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