ECE
Welcome to Health and Physical Education! This being the first week seeing a lot of the ECE students we had the chance to talk about safety and rules when we are in PE and how to find our own personal space. Students used various locomotor skills (marching, jumping, galloping, bear crawls, frog jumps) to move throughout the dance room, without touching their classmates. We also used music to familiarize students with start/stop signals and how to control their bodies while moving.

K–GRADE 2
Kindergarten-2nd graders reviewed safety/rules of the gym and worked on locomotor movements (galloping, skipping, jumping, bear crawls) at different speeds and levels. Students also reviewed the concepts of personal space and how to move throughout an area safely, while changing speeds and staying within boundaries.

GRADES 3–5
My 3rd-5th graders were able to review safety and rules of the gym as well as identifying what self-responsibility and sportsmanship looks like during activities. We have been using cooperative games (Ring of Fire, Stuck With You and Rock, Paper, Scissors Challenge) to work together, build communication and teamwork skills.

Welcome to the Health and Physical Education Blog for Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School! Here you will find a weekly progression on what your child is learning and get a glimpse of the activities as we move throughout the 2016-17 school year.

I will also keep you updated on PE News and events related to our class, happening at Ludlow-Taylor.

ECE
Why do preschoolers need physical education?
A preschool director proudly tells a group of parents that physical education (PE) is part of the curriculum at his school. One mother responds, “I remember having to climb the rope and run around the track in gym class. I don’t see why my daughter has to experience anything like that.” “I agree,” a father chimes in. “What do dodgeball and jumping jacks have to do with 4-year-olds?” In response to the parents’ concerns, the director says, “Let me explain that physical education has evolved over the years. In our PE program the children develop body and spatial awareness and practice and refine their emerging motor skills, which contributes to the likelihood that they’ll become lifelong movers.” 

K–GRADE 2
Advanced physical education candidates use content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge to design and conduct appropriate learning experiences that facilitate and enhance the growth of learners.

GRADES 3–5
PE should be fun, fostering social interaction and not just physical fitness. During this age, students take part in activities to increase their cardiovascular fitness, strength and flexibility, while also learning new skills, including cooperative play, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Beyond exercise, students start to understand how to integrate healthy habits into their lives. Students should learn to eat well, sleep enough, and manage stress. Health is an important part of every class in PE.