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Porfolios in Physicale Education

posted by: Jon Hourahan on 10/28/08
Comments: 1

I was wondering if anyone was using a portfolio system in their Middle School class. I am trying to start a 6th, 7th, and 8th ( 3 seperate portfolios) at my school.  Thanks for any help

Curriculum v. Program

posted by: Joseph V. Carpenella on 10/25/08
Comments: 0

There does seem to be a confusion between curriculum and program.  It depends on the view of the teacher.  Some times, PE teachers call a program their curriculum in error.  Most likely they are following a program and not a curriculum.  The state standards guide the curriculum, i.e., it says what needs to be done and learned.  A program does not necessarily have to be part of the curriculum it could be an out of school program or a before school program.  It could be a sports only program and not integrated with nutrition, health, aerobics, etc.

A program can also be the way a curriculum is implemented across the school. 

iPod Winner from the Florida AHPERD

posted by: Amy Martinez on 10/04/08
Comments: 0

Congratulations to Deb Ogden from Collier County School District on winning the i-Pod drawing at the Florida AHPERD.  Deb, please stop by the Gopher booth on Saturday morning to pick it up or contact me at Gopher at 1-800-533-0446 x310

Thanks!

Amy Martinez

Florida Regional Sales Manager 

SLOCKEY

posted by: Jeremy Barr on 10/01/08
Comments: 0

Grades:K-5

Equipment: 2 goals (cones if you dont have them), 1 bean bag per student

Activity: Students are split into 2 teams. Pick 1-2 goals per team depending on age level. They can guard the goal on their hands or knees. The other students MUST stand and try to slide the bean bag into the goal. When the bean bag scores it must stay in the goal. After a team gets 5 goals, the goalies will find someone quietly listening to become goalie. Then start a new round. The students cannot throw the bean bags or cross over the half court line. For K-2 I put the goals at the free throw lines, but for older students you can move them to the baseline. 

Modifications: Location of goals, # of goalies, You can also have the goals on the baseline and have the two teams wearing different colored jerseys. They can go anywhere inside the base and sidelines. They can only hold the bean bag for 3 seconds then they must slide it to a teamate. Obviously you only use 1 bean bag in this modified game. First team to get 3, then switch goalies. If your floor is carpet, try using some kind of ball. Instead of sliding, roll the balls.

Bean Bag Battleship

posted by: Jeremy Barr on 09/29/08
Comments: 2

Grades: 1-6

Equipment: 1 bean bag per student, 6-10 hoola hoops, 6-10 cones (different colors with numbers are even better)

Activity: Students are on 2 teams. Place half of the hoops on one side of the court and half on the other. Behind the hoop put a cone. If the cones aren't different colors with numbers, tape a sign with a letter and a number on it. Start with one team and designate a "battleship" to throw at. The number can tell them how many bean bags they must make to sink that battleship. If it was B3, the team has to make three tosses into the hoop to sink that ship. If you have colored cones w/#'s you can say purple 2 and it saves you time. Knock the cone over if they get three. If the only got 2/3 then the next time you pick that hoop remind them they only have to make one toss. After each team has a toss, let the other team toss. After they toss they can use a locomotor skill to retrieve it. When all of the ships are down the team wins. Easy to set back up, just pick the cones up. I made this up on the fly and it is one of the best games (excitement wise) so far this year.

Modifications: You can also play this with bowling pins and small foam balls to help with accuracy (just call it battleship).

Pacing

posted by: Jeremy Barr on 09/24/08
Comments: 0

Pacing

Equipment: Area to run

Grades: 3-12

Activity: This activity requires you to be physically active. Teaching students to pace themselves is very important. Go outside and have the students run with you. You are the leader and you set the pace (not fast). The students can run behind or beside you but can never pass. This will help the student learn more about aerobic endurace vs. anaerobic exercise. I ran 3 miles with the 5th graders and they learned about pacing themselves. One of the 5th graders made it without walking once. You dont have to run this far just give them a  couple of laps and help them learn why pacing is important. Before and after running, you can expand on the effects of the body (Nutrition, Exercise, and Basic Physiology).  

Partner Spelling

posted by: Jeremy Barr on 09/23/08
Comments: 0

Partner Spelling

Grades K-3

Equipment: 1 bean bag per partner group, list of spelling words for the week

Activity: Talk to the teachers in your school. Any grade can do it but it probably works best with K-3. Ask them what the spelling words are for this week. Have the words on elaminated sheets of paper big enough for the student to see or if you have a dry-erase/chalkboard you can write it on there. Each partner group will practice spelling the words by tossing the bean bag back and forth. When one person catches it, they say the first letter and then pass it back to their partner and have them say the next letter. Continue until the word is spelled. Once it is repeat the word (Both students). Then go to the next word on the list. If your partner says the wrong letter you must help them get the right letter. When the students are in line take the list and quiz them. This works really well with ESL students and younger students. They will also be working on how well they can toss and catch with a partner. The other teachers in your school will be appreciative and more respectful of you.

Bowling Bags

posted by: Jeremy Barr on 09/21/08
Comments: 0

Bowling bags

Equipment: 4-6 bowling pins, 1 bean bag per student

Focus: Hand-eye coordination, teamwork, spatial awareness

Activity: Place the bowling pins on a designated line and tell the students they cannot cross the line that THEIR pins are on. Each student has a bean bag. He or she will SLIDE the bean bag at one of the bowling pins trying to knock it down. Students cannot guard the pins. If a student accidently knocks down their teams pin it must stay down (So they must be careful). Once one team knocks down all of the opposing teams pins, the game is over. I try and make it where each team wins once so I try to knock down the pins of the victory team. This will help keep the students self esteem levels high.

Modifications: add more pins (or take away some), Move the pins in closer or farther away, Spread pins out and certain pins are worth different amounts

Subject integration: Math, Spelling (must hit certain pins in a order with letters to make the correct spelling) Art (use colored pins and make them hit them in order ROYGBIV), etc...

Fire Ants

posted by: Jeremy Barr on 09/20/08
Comments: 2

Fire Ants

Equipment: 20-30 beanbags (1 per person)

Focus: Hand-eye coordination, Dodging, Cooperation

Grades: K-6 

Activity: Students are divided into 2 teams and sent to the baseline with 1 beanbag. The students cannot pass the half court line. The students cannot touch moving bean bags (fire ants). They can pick up non-moving bags (these ants are asleep). Students are trying to slide the beanbags at the other teams feet. If they hit someone on there team or the other team's feet, they are out. The students must then go to the sideline and do a designated fitness activity (jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, etc.) If a student falls on the ground they are also out because they fell in the ant pile. Students should not throw the beanbags for safety reasons.

Modifications: Have students play individually and run around the court sliding fire ants. Change the fitness activity according to grade level. Change from beanbags to "gator balls" aka foam balls. Subject integration can be used easily.

Unruley classes

posted by: Dan on 09/18/08
Comments: 3

I'm just looking to see what other teachers do here. I team teach with another teacher. We have two classes at one time (40-50 students @ 1 time). We are having a problem with students following directions. Our #1 rule is to stop look and listen when the whistle blows. This isnt working as students are continuously talking after the whistle blows. I have threatened loss of recess (which I hate to do) or loss of PE time as a whole class. This seems to be a school wide crisis, as teachers have been saying that classes are very chatty (lunch, lining up, transitions, etc). Anyone have any ideas they have done in the past that might work here?

 Thanks,

Dan