Week 5 (September 17-21)

First Grade:
This week we worked on yarn ball skills. We are working on personal manipulation skills of throwing and catching to yourself with both one hand and two. We are also working with a partner with partner activities. Finally, we worked on an overhand throw while throwing to a target (Hula Hoop). We also spent time working on fitness stations this week and giving the students an opportunity to learn about upper body strength (plank position) and abdominal endurance (curl ups). The students were also instructed on to find their pulse and asked to find their pulse during our fitness stations. To find the pulse we asked students to use two fingers to find their carpal artery (wrist). We asked students if they could tell if their pulse was faster or slower when comparing them to other stations.

Third Grade:
This week we worked on yarn ball skills. We are working on personal manipulation skills of throwing and catching to yourself with both one hand and two. We are also working with a partner with partner activities. Finally, we worked on an overhand throw while throwing to a target (Hula Hoop). We worked on a standard that talks about throwing to a target with increasing accuracy. At first we simply threw the yarn ball into the fence but then we asked the students to try and throw the ball into a hula hoop.

We also spent time working on fitness stations this week and giving the students an opportunity to learn about upper body strength (plank position) and abdominal endurance (curl ups). The students were also instructed on to find their pulse and asked to find their pulse during our fitness stations. To find the pulse we asked students to use two fingers to find their carpal artery (wrist). We asked students if they could tell if their pulse was faster or slower when comparing them to other stations.

Third grade also spent time reviewing the major muscles of the body. A challenge was given by Mr. Bassett to the students. The first person in third grade to accurately remember the major muscles by memory will be given a prize. The prize will be determined later!

Fifth Grade:
Our goal for this week was to teach about the heart rate and about perceived exertion. We taught the two locations that are best for taking your heart rate. Those locations are the carpal (wrist) and the carotid (neck). We explained that younger students should only take their heart rate on their wrist for safety reasons. We taught the students to take their pulse for six seconds when instructed and to multiply the answer by ten to receive the beats per minute for the station/activity. Students were then given worksheets to write down their numbers at each station.

The students were also taught about their perceived exertion. This chart is a numbering system from 1-10. Number ten is the highest and it tells the students that they feel "dead" when completing the station. Number one is the lowest and it compares the activity to watching TV. To see a copy of this chart please use the links section on the right side of the blog and look for the Perceived Exertion Chart. After a student was asked to get their heart rate they used the perceived exertion chart to find the number that relates to the station they were exercising at. This allows students to start to make the connection about how fast their heart is working and compare it to how they physically feel at a specific station.

During our activities we worked in six different stations this week. We had a throwing and catching station that work on standards that are related to the fifth grade. We also had a cardiovascular station that we worked on their heart while using the jump rope. We had an abdominal station were we worked on the abdominal muscles (Rectus Abdominus and Obliques). The fourth station was a walking station were students were simply asked to walk around a small area of the field. The fifth station was a stretching station where the students worked through a series of stretches. The last station was an upper body station where students worked on their upper body strength. The abdominal station and upper body station used activities that are required as apart of the FitnessGram test that students will be taking in the spring (push ups and curl ups).

Sixth Grade:
Our goal for this week was to teach about the heart rate and about perceived exertion. We taught the two locations that are best for taking your heart rate. Those locations are the carpal (wrist) and the carotid (neck). We explained that younger students should only take their heart rate on their wrist for safety reasons. We taught the students to take their pulse for six seconds when instructed and to multiply the answer by ten to receive the beats per minute for the station/activity. Students were then given worksheets to write down their numbers at each station.

The students were also taught about their perceived exertion. This chart is a numbering system from 1-10. Number ten is the highest and it tells the students that they feel "dead" when completing the station. Number one is the lowest and it compares the activity to watching TV. To see a copy of this chart please use the links section on the right side of the blog and look for the Perceived Exertion Chart. After a student was asked to get their heart rate they used the perceived exertion chart to find the number that relates to the station they were exercising at. This allows students to start to make the connection about how fast their heart is working and compare it to how they physically feel at a specific station.

During our activities we worked in six different stations this week. We had a throwing and catching station that work on standards that are related to the sixth grade. We also had a cardiovascular station that we worked on their heart while using the jump rope. We had an abdominal station were we worked on the abdominal muscles (Rectus Abdominus and Obliques). The fourth station was a walking station were students were simply asked to walk around a small area of the field. The fifth station was a stretching station where the students worked through a series of stretches. The last station was an upper body station where students worked on their upper body strength. The abdominal station and upper body station used activities that are required as apart of the FitnessGram test that students will be taking in the spring (push ups and curl ups).

The sixth graders were given a small quiz at the end of the week that covered the concepts that were taught throughout the week. Students were asked questions about the two locations to find their heart rate, time we spent counting (six seconds), how much to multiply the count (multiply by 10) to receive the beats per minute (bpm). The students were also asked how the stations matched up with the perceived rating chart and their heart rate. They were able to use their worksheets that we used outside to complete these questions. The last question asked the students why it is important to have a perceived exertion chart. The importance of this chart is to allow the students to understand what the body feels like when working at a certain level.

NEXT WEEK'S GOAL: We will have a review on the importance of warming up the muscles prior to exercise and athletic competitions.