December PE Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Your children have just finished a dance unit in Physical Education class.  Throughout the past four weeks, the entire school learned and practiced a variety of modern/social dances. You might have even seen a few of their dance moves at home! The upper grades worked tirelessly to create and choreograph their own dance routines, which they performed in front of their classmates. For the culminating activity of the unit some classes were randomly picked to travel to local nursing homes including: Gary Home, Heaton Woods, Woodridge and Westview Meadows where they performed their favorite dances for the seniors. We had a fantastic, creative dance unit with all the students, and we are looking forward to the upcoming unit.

Beginning in the month of December, we will start a Gymnastics unit (tumbling, stunts and balance) for grades Kindergarten through second grade. The upper grades (3-5) will begin a basketball unit.

The K-2 grades will be introduced to gymnastics fundamentals in tumbling such as: log roll, forward roll, egg roll, static and dynamic balance routines as well as stunts activities including jumping and landing on one foot or two feet.  While participating in these activities, your child  will understand the importance of safety, respect, and staying focused. Your son/daughter will also develop spatial and body awareness, self-confidence, agility, coordination, muscle strength/endurance, and flexibility.

Upper grades (3-5) will spend the first three weeks of the month learning the fundamentals of the game of Basketball. The lessons will focus on dribbling, passing and shooting skills. All of the activities are designed to include and challenge all students’ abilities, while learning to construct proper basketball skills, working together involving everyone in a safe shared space, and maintaining enjoyable health-promoting moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Thank you again for helping us to have successful Physical Education classes. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Emmanuel Riby-Williams and Marie "MJ" Jennings 

Parachute fun!

October Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to UES Physical Education for another school year.  Physical education is an integral part of UES.  Childhood obesity has increased dramatically in our country.  As a result there has been an increase in diabetes and high blood pressure in our children.  Our main goal is to teach children the importance of being physically active for life. 

This is also a very important time for development in our children.  We have just completed a unit on cooperative games where a variety of motor and life skills were presented to help facilitate their development.  We also stressed cooperation and development of good social skills with peers and teachers.  Throughout the past five weeks the students were encouraged to work with their peers and learned how to communicate effectively, and work with everyone in their class.  One of the most enjoyed activities of the unit was, Crossing the Raging River, which had students work in small groups to try to cross the “river” using only a limited number of poly-spots (rocks.) The students had to come up with a strategy and communicate with one another to successfully cross the river as a group. They found success after much trial and error, and it was clear students thoroughly enjoyed this challenge! This activity was just a snapshot of what was taught during the cooperative unit. We had a great first few weeks of getting to know our new kindergarteners, and we look forward to building rapport and positive relationship with our old students. 

Beginning the month of October, we will begin a Soccer unit for grades 3 through 5, and grades K through 2 will begin a parachute unit.

Soccer is the World’s most popular sport played in nearly every country by young and old alike. During this month students will start a Soccer unit that provides activities to practice and develop fundamental skills such as; ball handling, dribbling, passing and receiving, and shooting on goal required for successful game play. Aligned with the National and State standards these activities are designed to include and challenge all students’ motor and social skills, and to improve their health-related fitness.  Classes will be held at Harrison field!

The Kindergarten through grade 2 will be introduced to Parachute activities and games. Parachute is one of the most widely known and loved activities for this age group. We will be teaching the students a wide-variety of activities focused around social skills. Your child will have the opportunity to use his or her creative mind through a variety of movements.

 Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns or visit our blog: at http://www.uesfitnessforlife.blogspot.com 

Thank you for helping us work with your children. 

Best,

Emmanuel Riby-Williams and Marie "MJ" Jennings 

Physical Educators, Union Elementary 

Cooperative Activities in ACTION!

"Crossing the Raging River" 

"Whole World in your hands"

"Whole world in your hands Part 2" 

Welcome back to 2014-2015 school year!

Our goal this year is to develop skillful movers who are interested in a lifetime of physical activities.
Visit here for regular updates on curriculum, instruction and field trips!

Union Elementary School

Physical Education

2014-2015 Yearly Plan

Month	Grade K-2	Grade 3-5
August/September	Building a Foundation/Cooperative Activities	Expectations/Cooperative Activities
October	Parachute	Soccer
November	Dance	Dance
December	Balance, Tumbling and Stunts	Basketball
January	Kicking and Trapping	Juggling
February	Winter Fest	Winter Fest
March	Jump Rope	Jump Rope
April	Dribbling and Volleying	Volleyball
May	Throwing and Catching	Flying Disc
June	Rec. Activities	Rec. Activities

The bedrock of UES P.E. program is “Fitness for Life!!!!”

Grades K-2 focus on movement. Grades 3-5 focus on skills. Fitness is a daily lesson. 

Frisbee Golf and Ultimate Unit at Harrison Field!

Upcoming Units!

We are excited to inform you that beginning May 12^th, grades 3 to 5 will begin our outdoor disc golf unit. The lower grades will begin a kicking, bouncing, and dribbling unit.

Striking Unit in action!

May Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome springtime and new beginnings!  We invite all Union families to the second annual Family Fitness Night this Friday, May 2nd from 6 to 8 pm.  Please come and explore a night of fun physical fitness activities aligned with state and national standards. All activities focus on health-related fitness including: cardio-respiratory, muscle strength, stretching or yoga, and body composition (nutrition games).  We hope that parents and family members will come and enjoy this opportunity with their children.

Secondly, as we wrap up our volleyball, throwing, catching and striking units, we are excited to inform you that beginning May 12^th, grades 3 to 5 will start their spring outdoor unit disc-golf or Frisbee golf, and the lower grades will begin kicking, bouncing, and dribbling unit.

We are excited about this Friday’s Family Fitness Night!  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Williams or MJ at 225-8215 ext 8264.

 In health,

 Mr. Williams and MJ

Upcoming Units: Volleyball, Throwing, Catching and Striking!

April PE Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you for supporting Jump Rope for Heart event at Union Elementary School!  Students in kindergarten through fifth grade benefited from strengthening their hearts and raising funds for the American Heart Association. The totals are in and the students raised over $4,404.77! In a few months the students will receive their Thank you gifts from the American Heart Association.

Beginning this month, grades 3 to 5 will start volleyball, and the lower grades will begin a striking unit.  Playing volleyball is a way to improve physical strength and health.  According to the FitnessHealthZone.com, 45 minutes of volleyball burns up to 585 calories resulting in significant weight loss. This reduces the risk of heart diseases and diabetes.  Throughout the unit students will learn and participate in activities that will increase their agility, hand-eye coordination, fast reflexes, vertical jump and body composition (muscle and fat ratio.)  Other volleyball related activities will help your child learn vital life experiences including: competition, upbeat, hard working and being active.  Your child will not only learn to be good team player but learn good sportsmanship.

The lower grades (k-2) striking unit will focus on learning how to strike an object using paddles, noodles, bats, rackets, and a variety of objects and implements. These skills help to teach students about eye-hand coordination, teamwork, force, and being active. We look forward to watching students develop and learn about these critical skills! 

Parents are reminded that Union Elementary School will be hosting a Family Fitness Night on May 2nd. Four fitness stations will be open and available for families to participate in heart healthy activities including: cardio-respiratory, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, and nutrition board game.  We hope that parents and family members will come and participate with their children. We will send more information regarding this in the near future. Stay tuned!!

Gratefully,

Emmanuel Riby-Williams and Marie “MJ” Jennings

Jump Rope!

Jump Rope for Heart Month!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Union School is hosting Jump Rope For Heart from March 5 through the 28^th. Jump Rope For Heart is a community service-learning program of the American Heart Association. It teaches kids:

·        The importance of developing heart-healthy habits;

·        That being physically active can be fun; and

·        That by raising funds to support research and education they help save lives across the country and in their community.

Please keep in mind these event dates:

Kickoff Assembly: March 5th

Envelopes Passed Out: March 5^th  (Grades 2-5 Only!)

Envelopes Due: March 24 through the 28th

Thank you!

Emmanuel Riby-Williams & Marie “MJ” Jennings

Week 2 of Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing has been off to a great start! 

This week in PE at Union...

Grades K-2:

Grades 3-5:

Report Card Overview and Format

Students are assessed based on the following Physical Education domains of learning. Which align with State and National Standards.

Format for Report Cards: 

Motor Skills: Student demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.

Knowledge Skills: Student shows understanding in motor skills and applies them in a variety of game situations.

Personal and Social Skills Development: Student shows responsible personal and social skills behavior that respect self, others, equipment and demonstrates competency in cooperative skills.

Physical Fitness: Student shows knowledge of health-related physical fitness components. Is able to identify a variety of activities to develop each component. (Cardio Respiratory, Muscle Strength and Endurance, Flexibility and Body Composition.

Overview:

Our first unit of cooperative activities helped set the tone for the high expectations we hold! In the first semester grades 3-5 worked on Soccer, Dance, Basketball and Juggling. Grades K-2 worked on spatial awareness, rhythmic, parachute activities, and gymnastics. Students also practiced the concept of pacing during the mile run. Assessment was conducted on their understanding of fitness.

Second semester begins with upper grades participating in snowshoeing, jump rope, volleyball and frisbee golf. Grades K-2 will be introduced to snowshoeing, jump rope, throwing/catching and kicking/punting.

How we measure and assess student learning

Formative Assessment: On a daily basis we assess student learning through self-assessment, thumbs up scale and teacher observation to inform our instruction.

Summative Assessment: Completed at the end of each unit through rubrics to inform our monthly and daily instruction. 

January PE Newsletter 2014

January PE Newsletter

Dear Parents and Guardians,       

Last month grades kindergarten through second was introduced to the one of the most loved activities in Physical Education, the parachute. The unit focused on cooperative and team building games and activities. The students were introduced to a variety of games that allowed them to think creatively and “outside of the box,” as well as working on cardiovascular endurance (heart and lungs.) One of the most loved activities during this unit was the “turtle” where the parachute becomes a giant turtle shell with everyone underneath it on their hands and knees. As a class everyone must cooperate and work together to get the turtle to move across the gym floor. We had a great time of continuing to get to know each of our students, and we look forward to having another successful January unit.

The upper grades (3-5) are in the final week of the basketball unit.  Basketball is a great activity for elementary students, and it is taught and played in all types of setting. Your son/daughter was introduced to a variety of skills that were practiced individually, in pairs, or with groups to develop fundamental skills required for successful game play.  Activities during the unit follows a high-activity, skill progression, which can be adapted for a variety of skill levels, aligned with the national and state content and performance standards.  Activities were designed to include and challenge all student’s physical skills, while maintaining enjoyable health-promoting, moderate –to- vigorous physical activity during class.

Beginning in the month of January kindergarten through second grade will begin a balance, stunts and tumbling unit. Students will learn a wide-variety of body movements including: log roll, forward roll, and egg roll, static and dynamic balance routines. Your son/daughter will develop spatial and body awareness, self-confidence, muscle strength/endurance, and flexibility. Grades three through five will begin a juggling unit, where the students will learn and practice keeping a variety of objects up in the air through skill manipulation. The objective is for your son/daughter to develop and improve eye-hand coordination, academic performance, concentration, behavior and self-confidence.

In health, 

Marie "MJ" Jennings and Emmanuel Riby-Williams

Daily Class Routine

Ever wonder what students are up to in Physical Education? Here's our daily class routine! 

Warm-Up: Cardio Respiratory endurance activity (5-10 minutes) 

•     tag games

Fitness: Muscle Strength and Endurance activities (5 minutes)

• develop core, upper and lower body muscles

Lesson Focus:     

•Varies depending on the monthly unit lesson (20+ minutes)

Game: Depends on the lesson focus (10 minutes) 

Example: A lesson focus on Soccer means students would participate in a Soccer game.

 Cool-Down/Assessments: Stretching exercises to improve flexibility and self-assessment (5 minutes) nt

Yearly Plan 2013-2014

Union Elementary School

Physical Education Curriculum 2013-2014

Grade K-5

Month	K-2	3-5
September	Cooperative Activities	Cooperative Activities
October	Spatial Awareness	Soccer
November	Rhythmic Activities	Dance
December	Parachute Activities	Basketball
January	Balance, Tumbling and Stunts	Juggling
February	Winter Activities/ Snowshoeing	Winter Activities/ Snowshoeing
March	Jump Rope for Heart	Jump Rope for Heart
April	Throwing and Catching	Volleyball
May	Kicking and Punting	Flying Disc
June	Recreational Activities	Recreational Activities