WDPE

2nd trimester comes to a close

We have been very busy this second trimester, but are anxious for some spring weather so we can entertain heading outside more.

4-6 grade students had the chance to spend a fair amount of time outside the last few weeks with skiing and snowshoeing.  They were luck to experience mild temps and plenty of sun, which always makes the task more enjoyable!  These students have also been working on their volleyball skills indoors.  The 6th grade students are beginning their tournament this week.

Students in 3rd grade completed dance as well as volleyball in the last few weeks, they are currently working with long and short jump ropes.  We have stressed the idea that this is the perfect time of year for jump rope during recess since the playground and fields can be very muddy!

2nd grade students have also completed dance and are now working on their basketball skills.

1st grade is finishing up with long and short jump ropes and will be moving on to volleyball and basketball.

Kindergarten and 4* students have had the chance to dance, use the parachute and the foam hockey sticks lately.

We look forward to a wonderful 3rd trimester here at Woodland.  As always, please help your children to be prepared for PE with proper tennis shoes that are tied and will stay on their feet while moving around.  If you should have and questions about report cards, please feel free to contact us.

WINTER FUN!!

Students in grades 5 and 6 will have the chance to experience some cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the upcoming weeks. We will notify students ahead of time when their class will be heading outside. Please dress appropriately (hat, gloves, snowpants if possible) so you can enjoy the experience as much as possible !!

6th Grade Warm up & Cool down INFORMATION

We have discussed various information in physical education class regarding WARM UP and COOL DOWN.  Sixth graders will have a written test in the next couple of weeks.

Here is an outline of information:

WARM UP

WHEN do you do a warm up? Before a sport or strenuous activity

WHAT exercises/activities make up a warm up? There are 3 areas of focus when performing a proper warm up: (1) an activity that will increase pulse rate and warm muscles (make you sweaty), (2) joint mobility exercises (static or dynamic stretching) and (3) sport specific activity (lay up drills for basketball, dribbling and passing drills prior to a soccer game).

WHY is a warm up important? There are many reasons to warm up – here are 3 that we discussed in class:

1. Physical preparation enhances performance; in short, “warming up” gets your body ready for strenuous activity.
2. Increase blood flow to muscles helps improve the elasticity or stretching ability of a muscle  which allows the muscle to contract more forcefully (ie. improves performance speed and strength) AND helps prevent injury.
3. Mental preparation prepares an athlete for an activity by increasing their focus and concentration, practicing skills and engaging ”muscle memory”. 

 COOL DOWN

WHEN do you do a cool down?  after strenuous activity

WHAT exercises/activities make up a cool down?  

• activity that allows your heart rate and  breathing to gradually slow down
• stretching the muscles used during warm up
• rehydrate – drink WATER!

WHY is a cool down important? There are many benefits to “cooling down” after a strenuous game or exercise. Here are 3 that we discussed in physical education class.  

1. Helps your muscles get rid of wast products (lactic acid) and recover for the next workout.  Reduces onset of muscle cramps or stiffness.
2. Helps heart rate slow down gradually to avoid dizziness and fainting
3. Helps alleviate “blood pooling in the extremities” which causes stress on the heart

Other information to consider about a cool down:

A cool down does NOT reduce or eliminate muscle soreness after a strenuous workout.  Stretching as part of a cool down can have a bigger impact on improving flexibility than warm up stretching.

4th Grade COMPONENTS OF FITNESS

Part of the 4th grade physical education curriculum is learning about the health-related components of fitness:   

• cardiorespiratory endurance
• muscle endurance
• muscle strength
• flexibility

     In addition to understanding the definition or meaning of each fitness component we tried relating them to the 5 fitness tests (mile run, PACER, curl ups, push ups, sit & reach) that we do two times during the school year. We also talked about how the fitness components can help us be successful in certain sports.

See if you can match the definition below to the correct fitness component (listed above).

A.  Amount of force produced by ONE movement of a muscle.

B.  Range of movement of a joint

C.  Ability of the heart and lungs to work successfully during exercise

D.  Ability of a muscle to continue movement over a length of time

Here are the answers… A – muscle strength,   B – flexibility,   C – cardiorespiratory endurance,   D – muscle endurance

How did you do?

3rd grade muscle info

Here are the muscles we are talking about in class and a picture to help you remember the exercise or stretch that goes along with the muscle.

• Biceps – front of the arm  Bicep curls

• Triceps – back of the arm  Push-ups
• Abdominals – muscles in the middle of stomach
• Quadriceps – front of the leg
• Hamstrings – back of upper leg

FITNESS in our hearts and minds!

   During January and part of February we are combining 3 phases of our curriculum into our physical education classes in grades 1-6 (except 5th): dance, continuous movement and fitness concepts. Fifth graders are doing the continuous movement activity but previously did dance (schottische and two-step) and their fitness concept (FITT principle).

DANCING:  Mrs. Carel has already posted blogs about some of the grade level dancing; we will add more information about 1st and 2nd grade dancing.

Learning about FITNESS: Every grade level learns a different fitness concepts:

• 1st – Heart location and function; also changes in body after exercising
• 2nd – Pulse: defining, locating and counting
• 3rd – Muscles: location of 5 muscles – bicep, tricep, abdominal, hamstring and quadricep – and an exercise to stretch or strengthen each muscle
• 4th – Fitness components: cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance and flexibility
• 6th – Warm up & Cool Down: when, what and WHY?

What is continuous movement?

Parents of 1st graders or new students may be wondering “what is the continuous movement that my son/daughter has been talking about?” Simply stated, it is a jogging test! Every grade level (1st – 6th) has a different goal:

• 1st – 10 minutes
• 2nd – 12 minutes
• 3rd – 14 minutes
• 4th – 16 minutes
• 5th – 18 minutes
• 6th – 20 minutes

If a student is able to jog the entire time (for their grade level) they earn a “4″ rubric score and get a small certificate. Since the beginning of January we have been “in training” by adding minutes to our daily jogging. Students are working hard to find their comfortable jogging pace that they will be able to maintain for the entire time.

   Tentatively, we have scheduled the continuous movement test during physical education classes on January 27th and 28th! Please encourage your child to eat a good breakfast and wear comfortable clothes for jogging.

3rd grade – Larger Than Life

This dance is done to the Backstreet Boys song “Larger Than Life”, but could be done to any 4/4 song.

Part A

Walk forward R, L, R, touch L next to R. Clap on that 4th beat.

Walk backward L,R,L, Touch R next to L.  Clap on that 4th beat.

Part B

Step to the R, touch L.  Step to the L, touch R (repeat)

Part C

Grapevine to the right (step right, left foot behind, step right again, touch left)

Grapevine to the left (step left, right foot behind, step left again, touch right)

Repeat Grapevine steps again.

6th Grade – 16 Steps

Here are the steps to the dance, music is also included!

Rt. foot  – touch heel in front, cross touch toe, heel again and step

Lft. foot – Heel and step

Rt. foot – toe touches behind and step

Lft. foot – heel and step

Rt. foot – stomp, stomp

Rt. foot – Step, pivot, step pivot

4 two-steps starting with right foot (step together, step)

Dance sequence begins again.04 Everyday America04 Everyday America

Dancing Machines!

Students in grades 3,4 and 6 have begun their dancing unit in PE.  As much as they pretend to hate dance, we do often see smiles on their faces when the music in on and they are in the middle of the dance.  Here are some of the dances they will cover.

3rd grade – La Raspa, Larger than Life, Numerous square dances

4th grade – Electric Slide, Numerous square dances

6th grade – 16 Steps and the Polka.

We are going to work to post dance steps and possibly music so students can practice at home if they wish.  We will also be posting some study guides for their particular fitness concept they are working on.

HELP !!!

With boot season now here, please, please, please help your kids remember to bring tennis shoes on PE days. Mrs. Hiestand and Mrs. Carel have had numerous students in the past week forget to bring shoes. Two consecutive days of PE without tennis shoes results in a white slip. We will give students reminder stickers for their planners when they do forget shoes the first day.

THANKS!!