Happy Holidays!

Best wishes to all this holiday season!

How about some inspiration?

An inspiring true story of young man who just wanted to be on a team.

Run Rudolph Run!

I think you can find every kid at Washington Elementary in this video of children running.

   

 

It's a DDR party!

The Dance, Dance Revolution and Wii equipment purchased with an Education Foundation grant is being put to use this week.  Here is a sample video of equipment in use.  Students are having a fun time stepping with the music and following along with the video game.

Run laps...spell words

   Last week in PE students used cardio cards to spell out words from grade level lists provided by classroom teachers.  Students worked in groups during the activity.  Kids ran two laps around the gym to "earn" a card from the letter bank.  These letters were used to spell words from the list.  As you will notice in the video, students were very busy running and working together to spell words quickly and correctly.

Let the Good Times Roll

Here is a video of some Pence students using scooters in a recent PE class.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher conferences are next week on Tuesday, Nov. 1 and Thursday, Nov. 3. They run from 5:00 to 8:30. During conferences, I will be at both Pence and Washington Elementary each night. I will start at Pence from 5:00 to 6:30 and finish at Washington 6:30 to 8:30 on both nights.

So, ya say you want a revolution?

The elementary PE department recently received a grant from the Fairfield Education Foundation.  This grant is for roughly 2,200 dollars.  The grant money will be used for a Wii Group fitness package.  The major equipment and technology being ordered includes a Wii console, Wii Sport Game, Wii Sport Resort Game, Dance Dance Revolution the Hottest Party Game, 4 DDR "Energy" Metal Dance Pads for Wii, 8 DDR "Non-slip" Training Pads, 5 "Tough" Training Pads, 12 digital pedometers.  All of this equipment can be used with a video projector and Bose sound dock purchased from the 2007 PEP Grant.  With the new equipment, entire classes will be actively engaged in the video games being used.  Exer-gaming is popular in homes throughout our country and becoming more and more popular in the school setting.  The order has been placed and the equipment should be arriving in early November.  We are thankful for all the Education Foundation does for the students of our district and can't wait to put our new equipment to use.

Thank you Mr. Gruwell

This week marks the end of Mr. Gruwell's student teaching experience with the elementary PE department and the students at all of our elementary centers.  We have enjoyed our time with Mr. G. and wish him well with his next placement at the middle school.  Below I have created a fun and seasonal video farewell to Mr. G.  Thanks for all the great work at our elementary schools.

Height and weight

This week the PE department will wrap up measuring the students' height and weight.  The students will be measured again this spring.

Interlude Flash Mob

The students and teachers of Washington Elementary ended the day with a flash mob on Friday.  After learning the Interlude dance in PE with Mr. Gruwell the entire school gathered on the playground for a school-wide flash mob.  Enjoy the unedited video below.

The Interlude

This week Mr. Gruwell taught the interlude dance to all the Pence Elementary classes 1st through 4th grade. This is a dance that was created by UNI students and has been growing in popularity around our country.  The middle school student section performed the dance at the homecoming football game.  I have included two videos of the dance below.  The first video is a how to video.  If you would like to learn the stages,  just follow along with the kids.  The second video was shot by Mr. Strickler and this was a mass interlude dance during a recent recess.

ABC Ladders

This is Mrs. Ryan's class working with the ABC ladders.  They are a kindergarten class that has been practicing large locomotor movements with Mr. Gruwell.

We all need inspiration....

This video was passed on to me from Mr. Welch.  It is a true story.  Enjoy.

Presidential Physical Fitness Test

During the month of September all students 1st through 4th grade have been taking the Presidential Physical Fitness Test.  We also take this battery of tests in the spring. Here is a little bit about each test.

Sit-ups: This event measures abdominal strength and endurance.  Students lie on a cushioned, clean surface with knees flexed and feet about 12 inches from buttocks. Partner holds feet. Arms are crossed or behind their head. Keeping this position, students raise the trunk curling up to touch elbows to knees and then lowers the back to the floor, for one sit-up. The students have one minute to do as many sit-sups as possible.

Shuttle Run: This event measures speed, quickness and agility.  There are two parallel lines 30 feet apart and two chalkboard erasers, or other similar object, behind each line. Students start behind the opposite line.  On the signal “Ready? Go!” the student runs to the blocks, picks one up, runs back to the starting line, places the block behind the line, runs back and picks up the second block, and runs back across starting line. Students are timed start to finish.

Endurance Run: This event measures heart and lung endurance.  Depending on their age some kids run a quarter mile and some kids run a half mile.  On a safe measured out field, usually 220 yards, kids will run laps according to age.  On the count "Ready, Go!" students begin running.  Walking may be interspersed with running.  However, students are encouraged to cover the distance in as short as time as possible.

Push ups: This event measures upper body strength and endurance.  The student starts in push-up position with hands under shoulders, arms straight, fingers pointed forward, and legs straight, parallel, and slightly apart (approximately 2-4 inches) with the toes supporting the feet. Keeping the back and knees straight, the student then lowers the body until there is a 90-degree angle formed at the elbows with upper arms parallel to the floor. The push-ups are done to a metronome (or audio tape, clapping, drums) with one complete push-up every three seconds, and are continued until the student can do no more at the required pace. The student should remain in motion during the entire three second interval.

Sit and Reach: This event measures flexibility of the lower back and hamstrings.  A specially constructed box with a measuring scale marked in centimeters, with 23 centimeters at the level of the feet. Student removes shoes and sits on the floor with knees fully extended, feet shoulder-width apart and soles of the feet flat against the end of the box.  With hands on top of each other, palms down, and legs held flat, student reaches along the measuring line as far as possible.

Students who reach the qualifying standard in all five events will receive the Presidential Physical Fitness Award.  These levels represent the 85th percentile based on the 1985 School Population Fitness Survey.  This standards are on the chart above.  If they meet the standard in all five tests they will receive a patch and a certificate for their accomplishment.

Kool to work

Cody Kool is spending his seventh and eighth hours with Mr. Dunlap as part of his school to work program at the high school.  Cody will be working with students in the physical education classes at both Washington and Pence Elementary. He is a senior at Fairfield High School.  Cody will be spending the first semester of this school year working with our elementary students.

Welcome Mr. Gruwell

This fall the elementary PE department is sharing a student teacher.  Both Mr. Dunlap and Mr. Kool will be supervising student teacher Zeth Gruwell.  Zeth is a physical education major from the University of Northern Iowa.  He attended high school at Cardinal of Eldon.  He will have the opportunity to observe, work with, and teach students at all of our elementary centers.  He will have eight weeks of experience at the elementary level and will then move on to the PE department at the  Fairfield Middle School.

Back to School and Ready to Move

We are off to a great start to the new school year.  I have met with all my new classes and I am excited about about all the fun we will be having in physical education this year.  It is important that students remember to dress comfortably for exercise and play on their PE days.  Kids can be limited in PE if they don't wear shoes that allow them to run, jump, kick and play.  I ask that your children please wear tennis shoes on PE days. Any type of lace up or strap on rubber soled shoe should work for PE.  Sandals, crocs, boots, and dress shoes are not designed for running or active play.  Every class has PE twice a week for 25 minutes.  I am looking forward to a great school year.

Getting Our Feet Off the Ground

For two weeks the students at Pence Elementary have been getting up
off the ground during Physical Education classes. The Luarentian
equipment, a special indoor jungle gym purchased with the PEP Grant,
has been set up and is being put to good use. The wooden structure is
very gymnastic in nature. The students get a chance to use rings,
balance beams, parallel bars, low bars, monkey bars, incline ramps,
and ladders. Most of their movements are taking place with their feet
off the ground something they don't get to do in everyday P.E.
Students also get the chance to do some tumbling on the wedge and
trapezoid, and use a springboard. The equipment was purchased with the
PEP Grant, and the Laurentian is shared with Pekin Community Schools.
All the mats and equipment provide the students with some very unique
opportunities to move.

4th Grade Swimming Pictures

4th Grade Swimming on PhotoPeach

Fourth Grade Swimming

After Spring Break the 4th graders will start a swimming unit at the Roosevelt Aquatic Center during their P.E. class.  Christy Leazer will be the instructor and I will be on hand for supervision.  All the kids need bring to school on their P.E. day is a swimsuit.  They are welcome to bring a hair brush or other hair supplies, but please keep the extras to a minimum.  The school will provide towels for the students to use when they are done swimming.  I would suggest your child bring their suit in a plastic bag so they have a place to put their wet suit when they are done.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the kids, no matter how many swimming lessons they have had in the past.

Jumping Rope for Heart at Pence

Jumping Rope for Heart at Washington

Wii Famous!

This photo was on the front page of Wednesday's Fairfield Ledger.  Photo by Jeff Wilson.

More Just Dance

Here is a video of second graders at Pence doing Just Dance today during their P.E.

Just Dance!

This week we are dancing during P.E.  The kids are following along and playing the Wii game Just Dance and Just Dance 2.  The kids are having a blast and getting a good workout too. Here are some pictures I took at Washington on Tuesday. I hope to have a video on soon.

Just Dance on PhotoPeach

It Takes Heart to Be a Hero

Jump Rope for Heart is off and kicking. Third, fourth and fifth grade students have been given their packets and are out collecting donations.  Each year we participate in this fundraiser for the American Heart Association, and turn over a nice collection of money. Each class will jump rope during their last two PE classes before spring break.  All donations need to be turned in to me or the school office by their last jump day. For my students at Washington this is March 18.  For my students at Pence this is March 17.  On the two days we jump rope during class time the students are allowed to bring in music to play while we jump. Please bring in CDs rather than ipods or mp3 players, and please make sure the music lyrics are all acceptable for school.

I have included a promotional video that helps explain the event. NOTE: The prizes shown at the end are from last year.

Meet Heath Jackson

Heath Jackson is currently completing a School to Work assignment with me for the entire second semester.  He comes to the P.E. classroom every day during periods 7 and 8 at the high school. Heath is a senior at Fairfield High School.  He has participated in football and track and field during is high school career. He has an interest in physical education and may pursue something in that field while studying at Central College next year.  He has done an outstanding job working with the kids and fits in well in the school setting.

Cardio Cards

 One activity that we are doing this week is Cardio Cards.  Kids are put in groups and given a list of words, some of them generated from class spelling lists, as a group they run laps to earn cards. Each card has a letter on it. As they collect letters they can spell the words on the word list. It is a great activity where kids are running, spelling, and working together.  Here are some pictures from Mrs. Bowman's second grade class at Pence and Mrs. Gleason's kindergarten class at Washington.

Today is Presidents' Day

Here is a great site that our current president stands behind.

http://www.letsmove.gov/

Connection between exercise and learning

This is a feature by CBS stressing the importance of excise and its effects on learning.

Childhood and Adult Obesity Trends

Our country has a problem. A problem that is not getting any better. Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. Obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.

Obesity is the result of caloric imbalance (too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed) and is mediated by genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term health impacts:

*Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.  

*Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.  

*Obese youth are more likely than youth of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults, and therefore more at risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases.

^{Below is an informative link about childhood obesity for parents from a website called Kids Health.}

^{http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/overweight_obesity.html#}

^{Also included is a disturbing video showing the obesity trends of adults in the United States. Watch as our nation gets more and more obese before your eyes.  For best viewing enlarge the video to full screen.} 

Jump Rope for Heart

We have a major activity taking place during the month of March. The

third and fourth grades will be participating in the annual Jump Rope

for Heart event. This is a fundraiser for the American Heart

Association.  I will be giving the kids a lot more information about

the fundraiser during the first week of March. They will bring home a

fundraiser packet and have a few weeks to raise money. It is not

required that all kids raise money, but strongly encouraged as all the

money goes towards the fight against heart disease and stroke. We will

jump rope during each class room's last two P.E. classes before spring

break. This is a fun activity that goes towards a great cause, and the kids 

can earn some prizes along the way.

Here is a website with a lot of general information about the American Heart Association and the Jump Rope for Heart event:

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Giving/ForIndividuals/JoinanEvent/jump-rope-sub-home_UCM_315609_SubHomePage.jsp