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.