SHERRI'S LESSON PLANS Our society is becoming increasingly sedentary. I feel as a physical educator it is getting more difficult to motivate my students to exercise. The incoming kindergarten classes are showing more signs of lack of activity and low motor skill levels. East Buchanan Elementary received the PFA program in 2001. Instantly there was an increased excitement at recess and during P.E. to exercise the PFA way. I begin with introductory lessons on equipment usage to the kindergarten classes to motivate them to exercise. The students are free to use the equipment at recess time. We also have a voluntary after school program for first through fifth graders. I am thankful to Project Fit America for providing a safe, fun, challenging environment for my students to get the extra exercise they need to increase their health. |
PFA MOUSETRAP
Grade level: 1-2
Length of activity: 20 min
Equipment: PFA stations
Directions:
Students form a circle and join hands to "set" a mousetrap.
Choose two or three mice to run in and out of the circle or weave around
the students that have their hands up to "set" the mousetrap.
Teacher or a selected student covers eyes and says "snap" at
any time to try and catch the mice while they are inside the mousetrap.
Captured mice go to the "mouse hospital" (PFA equipment) to
get treatment and then return to the game.
Variation: Beanbags can be used for "cheese" in the middle of the mousetrap so mice can pick up a piece of cheese and leave the mousetrap and repeat until the trap is snapped.
CAR REPAIR
SHOP
Grade level: 1-2
Length of activity: 20 min
Equipment: PFA stations
Directions:
Mark a boundary line on opposite ends of the playing area. Choose one
or two taggers to be in the center. Students will be a type of a car.
Choose 3-4 different kinds of cars (Porshe, Trans-Am, Jeep, Limo, etc.).
taggers call out name of car so those students can race to the opposite
end of the playing area. Cars that are tagged will go to the car repair
shop (a PFA station) to be "repaired". After finishing a station
they may return to the game. Change taggers often.
HAPPY HUNTING
Grade level: 2-5
Length of activity: 40 min
Equipment: PFA stations, 10-20 activity cards, pocket folder recording
sheet and pencil.
Directions:
This is a scavenger hunt activity. Before class hide activity cards all
over the playground area (behind trees, on non-PFA equipment, under cones,
on fences, taped to buildings, etc.). Each activity card lists a station
and number of repetitions for a student and a partner to perform (12 leg
swings, 2 pole climbs, 3 horizontal ladders, 20 sit-ups, etc.). Each activity
card has a letter and a number on it. Students write corresponding letter
in the appropriate numbered box to spell fitness words such as aerobic,
cardiovascular, or use muscle or bone terms. Students will stay together
and decide where to look for cards as a team. The cards are to be left
at the site where they found them for other students to find.
Safety: Place papers and pencils in a small folder with pockets so students can run from card to card.
PFA DRIBBLE
TAG
Grade level: 2-5
Length of activity: 10-30 min.
Equipment: PFA stations, basketballs, playground balls
Directions:
We have a blacktop playground near the PFA equipment. During our basketball
unit or as a ten-minute warm-up, we play a game where every student has
a basketball or a ball that bounces. As the students use the various types
basketball dribbling (reverse pivot, stop-n-go, crossover, etc.) other
students use a free hand to try and knock any of the other players ball
away. If a student has their ball knocked away 3 different times, they
will take their ball and pick out a PFA station to work on. After they
cannot do any more repetitions they may pick up the ball and return the
playground to the game. I try to monitor this game very carefully. If
they lose control of their own ball that counts as one of the three for
them.
Variation: This game will also work on a soccer field with soccer skills, but also must be monitored very carefully for tripping and kicking.
POISON HURDLES
Grade level: 2-5
Length of activity: 30-40 min.
Equipment: PFA stations
Directions:
Students are
Divided into two separate lines, Four or five hurdles are set up in each
line. One student at a time runs and jumps the hurdles until they reach
the end of the opposite line. I send the next student after the first
one has jumped the third hurdle to speed things along. If a student touched
a hurdle for any reason they have been poisoned and must pick out a PFA
station to "clean" them out. My students will play this game
even longer than the 40 minutes if I let them. Hurdles can be the foam
or Styrofoam type, but I also use carpet squares on top of cones and I
have some hurdle bars that fit over the top of the cones. I use a variety
of heights for challenge.
* One of Sherri’s favorite lesson plans taught to her by PFA trainer, Steve Cox
PFA PARTNER
TAG
Grade level: 3-5
Length of activity: 20-30 min.
Equipment: PFA stations
Directions:
We play a version of "Everybody's It" with a partner. Every person is a tagger. If you are tagged or tag someone at the same time, you will sit down in the spot where you are tagged. Partner tag allows you to have a partner to get you back into the game. If you and your partner are tagged, we get up and give each other a high five and pick out a PFA station, a different on each time, and perform that activity until we cannot do anymore. Both students will return to the game and play again until both partners are tagged. This is also used as a warm up activity before adding the PFA stations.