Week 6 (September 24-28)

First Grade
This week was designed to work on locomotor skills by working on relays. Students were taught to take turns for the relays, to run around a cone (turn around point) and when they return they are to give a low five to the next player (for safety). During our relays we worked on locomotor skills. We worked on running, skipping, hopping, jumping and sliding. Students who needed extra work were given the opportunity to move to the side of the class and use foot prints (poly spots) to help them learn the footwork for each of the skills.

Knowing how to perform the locomotor skills (running, walking, hopping, jumping, galloping and sliding) is a standard that the first grade must meet. Knowing how to explain the differences between two different locomotor skills (Running vs. Walking, Hopping vs. Jumping and Galloping vs. Sliding) is a second standard that we will be working on throughout the year.

Third Grade
We also worked on relays this week. Our goal was to work on locomotor skills of running, skipping, hopping, jumping, galloping and sliding. We also took some time to perform fun relay races like cone heads, hula hoop relays and walking the dog relays.

We also spent time talking about the importance of warming up our muscles before exercise. We used a frozen tootsie roll and asked the students to try and bend the tootsie roll. They determined that it was possible to bend it but that it was not necessarily easy. Then students were given a task to run one lap to warm up. When they returned the students were asked to try and bend the candy again. They found that the candy was easier to bend and the candy had melted. We made the connection that the candy represents the student's muscles. When the muscles are cold it is harder to bend and move the muscles. After warming up the muscles it is easier to bend (stretch) and will help to avoid injury.

Fifth Grade
This week continued our efforts to work on our heart rate. Students were given the opportunity to choose three activities (Hula Hoop, Jump Rope, Relay Races or Wall Ball). The students were given approximately five minutes to participate in the activity of their chose. When time was finished they were asked to take their heart rate and record that information on a worksheet. Students were also taught that their goal is to get their heart rate from 60%-80% of their Maximum Heart Rate. The students used the folders with a graph that has already calculated their heart rate. This task was to help students see if they could get their hearts into their own "Healthy Fitness Zone" based upon their age. Due to time constraints, we were only able to get to two activities.

We also spent time talking about the importance of warming up our muscles before exercise. We used a frozen tootsie roll and asked the students to try and bend the tootsie roll. They determined that it was possible to bend it but that it was not necessarily easy. Then students were given a task to run one lap to warm up. When they returned the students were asked to try and bend the candy again. They found that the candy was easier to bend and the candy had melted. We made the connection that the candy represents the student's muscles. When the muscles are cold it is harder to bend and move the muscles. After warming up the muscles it is easier to bend (stretch) and will help to avoid injury.

Sixth Grade
This week continued with working in groups. This time the students were given their first opportunity to choose their own groups. The goal while working together was to work on cooperation skills while participating in relay activities. We worked on two different relay activities. First, the groups participated in traditional relays where the students run to a turn around point (cone) and then return to their group. We worked on running, skipping, sliding and galloping (locomotor skills). Second, we worked on group relays that are non-traditional. Students worked together to move a playground ball from the first player to the last player. Then the last player would run to the front and become the new first player. The teams participated in two of these relays while the ball stayed on the ground and then the ball went over the first person and under the second person.

We made connections to our heart rate to these activities. We discussed that a person's heart rate would be the highest while doing the traditional relay races but the non-traditional relay races would allow our heart rate to have a higher average during the entire time.

We also spent time talking about the importance of warming up our muscles before exercise. We used a frozen tootsie roll and asked the students to try and bend the tootsie roll. They determined that it was possible to bend it but that it was not necessarily easy. Then students were given a task to run one lap to warm up. When they returned the students were asked to try and bend the candy again. They found that the candy was easier to bend and the candy had melted. We made the connection that the candy represents the student's muscles. When the muscles are cold it is harder to bend and move the muscles. After warming up the muscles it is easier to bend (stretch) and will help to avoid injury.

Next Week's Goal: First Grade will be working on cooperative activities while using the parachute. Third, Fifth and Sixth will be working on the Food Pyramid Guide. Third will try running just over a half mile (3 laps) and the Fifth and Sixth graders will run a full mile (just under 5 laps).

A Mile preparation letter will be sent home with all of the Fifth & Sixth Graders on either Monday or Tuesday. The goal is to have the parents read over the letter with the students and for the students to know what they should do to prepare for the mile (Eating, dressing, drinking water, etc.)