Alpha students worked on motor development in the Mini Gym this week. Four stations were set up and students rotated through each station. The objective on balance beam was to walk heal to toe from one end of the beam to the other without falling. On the mat, the students attempted to perform a log roll from one end of the mat to the other with continuous momentum. The objective of the jump box was to jump from a height of two feet down onto the mat without putting a hand on the ground. And lastly, the climbing wall gave the students the opportunity to use their flexibility and strength to move up and down the wall.
Students in Kindergarten also worked on motor skills in the Mini Gym one day last week. They had to cross the balance beam while stepping over two four inch obstacles. From the jump box they were expected to land without taking a step. The mat was replaced with a rebound net on which they attempted to toss a ball and catch it. The climbing wall was used in a similar fashion to Alpha.
First grade students used a self check list to assess their performance in the four motor development stations. The balance beam had three increasingly taller obstacles with the objective of making it across without knocking any down. The rebound net's goal was to catch three in a row. The jump box included a jump for distance (as well as the 2 feet drop) without falling. And the goal of the climbing wall was to reach the ceiling. The students did an excellent job of keeping track of their own progress. The other days consisted of a throwing for accuracy lesson and a soccer lesson where team play was emphasized.
Students in grade two continued to work on soccer skills with a day of throwing in the Mini Gym thrown in to spice things up. The velcro targets from our SNAG Golf equipment come in handy during these units and the students love them. Students were able to challenge themselves accordingly by hitting the bullseye of the target. If they did so from the closer distance they were free to move on to the next target at a greater distance. The final and fourth target was the entire distance across the Mini Gym - and a few students made it! Throughout the lesson positive and corrective feedback was made to help with technique.
The third graders continued with soccer and used a criteria sheet similar to what the fourth graders used last week. They looked at the instep pass as observers and marked down areas of strength and weakness. The task was a difficult one, but they worked hard at it none the less.
The fourth graders had a "BIG" quiz over their football unit with a few questions thrown in from volleyball. Students used pictures as well as their words to convey how much information they had absorbed. Overall, they did a really good job.
