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These are a few hands-on tools I use to engage students in the learning process. I simply tie them into a lesson/game that fits well with the tool I'm using. Although there is a small investment involved to add these products to your equipment, it's interesting to see how captivated students are when they can actually see and feel the effects of an occluded artery, or how much sugar and fat are in the foods they eat. Students also are amazed at the fat chunk and that although it weighs the same as muscle, it takes up twice the space, plus it is gross to feel. The Pack of Toxic Tar Display contains two removable cigarettes filled with gooey "tar." The tar in these two cigarettes represents the amount of toxic tar that a smoker receives from smoking one pack of cigarettes. -
Each class that arrives to physical education must enter the gym, get into personal space, and await the teacher’s instructions. A student “caught being ready” (sitting still, listening, etc.) is chosen every class to go to the stage to be the Stretch Captain. Variation/Option: since most students want to be chosen, I’ve added a new stipulation in order to be selected as the Stretch Captain. In this variation I ask “who knows their multiples of 4 or 6 or 8, etc. This limits the number of students who raise their hands and challenges those students who do not know their multiples to learn them so that they may be chosen for a future class. The Stretch Captain will read and lead each stretch from the list of stretches, while counting to 10 or whatever multiple is chosen times 10. Upon completion, the Stretch Captain will roll the fitness die to determine what fitness activity all students must perform. Note: the teacher can supplement any fitness activity if a fitness die is not available. This is a great incentive for entering the gym correctly because EVERYONE wants to be the Stretch Captain! -
Objective: This game improves bowling for accuracy while placing students in nonstop defensive situations. -
Objective: This is a fast-paced aerobic game that focuses on the movement competencies of dodging and fleeing. -
For decades, there has been a search for PE activities that blend academic and physical elements. With time being a huge factor, a balance must be achieved; physical intensity must not be diminished by time spent on verbal instruction. Could the answer to this balance be easy? Easy as PIE? INNOVATIVE WAY YOUR P.E. PROGRAM CAN: •Promote reading and math •Reinforce classroom content •Challenge students physically and mentally PHYSICAL: Students use lots of high energy locomotor skills, running, skipping, leaping etc, to find assigned letters and in the span of a few seconds use fine motor skills to place the ball on the word building tray. Correct throwing form and proper basketball shooting technique may be practiced as students must throw balls into the unique mixer goal. ACADEMIC: Beginning readers get extra practice in letter recognition, spelling high frequency sight words and word building. Established readers use subject specific task cards to reinforce classroom concepts in areas of English, science, nutrition, health, etc. The math concept of fractions is utilized as “just keeping score in a game.” COLLABORATIVE: Students work in teams and every team member has a role to play. Each team has a captain, a point guard and several letter “ninjas”. Teams compete for points by spelling words quickly and must work together. The elements of cooperation and competition are extremely effective in keeping students motivated and on task. The inventor of the game, Carol Cranford is a retired physical education specialist from Alabama. "Thank you for checking out this game. It is now a staple item in my physical education curriculum because my students love it". JD Hughes -
Objective: to provide students various ways to develop and improve aim and accuracy while learning to manipulate various throwing objects. -
The Physical Education Teacher Check Up or Assessment can be used as a formal or informal test to determine student comprehension/understanding of the skills and concepts covered during the school year and/or to help the physical education teacher determine strengths and weaknesses in his or her program. I personally use this Check Up to help me figure out areas where I need to go back and review, improve or revamp for the next school year. The file is in a Word Document so that you can manipulate it by modifying, adding or deleting questions/comments to meet your physical education objectives. -
I've bundled 4 of my latest and greatest games that have not made their way to a future book just yet. They are fitness-based games that will teach and reinforce money concepts in a fun and energetic way. Cold Hard Cash (2-8) OBJECTIVE: The game of Cold Hard Cash is a cooperative challenge that provides a great way to introduce counting money, while integrating multiple fitness activities in the attempt to enhance persistence, teamwork, and comradery. Risky Business (2-8) OBJECTIVE: It’s sometimes “Risky Business” trying to make money in today’s society, but with some hard work and some potential low or high risk investments, you can really make it big! The game of Risky Business is a cooperative challenge that provides a great way to introduce money recognition and counting money, while integrating running and fitness in the attempt to enhance persistence, teamwork, and comradery. What’s in Your Piggy Bank? (K-5) OBJECTIVE: What’s in Your Piggy Bank? is a great prerequisite to all of the money-based games in this book. The game was basically designed to reinforce fitness while introducing and/or reinforcing money recognition and money values. What’s in Your Wallet? (3-8) OBJECTIVE: What’s in Your Wallet? will reinforce and provide multiple practice opportunities to deepen student comprehension of basic mathematical and money concepts. The combination of money and math fundamentals, fitness, and teamwork forces teammates to strategize and think while constantly exercising to solve 10 money word problems quicker than the opposing teams. -
Objective: Students will explore the various ways to develop and improve balloon manipulation skills such as visual tracking, accuracy, control, tapping, catching, right- and left-handed manipulation, and socialization skills through the use of balloons. -
After completing my gymnastics unit, I instruct students to form groups of at least 4-8. Explain that each group will be allowed 1-2 days to create their own gymnastics routine. Skills can be chosen from the previously learned traveling, gymnastics skills, and or stunts. Students will be given additional time to practice the day of the gymnastic routine performances. Each group will perform their routine for the class during the last half of class. Be sure to take a picture of each champion group and post outside the gym to advocate and promote this unit to the other students. Gymnastics, Dance, and Games creations are a BIG DEAL at my school and the students really look forward to these units! -
Here is an idea that the children will love (and don’t be surprised if some of your students make up a game that you want to try in class!). Let students select their own groups, which must have at least four to eight members. Inform each group that they must think of and agree on a unique game (never been done before in class) and that they must come up with a name, a set of rules, safety guidelines, instructions on how to play, and possible variations. Only one member for each group may go into the equipment room to get equipment for their game. If equipment is not being used, students must return it to its proper place before being issued any more equipment. Introduce each group’s game at the end of class or at the end of the week. Inform each group that their ideas may be graded and that the teacher may use some games in a future physical education class. At end of the week, each group demonstrates their game in front of the class. Be sure to take a picture of each champion group and post outside the gym to advocate and promote this unit to the other students. Gymnastics, Dance, and Games creations are a BIG DEAL at my school and the students really look forward to these units! -
From my book PE² are 4 very popular games that will help students get fit while reinforcing basic math facts. Objective: The dice game of Blockheads provides a fun, high-energy outlet for students to reinforce fitness skills and practice number recognition, number comparisons, and be able to create and solve various subtraction problems. Objective: Students will practice and reinforce number recognition, number comparisons, and teamwork in the fast-paced, high-energy, cardiovascular game of Dice Dash. Objective: To practice strategy, honesty, fairness, and honorable sporting behavior. Derived from the rock, paper, and scissors games of Head Honcho I and II, Just Roll the Dice is also a fast-paced and exciting game, reinforcing math competency, strategy, luck, and honesty, but ultimately perseverance to become an elite Roll the Dice Champion. Objective: Students will practice and reinforce fitness skills, number recognition, and be able to recognize the differences between greater than, less than, more, less, high, low, and equal to through the thrilling game of Moving On Up. -
Objective: This is a fast-paced game where teamwork, decisiveness, and communication skills are critical to wheel ’n deal teams to success. -
Objective: Mathletics will reinforce and provide multiple practice opportunities to deepen student comprehension of basic mathematical concepts. The combination of math fundamentals, athletics, and teamwork forces teammates to strategize and think while constantly exercising to solve 10 number sentences quicker than the opposing teams. -
From my book PE2theMax II are 4 very popular games that will help students get fit while reinforcing basic math facts. 1. Objective: Dicey Situation is a fast-paced and exciting fitness game, requiring a little strategy, luck, and honesty; but ultimately perseverance will make the difference to be successful. Students will practice and reinforce number recognition, number comparisons, and be able to recognize the differences between greater than, less than, more, less, high, low, and equal to through the game of Dicey Situation. 2. Objective: Mathletics will reinforce and provide multiple practice opportunities to deepen student comprehension of basic mathematical concepts. The combination of math fundamentals, athletics, and teamwork forces teammates to strategize and think while constantly exercising to solve 10 number sentences quicker than the opposing teams. 3. Objective: Students will practice and reinforce number recognition, number comparisons, and be able to recognize the differences between greater than, less than, more, less, high, low, and equal to through the thrilling game of Roll with It. 4. Objective: Stick it to Ya is a fast-paced, high-energy, dice-rolling game where students will practice and reinforce number recognition, number comparisons, and subtraction problems in the attempt to get rid of all of their sticks. -
Objective: One of my most popular games, Bounce Brigade is a wacky game that reinforces cooperation, eye–hand coordination, patience, strategy, and teamwork. -
State Lingo Bingo is an excellent game to reinforce and provide multiple opportunities to learn the 50 U.S. states and their capitals. The combination of map reading fundamentals, fitness, and teamwork forces teammates to communicate and strategize in order to complete their States or State Capitals Bingo Card faster than the opposing teams. -
Objective: Dicey Situation is a fast-paced and exciting fitness game, requiring a little strategy, luck, and honesty; but ultimately perseverance will make the difference to be successful. Students will practice and reinforce number recognition, number comparisons, and be able to recognize the differences between greater than, less than, more, less, high, low, and equal to through the game of Dicey Situation. -
OBJECTIVE: What’s in Your Wallet? will reinforce and provide multiple practice opportunities to deepen student comprehension of basic mathematical and money concepts. The combination of money and math fundamentals, fitness, and teamwork forces teammates to strategize and think while constantly exercising to solve 10 money word problems quicker than the opposing teams. -
OBJECTIVE: Get back to the basics with this fast-paced, energetic, seek out and capture game where teamwork, perseverance, and memory are essential to being victorious. Basic Training is a cross-curricular game specifically designed to reinforce the learning and/or memorization of the alphabet, sight words, numbers, shapes, colors, and food groups.
