Physical Education with Mr. Brooks

Dance, Dance, Dance!

2012-02-07T04:10:00.000-08:00

The students are into one of their favorite units of the year, DANCE! Here the students will work on a variety of line dances for part of the class then have an opportunity to free dance at "Club Maple". This unit is always met with great enthusiasm and excitement. This year the classes will be learning a new dance to the song Dynamite. In addition, the classes are working on earning the ability to play Just Dance 3 on the Wii for their last class! Third and fourth graders were given the idea of creating videos of a them performing their own dance to show in class! These videos need to be formatted so they can be watched on a computer. The songs have to be appropriate for school too!

Rock Climbing

2012-01-09T07:11:00.000-08:00

We are off and climbing in PE at Maple Avenue. During this unit, the students will learn some basic rock climbing skills that can be used to practice this great physical activity properly. Rock climbing is a great activity to get children involved in, even if they are the non-competitive type! This nontraditional activity allows people to push themselves at their own pace and not be reliant on a team or feel the pressure from others to perform well. The students have a great time during this unit, especially when we get into some of the challenges like "eagle's nest", or "the electric fence".

Bowling Has Begun

2011-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

This week we started our bowling unit. Here the students learn all about rich history of this lifetime activity. Did you know that bowling dates back 7000 year ago! During this time the students work on their bowling skills, communication skills, and ability to set the pins up in different patterns. They also work on their math skills when we do scoring the second and third classes. However, this year we will be doing the scoring electronically. The children will post their scores on the computer and have it projected up on the wall in the gym! We will have our very own Maple Lanes here at school!

Basketball

2011-11-07T04:49:00.001-08:00

We have moved on from soccer and into our basketball unit. This unit is set-up very similar to the soccer unit, in that they will build their skills from week to week. The first class we focus on dribbling the entire time. During this time they work on both hands, as well as the v-dribble (crossover). The second week they work on dribbling, but the focus is on passing. During this time we play an exciting activity called "Mario". The third and final week of the unit focuses on shooting, but incorporates dribbling and passing! This fast paced unit will take us up to our Thanksgiving break, which I can't believe is here already!

Soccer 2011!

2011-10-12T06:58:00.001-07:00

Our soccer unit has started here at the elementary schools in Goffstown. During this time the students will learn the basic skills and rules needed to play the game. They will work on kicking, trapping, and passing through a variety of games and activities. One of their favorite games during this unit is Sharks and Minnows. This activity teaches the importance of dribbling and controlling the ball with a purpose, not just anywhere in the room. Once we finish this unit, we will move onto basketball.

Start Of The New Year

2011-09-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

We are off and running in PE to start off another great year here in Goffstown! The first graders are spending these first few weeks working on gross motor skills (running, hopping, galloping, etc.). They are doing this through a variety of games and activities that work on all of these different skills. Through these activities they are also learning about spacial awareness and personal space. The second through fourth graders are working on cooperative games and trying to build a strong sense of community in their classroom. The first cooperative game was called toxic waste transfer. This was a great activity that used a lot of imagination and the students had a blast with it! Remember to have your students wear or bring sneakers on PE days!

Frisbees

2011-05-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

The classes have begun to learn about the history of Frisbees and the many different activities you can play with them. Most people assume that catch is the only thing you can do with a disc, however there is a great variety of activities. The students will work on different styles of throwing and catching, while learning games like: pickle, can jam, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, etc. Disc are a great thing to keep in your car that you can play in a variety of settings that take up minimal space. They also allow you a way of being active with you children! So get out and play!

Trimester Reports

2011-04-05T06:34:00.000-07:00

Trimester reports can be found by clicking the link to the left that says "trimester reports."

Dance, Dance, Dance!

2011-03-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

We are officially done with bowling for the year. The students had a great time learning about this lifetime activity and how to properly play and keep score. Some of their skills were quite impressive! We are beginning one of our perennial favorite units: Dance! Here the students will learn a number of different structured dances, reasons people dance, benefits from dance, and will be expressing themselves in "free" dance! It should be a great time! Make sure to ask to see your child's favorite moves.

Winter: Will it ever stop!

2011-03-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

We have had a crazy winter this year, and not just outside with all the snow! The classes had a great time juggling and working on a variety of juggling skills. The students worked on traditional juggling, diablo's, devil sticks, balancing feathers, pins, and even stilts! It was a blast watching them work the the variety of equipment and challenge themselves. We are currently finishing up one of our lifetime activity units: bowling. The students learned about the unique history of this ancient game and some of the benefits they receive from bowling. The students also learned how to properly roll the ball, set the pins up, and keep score (math integration!). Once we finish this unit, we will be moving onto dance. Being active is a great way to take away those winter blues!

Winter Madness!

2011-01-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

Once the classes finished up their basketball unit, they had a week of winter themed activities. These activities worked on teamwork, communication, having fun, all while exercising at a high rate! Currently, all of the classes are involved with our juggling unit. Each grade level progresses from the previous years activities. This unit works on a variety of different juggling styles including traditional juggling, devil sticks, yo-yo's, spinning plates, mini-stilts, diablo's, and balancing feathers. All of these activities are designed to work on hand-eye-coordination while challenging the student to try something new! Once we finish this unit the classes will begin to work on one of our lifetime skills units, bowling!

Basketball

2010-12-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

The students are involved in their basketball unit at both schools. We started the unit off with talking about the history of the sport, along with working on some basic dribbling skills. We are now working on passing (bounce and chest), and will focus our final class on shooting the ball correctly. The second through fourth graders played Mario last week and loved it, I am sure most of you heard all about it. Mario focused on dribbling and passing in a game like situation without the pressure of defenders and scoring. It was truly a blast!

First Trimester Reports

2010-12-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

The reports for each grade level can be found on the link to the left titled resources. If you click on the link and then click on the appropriate document it will open. The report contains all the information that Unified Arts (Art, Music, PE) have completed this trimester. First grade is labeled 1trigr110-11.doc, second grade is labeled 1trigr210-11, and so on for the third and fourth graders. I hope you take a look at them, we have been doing some exciting stuff in our classes with your students!

Start of the Year

2010-11-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

The year has started off with a bang! We have moved from cooperative games right through soccer. We are currently doing a variety of "fall games" that work on a specific movement/skill. The most recent game called "Stinky Pumpkin", works on the proper throwing technique while using communication skill to work as a team. We will continue these "fall games" until the Thanksgiving break. When we return from this break, the classes will start their basketball unit.

Welcome Back!

2010-09-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to another exciting year! I look forward to the many challenges that we will face throughout the year that will help us grow and learn! This year we will be doing several new and exciting things in P.E.! The classes will be using heart rate monitors to help teach how our bodies respond to physical activity. These monitors were purchased through the Candace Champagne grant that I received at the end of last school year. The third and fourth grades will be doing a variety of activities using pedometers and tracking their activity that way. In addition to these two new teaching tools, the students will also be playing a number of new games and activities that will teach us a physical skill, but sportsmanship, trust, honesty, and many other great qualities! Remember to bring your sneakers and be ready to have fun!

Bowling At Maple

2010-05-07T07:21:00.001-07:00

Bowling At Maple

2010-04-20T05:36:00.000-07:00

Trimester Reports

2010-03-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

The trimester reports can be found on the page that is connected to this blog through the resources link on the right. Enjoy!

Dancing at Bartlett

2010-03-16T04:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a brief video featuring some of Mrs. Audley's class' moves.

Winter Olympics

2010-02-04T04:32:00.000-08:00

During the month of February the students at MAES are participating in a new Winter Olympics unit during their PE classes. Classes were assigned random countries that are participating in this years events. These countries were chosen from the list of top medal winners from the last Winter Olympic Games. The students will are encouraged to make flags of their counties and sings supporting their team to hang in the gym. Also, they are encouraged to wear the colors of their countries on the day they have PE. The students will be doing three timed events during this unit, speed skating, skeleton, and biathlon. I look forward to seeing the students participate and cheer each other on during the events!

Juggling at Bartlett

2010-02-01T03:17:00.000-08:00

The PE classes that I teach at Bartlett have been working on juggling for the last month. This activity is a great way to work on hand-eye-coordination. The students have been having a blast learning about the different styles of juggling and having a chance to try their skills out! The classes all started with traditional juggling, the tossing and catching of objects. We practiced a specific skill with a juggling scarf, and once mastered with the scarf, we tried it with a ball. The classes did this activity for 2 weeks, with each child advancing at his/her own rate. The past two weeks the classes have been working on non-traditional styled juggling. This includes spinning plates, devil sticks, diablo's, balancing feathers, and walking on stilts! This has been a great unit, and I look forward to moving on to some Olympic games followed by some "fair" games to fit into the school wide reading of Charlotte's Web.

2010-01-28T10:46:00.000-08:00

Rock Climbing

2010-01-26T05:43:00.000-08:00

During the month of January, the students at MAES have been working on rock climbing in their PE classes. Rock climbing is an individual activity that is non-competitive. Climbing is one of the few activities that we do in PE that is not group/team based and competitive. The students get to climb across the wall working on basic climbing skills. After the first week, the wall is set up with some challenges (eagle's nest, hoola-hoops, etc.) to add a little more pressure to the climb. Rock climbing is all about decision making, and thinking on the fly! It is amazing watching the students make their way across the wall and seeing their thinking patterns. Pictures will be up soon!

Pajama Day Mixed with Basketball!

2009-12-17T06:49:00.001-08:00

Basketball in December

2009-12-16T07:19:00.000-08:00

During the month of December students at both schools have been working on their basketball unit. This unit teaches them the history of the game, some basic rules, along with proper techniques for dribbling, shooting, and passing. Each grade level covers these fundamental skills in a different manor, with different expectations for each grade. The first graders really focus on dribbling with their dominant hand and shooting on a lowered hoop with a smaller sized basketball. The fourth graders work on dribbling with both hands along with the cross-over dribble. They also work on shooting a regulation size basketball at a slightly lowered hoop. The second and third grade students work on these skills and use balls that are in between what the first and fourth graders use, as well as a net hight that is somewhere in the middle. The students really seem to be having a good time with this unit! After vacation, the classes will begin their juggling unit and work on increasing their hand-eye-coordination. Should be a blast!

Food Fat Attack

2009-12-03T04:53:00.000-08:00

Recently the students got a hands on experience learning about nutrition, exercise, and the delicate balance between the two. All of the classes started this unit off with talking about nutrition and what is in the food/drinks we put in our bodies. They learned about the difference between healthy foods (fruits, veggies, etc.) and non-healthy foods (chips, brownies, etc.). We talked about balancing our diet with mostly healthy foods, but eating "treats" sparingly. The students then played an activity that teaches them about the relationship between our diet and exercise. The more bad foods you eat, the more you have to exercise to burn them out of your body. This game was a tag game that involved unhealthy foods (the taggers) and people trying to make healthy choices. The students could stay healthy by staying away from the unhealthy food. If you eat something unhealthy (get tagged) you had to go get a fat ball and put it in your pinnie. At the end of each round, the students with no fat balls could take a break. The rest of the class had to do exercises based on the number of fat balls they had! The students had a blast with this activity and really seemed to understand the importance of eating healthy!

Pics From Robot-Writer

2009-10-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

Start of the Year

2009-09-24T05:16:00.001-07:00

The school year has gotten off to a great start! My first grade classes have been working on gross motor skills. They are learning about personal space and how to move their bodies around a space using a variety of movements. The students got to act like animals during last weeks classes. As I read the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear the students got to move around the room moving and making the sounds that the animal mentioned would make. This week they are working on movements like skipping, hopping, galloping, etc. through a variety of tag games. The second through fourth graders have begun the year with a cooperative games unit. During this unit, I give each of the classes a challenge. The classes need to work together in order to complete the challenge. These activities are designed to build a stronger sense of community and help improve the classes ability to communicate with each other. These games really stress the importance of staying positive, staying focused, and having good communication (verbalizing your thoughts, and listening to each other). The students are doing a great job with these. Near the first week in October, all of the classes will begin a soccer unit.

Welcome Back!

2009-08-27T18:39:00.001-07:00

Welcome back to Maple Avenue, and welcome to all of our new students. We have an exciting year planned in physical education this year. We will start the year off with some rules reviews for the classroom and playground. We will then cover some of the evacuation and safety drills related to the gym/cafeteria and the playground. After we do this, the first graders will begin the year off with some gross motor skill activities while the other three grades will get right into a cooperative games unit. The gross motor skill activities are designed to help teach the students how to control their bodies, keep their personal space, etc. The cooperative games are designed to get the classes working together and building a strong community. I look forward to another fun and exciting year!

Disc Golf with Zola's Class

2009-06-16T08:01:00.001-07:00

Flying Discs

2009-06-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

The students are ending the year with learning about flying discs (Frisbees). They will learn about the history of the flying disc and where the name Frisbee came from. They will also see a variety of ways to throw the discs. The classes will then focus on learning about the backhand throw. This is when they hold the disc with three fingers on the bottom of the disc, their index finger running along the side, and their thumb clamping down on top. They then hold the frisbee level with the ground at elbow height. Now they turn their bodies sideways towards the target, so their throwing hand is closer to the target. The disc starts touching the opposite elbow, then moves straight across their body towards the target. The thrower stops their hand releasing the disc with their index pointing at their target.

Tabletop Bowling

2009-06-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank Tyler Turcotte and Jon Powell for the wonderful gift I received yesterday. These two young men are students at GHS and are currently enrolled in a woodworking class. They were presented with a project that needed to be made from wood and donated to a local organization. Tyler and Jon paired up to make a tabletop bowling alley with pins. This project is completely made of wood and has retractible legs for easy storage, and hand carved pins using the lathe. I am very excited about having a new activity to use in the classroom when the gym is being used by another group. This will be a sure hit with our students. Thank you again!

Lacrosse Pictures from MAES

2009-06-01T10:08:00.001-07:00

Golf at Bartlett

2009-06-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

Jai-Lai at Maple Ave

2009-05-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

This week the students will be participating in jai-lai during physical education classes. The students will be using hi-li scoops, which are a common summer activity. The classes will be learning about the traditional game of jai-lai, along with activities they can play with their scoops at home. We will be talking about the release point, where the ball comes out of the scoop, how to catch correctly, along with different throwing techniques. It should be a fun activity to learn about that can be played during the summer!

Intergenerational Wellness Walk Today

2009-05-20T06:57:00.000-07:00

Both, Bartlett and MAES, will be participating in the Intergenerational Wellness Walk today. This walk is sponsored by the Governor's Council on Health and Physical Fitness, and is a tool to promote living a healthy, physically active lifestyle. Both of the schools will be participating at satellite locations (near the schools), while many schools around the state will be walking together in Concord. This is a great way to remind us the importance of being healthy and active especially with the warm weather months here! Enjoy the walk today!

Lacrosse/Golf

2009-05-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

The first and second graders are involved with a new unit here at Maple Avenue, golf. This unit will discuss some of the history of the game, along with some rules, and golf terms. We will also discuss different parts of the course and why clubs look the way they do. The students will focus on chipping and putting with plastic clubs that are designed for this age group. The third and fourth graders will be using this time to work on Lacrosse. Here they will learn the history of the game along with rules and differences between male/female lacrosse games. The students will specifically work on throwing and catching, while integrating some throwing challenges into the mix. Both of these units have a rich history behind them, so please ask your students about it!

Dancin' In the Dark

2009-05-05T05:01:00.001-07:00

This week the classes will be finishing up their dance unit. This dance unit focus on the benefits of dance: great exercise, fun, and a lifetime activity. The students participate in a number of line dances like the Hokey Pokey, Chicken Dance, Cha Cha Slide, Cotton-Eye-Joe, Men In Black, and Macarena. They also have time at the end of each class to free dance and express themselves how they think it fits the music. To make the class more exciting we have the lights off and a funky light projected up on the wall. This helps convert the gym into a "dance club." The students really love this and helps get them a little more excited about dancing. Ask your children to show you their great moves!

Physical Activity Logs for Fourth Grade

2009-04-09T07:16:00.001-07:00

Starting this week the fourth graders at Maple were given an physical activity log to fill out each day. The students are not asked to fill out each slot, or asked to be active everyday. What is asked of them is to write down stuff that they already do. This might be kickball at recess, soccer practice at night, dance on the weekends, etc.. They do not have to do anything special for this assignment, it is just a visual tool to help them see how active/inactive they are. I would like them to bring them to PE with them so I can take a look at them. I understand that not every day will have stuff written in. Sometimes we are too busy to be physically active, and sometimes we might just plain forget to write down the activities. Please try to put this log in a central location that will help remind you to write in your activities. Springtime is a great time to get out and be active, so enjoy the outdoors!

Bartlett Elementary School April 9, 2009

2009-04-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

Today the students will be finishing up their juggling unit. During the last two classes, the students worked on traditional juggling, the tossing and catching of objects. They did this by working with scarves and juggling balls. Today they will be working on non-traditional juggling, which is balancing objects by moving them. They will do this by working with peacock feathers and juggling plates. It should be a fun filled class that works on hand-eye-coordination!

Hand-eye-coordination Homework

2009-04-07T04:39:00.000-07:00

Reading through the homework assignments I have already collected on how hand-eye-coordination is required in a future profession, I am very impressed by the imagination, creativeness, and thoroughness that this assignment was done with. Some of the future professions included jobs from waitressing, to fashion design, to professional athlete, to archeologist, to farmers, to firefighters, to being a teacher. It was amazing to read how the students need to use their hands and control their bodies in these professions, great work!

Mrs. Packard's Class Juggling

2009-04-01T11:02:00.001-07:00

Steps for Traditional Juggling

2009-03-31T06:40:00.000-07:00

Steps to Learning How to Juggle

One Scarf
Toss/Catch One Hand
Toss/Catch Opposite Hand
Toss/Catch Between Hands

One Ball
Same Steps as One Scarf

Two Scarves
Toss/Toss/Catch/Catch
Two Scarves with One Hand
Two Scarves with Opposite Hand

Two Balls
Same Steps as Two Scarves

Three Scarves
Continuous with Toss/Toss/Catch/Catch

Three Balls
Same as Three Scarves

Tricks

Fourth Grade Homework Due Week of 4/6/09

2009-03-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

Please pick a profession that you think you might want to become when you grow up. Please write one paragraph explaining how hand-eye-coordination is used for that job.

Fourth Grade Homework Due Week of 3/30/09

2009-03-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Please list five electronic devices in your house, along with how much it cost to run for one month. Examples of devices include your computer, microwave, television, etc.. A couple resources that might be of use include www.earthhourkids.org and www.psnh.com.

2009-03-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Earth Hour

2009-03-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

Earth Hour is less than a week away! Please take a few minutes to check out www.earthhour.org! It is a great movement to be a part of that does not take anything more than shutting some lights off! Please check it out!

Volleyball At Bartlett

2009-03-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

This week we finished up volleyball at Bartlett. During this unit the students learned some basic rules and history related to the sport, along with some basic skills needed to play. Our main focus in first and second grade is the bump. Here the students learned the proper hand position, and striking technique used to hit the ball properly when bumping. We ended the unit by playing a modified game with a large ball. The students had a blast, enjoy the pictures!

Homework Due Week of March 23

2009-03-16T05:51:00.000-07:00

Name the 5 tallest mountains in the world. Please tell me their elevation, country located, and what continent.

Homework Due Week of March 16

2009-03-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Please tell me what towns the Iditarod race starts and ends in, how long it is (miles), and name 3 past champions.

Photo's from Rock Climbing

2009-03-04T07:39:00.001-08:00

Rock Climbing

2009-03-03T06:11:00.001-08:00

This week the students at Maple Avenue will begin their rock climbing unit. We have a rock wall that is about 8 feet tall and 20 feet long. This wall is designed to climb up and then across. We have the ability to add equipment to the wall to make it more challenging. The students will get a couple of "free" climbs to start the unit off with. This is when they just get to climb up and then across the wall. We will then move into challenges like climbing through hoola-hoops, the electric fence challenge, and the eagle's nest challenge to mention a few. Rock climbing is one of the few activities we do in physical education where the students are challenging themselves without trying to beat someone or work with someone else. It is the student versus the wall, and many of the students really like the independent non-competitivness of the activity. Rock climbing is all about decision making, and watching the students go through this process while they are up on the wall is fascinating. If you have the chance to stop in while your child is having PE, please feel free to come and watch.

Physical Education with Mr. Brooks

2009-01-29T10:49:00.001-08:00

Bartlett Elementary School January 29th

2009-01-29T07:59:00.000-08:00

This week the students are beginning their basketball unit. This unit will consist of three classes that will teach some basic rules and history of the sport, along with some fundamental skills needed to participate in the game. This week the classes will start off by learning about the history and basic rules of the game. We will then participate in an activity that teaches the fundamentals of dribbling. The students will be taught how to use the pads of their fingers to push the ball down and not slap at the ball. The will practice dribbling with their dominant hand, their opposite hand, a v-dribble (crossover), and other fancy moves. Should be a fun time!

Maple Avenue for the Week of January 26, 2009

2009-01-29T07:17:00.000-08:00

This week at Maple Avenue, we are beginning our "Net Games" unit. This unit will focus on sports and activities that can be done with a volleyball or tennis net. The first couple of classes during this unit will focus on volleyball. The next couple of classes will focus on a variety activities that can be done with the net. This week, the students will learn some basic history of volleyball, rules related to the sport, and some basic hits. Our activity will focus on the students having the correct hand position and technique when bumping the ball.

Glow Bowling at Maple Avenue

2009-01-23T11:39:00.001-08:00

Glow Bowling at Bartlett

2009-01-23T09:55:00.003-08:00

Glow/Disco Bowling

2009-01-21T10:54:00.000-08:00

This week we will be finishing our bowling unit with a fun class that incorporates our bowling skills with music and lights! The students will have the opportunity to bowl in the dark with a disco style light illuminating the gym and music playing to sing and dance along to. This exciting class is often one of their favorites each year! It is a fun way to end a unit that teaches a lifetime skill that allows everyone to participate! We will be moving on to "net games" next week. We will start this unit off with a couple of classes devoted towards volleyball, and follow up with a couple of classes that teach a variety of games and activities that can be done with a volleyball or tennis net. Should be a fun time!

Bowling

2009-01-12T04:28:00.000-08:00

This week will begin our second week of bowling here at Maple Avenue. Bowling is an exciting lifetime activity that everyone can participate in. Bowling allows for entire families to participate without limiting people based on age or ability! Although the children may poke fun if they beat you! This fun activity is also a cost effective alternative to other traditional forms of family entertainment; movies, arcades, etc.. Last week the students worked on their rolling the ball towards a target, and setting up the pins correctly. This week they are going to bowl and work on keeping score, we don't have the computers to do it for us. Should be another fun movement filled week!

Exercise During Winter

2009-01-07T09:49:00.001-08:00

Winter is a great time to get outside and be active! Playing in the snow and doing snow related activities are a great way to exercise. Things like sledding, skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing, snowball fights, building snowmen, and shoveling are all great ways to exercise during the winter. As long as you are dressed appropriately, hours can be spent being active outside. The key to dressing appropriately is to dress in layers. By dressing in layers, you are able to add/remove clothing when your body temperature fluctuates. So bundle up and get out and enjoy the snow! This goes for you too parents!

Connor Jason Brooks Born December 8, 2008

2008-12-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

Physical Education Classes for the Week of December 1, 2008

2008-12-01T04:48:00.000-08:00

We are finished with our soccer unit, and are moving into basketball. This unit will cover the fundamentals that are required to play the sport. These include basic skills like dribbling, passing, shooting, and also basic rules. This unit usually runs between three to four weeks. This week the students will learn about some basic rules and practice their dribbling skills. They will work individually on using their dominant hand, then their opposite, finishing up with the cross-over or V-dribble. We will finish class off with some dribbling activities/games to incorporate their skills into a game like situation. It should be a fun unit!

Week of November 17, 2008

2008-11-17T04:14:00.000-08:00

BRRRR!!!! Winter is definitely on its way. Make sure to dress your child in layers, so they will be comfortable throughout the day. This week we will be playing a variety of activities related to Thanksgiving. We will start of with Turkey Hunting, which is a derivative of bowling. In this game, each student is given a bowling pin with a turkey on it. The class is split into two teams and the object is to protect your turkey, while rolling the balls at the other teams turkeys. When your turkey gets knocked down, you are out of the game. We will follow this up with "Stuff the Turkey." This is a tag game that also incorporates tossing. I will pick two taggers from each class. When someone gets tagged, they must go to the side and try to toss a bean bag into a turkey (milk crate). Once they "stuff the turkey" they are free to return to the game. I will be out of the school on Thursday and Friday attending the NHAHPERD conference in Waterville Valley. This conference is for health, physical educators, recreational directors, and dance instructors to get together and share new activities and teaching strategies. These two days are filled with non-stop action and information. It should be an exciting conference this year!

Physical Education Classes for the Week of November 10, 2008

2008-11-10T04:58:00.000-08:00

This week we will be finishing up our soccer unit. Over the past couple of weeks the students have been focusing on different key factors related to soccer. These include some basic rules, dribbling, passing, and trapping. This week the students will combine the skills that they have learned over the last few weeks into a combination of soccer related games and activities. Each class will play a couple of different games that tie all three of the previously mentioned skills. We will be playing sharks and minnows, tunnel run, and a dribbling activity. Please remember that there is no school on November 11, 2008! Thank you Veterans for all of your service.

Bartlett Elementary School November 6th

2008-11-06T04:42:00.000-08:00

In Physical Education classes today, the students will be playing a variety of soccer activities. These activities will focus on the different aspects of the game that have been covered over the last couple of weeks. These aspects include kicking, trapping, dribbling, moving to get open, etc.. The activities will include a dribbling game called "Sharks and Minnows", a passing and then moving to get open activity, and then a kicking/moving game called "Tunnel Run". These activities are designed to get the students interested and having fun with soccer, while working on basic skills in a non-competitive environment. We will be moving into basketball next week, so keep looking for updates on what is happening in the gym!

Physical Education Classes for the Week of November 3, 2008

2008-11-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

This week in Physical Education classes at Maple Avenue, we are focusing on passing and trapping the soccer balls. During these lessons the students are taught how to strike the ball with the inside part of the their kicking foot. Their opposite foot (planting foot) is also stepping and pointing at their target. When they are about to receive the pass form their partner, they need to trap the ball. This means they are using their body to stop and control the ball. The students are mainly using their feet and lower legs to do this currently. After practicing passing and trapping for a while with a partner, we moved into Tunnel Run. This is an exciting activity that uses the passing and trapping skills that are introduced during the class.

Soccer Unit Starts October 27th!

2008-10-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

This week we are beginning our soccer unit at Maple Avenue. This unit is a three class unit that focuses on all different aspects of soccer. This week our focus will be on discussing different pieces of equipment that are required to play the sport. During this part of the class we will talk about shin guards, mouth guards, proper footwear, uniforms, and the balls. After discussing equipment needs, the class is introduced to dribbling the soccer ball. Here the students are shown how to make little touches on the ball. These touches move the ball, but at a slow enough pace that keeps the ball within reach of the player at all times. Each student is given a ball to use for the remainder of the class. We will play numerous activities that focus on dribbling during the remainder of class. This should be a fun filled unit!

Bartlett October 23, 2008

2008-10-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

BRRR!!!! Winter is definitely on its way. Remember to dress your children in layers this time of the year. By doing this it allows them to be warm in the morning when it is cold out, but have appropriate clothing on in the afternoon when it has warmed up a bit. This week we are working on soccer with the students. This is the number one played sport in the world, and continues to grow rapidly in the United States. Today the students will be practicing dribbling the soccer ball around the gym. This is when they move with the ball at their feet, keeping it close to them and under control. The students will be practicing some basic moves with this as well, and these include pullbacks (dragbacks), step-overs, inside turns, outside turns, and a few others. It should be an exciting unit and I know the kids are looking forward to it.

Physical Education Classes for the Week of October 20th

2008-10-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

This week the students are going to be doing scooter board activities. These activities are based around the use of scooter boards in the gym. These are boards that the students sit on using their feet to push, pull, stop, and turn themselves. We will play a variety of games like Grinches which is a tag type of game to scooter soccer. All of these games are very physically active and promote good sportsmanship. Please feel free to stop in and visit the gym where you can be an observer or an active participant!

Bartlett October 16, 2008

2008-10-16T06:05:00.001-07:00

This week the students played a game called team bowling. During this activity the class was divided into two equal teams. Each team was given 20 bowling pins to set up and protect on their side of the gym. A bunch of balls were place in the playing area, which the students used to role and try to knock the other teams pins down. This game is a very high paced action packed activity that allows for teamwork, strategizing, and physical activity. Next week we plan on beginning our soccer unit which will focus on basic rules and fundamentals of the game.

What's Happening in October

2008-10-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

October is an excellent month to be outside and active. The weather offers an ideal climate to get out and play. In physical education classes we are finishing our cooperative games unit with the second through fourth grades. These activities are designed to build a stronger community in the classroom by getting the students to work together and communicate. I give the class a challenge that requires total cooperation and communication to beat. When this is done, their is great pride in their work and community involvement. The first graders are finishing up their gross motor skill unit. Here the kids learned about different movements they can do and control with their bodies. These movements include running, jogging, skipping, hopping, galloping, etc.. All grades will be moving into a soccer unit. Here we will learn basic rules and fundamentals related to this wonderful sport.