to move to their right as well, not follow me to their left. It was great fun (and a great challenge) for everyone, including myself!

The students also had the opportunity to participate in “tape walks” on the ground. These consist of various patterns taped to the ground which require the students to walk or run on them. The patterns include:

-Criss-cross walk: Students need to follow a line, walking slowly, and criss-crossing each and every step.

-Grapevine/karaoke: This is a taped pattern of dots in which a student places their lead foot sideways then their trailing foot forward, lead foot sideways, trailing foot behind…and so on. Kids could easily follow along because the sideways steps were purple and the front and backwards steps were green.

-Lazy 8/figure 8- This is a technique used in Brian Gym. It is a large figure 8 that students follow with their feet. This can also be done by using the arms in the air.

Warm-ups were also modified for this unit, students did a criss-cross walk two times around the gym followed by finger figure 8’s, cross-crawls and reverse jumping jacks.

For more information about Brain Gym, click here!

Brain activities and games, click here!

This is what we have been doing in class! A couple of our kids would be good competition for these two boys! See if you can spot when they cross their mid line!!!

STUDENTS: If you tell me in class that you watched this video OR you can tell me when they crossed their mid line…you will earn 4 extra credit points for P.E.! Pay close attention…..

What’s a Diabolo? The Diabolo (dee-ab-uh-loh) is a spool shaped juggling prop that is whirled into the air with two sticks that are attached by a string.

It will be our last activity in the December juggling unit! Other activities include juggling scarves, bean bags, rings, Lunasticks, and balancing peacock feathers. Students progress from balancing to scarves (1, 2 and if possible, 3), bean bags (1,2 if possible, 3) then to rings, Lunasticks and the diabolo. Students also get to partner juggle and demonstrate their skills in a juggle show during P.E.!

Everyone loves the basketball unit! Especially the Pre-K class! I made a special hoop just for them! I searched my equipment room for items that I could make a hoop with,  and found an old equipment bag and old hula hoop. I made a few snips and cuts here and there, taped up the hoop there and here and voila…a homemade basketball hoop!

Mrs. H's homemade bball hoop!

Now, the only thing I need to do is figure out how to support it horizontally instead of it hanging vertically from the big hoop! The preschoolers were so excited because it felt like a real hoop! They were doing some sweet jump shots, lay-ups and even a slam dunk now and then!

K-5th grade are working on their upper body arm streght and trying to make a big hoop! Even if the K-2nd graders hit the backboard, rim or net, I count it as a point! If they make the hoop, it’s 2 points!

Some fun games we’ve played so far are take away, hot shot, make it take it and dodge the defender!

Here are some cool videos of slam dunks!

Lisa Leslie, First woman in the WNBA to dunk:

Here are some of Michael Jordan’s best dunks!

Here is a high school girl, Britney Griner dunking!

Here are some kids dunking at an NBA game:

Basketball intramurals start next week for grades 3rd-5th on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-4pm. Students are allowed to come on either day or both! Next TAP will probably be MORE basketball including classes for Prek-2nd grade. My Preschoolers have some amazing jump shots and layups!!!

Whoops! I mean back to school of course, but school IS cool! Not only do you get to see all of your friends and favorite teachers, but also Ute Pass is celebrating it’s 40th birthday and got new playground and PE equipment for it’s present! You voted, and you got it! Three new playground items were added and boy are they fun! (Believe me, I’ve tried them myself, along with my 2 year old!)

As far as PE equipment goes, look for a NEW parachute, tether balls, spin jammers, and a HUGE 6′ poly-skeleton puzzle! Sweet!

Welcome back to cool! :-)