5TH GRADE GOES TO COUNTY FIELD DAY

On April 20, 2007, Williams 5th graders participated in the county field day. 18 team were competing to win first, second and third place ribbons in each event. Events include the ring relay, baton relay, sack relay, block relay, tug of war, boys mile and girls mile. Williams did very well in the team events. We had 4 first place teams, 5 second place teams, and 4 third place teams. In the final event, the mile run, each school put two runners in the boys and girls race. With runners jammed onto the starting line, Christine Pu and Madison Burger represented Williams with pride. It was not crowded at the end of the race though as Madison won the mile run and Christine finished second. Great job to all fifth graders!!

WEEK 31: FORCE AND POWER

This week we will be on the field having a little fun and learning about power and force with athletic movements and stances. Students in second through fifth grades will begin seated in a small circle with five colored teams marked with numbered polyspots from one to three or four, depending on class size. We will begin our game with "Crab Soccer" utilizing the giant blue ball! Students seated on their bottoms will stay opn their bottoms and be the goalie for the game, only using their hands to block. Points, which are bad, are scored when the ball goes through a team out of the circle or a bottom comes off the spot. A number will be called and those students will crab walk to the middle and try to kick the ball out another side. Emphasis will be put on using the feet for the most power and accuracy. Later, we will change to standing on our spots with all the same rules except when a number is called, those students run in and either push or lift the ball through or over another team. Emphasis now will change to athletic stance for balance and power, compared to athletic stance for speed, balance and agility.

Kindergarten through first grades will also use the big blue ball this week. Class will start with a freeze contest on the court, working with walking, skipping and dancing movement! Students will them progress to the field and sit on numbered polyspots. Their game will involve trying to go get the big blue ball, located in the middle of the circle and push it out there own side, which is a point and it is good! Students will be urged to use balance and force by getting low and bending the knees. Students will also uise strategies to help their teammates get the ball out their own side! At the end of class students will try to score a goal on the soccer field by pushing the big blue ball.

WEEK 30: RELAY DAYS!

Third through fifth grades will be doing relay races this week. At the end of the week, the entire 5th grade class will go to Citizens Field and participate in the county "5th Grade Fun and Fitness Day." Classes will start the week with assorted relay races. Teams will be divided in to teams of four or less. As relay races are performed by teams, we will talk about comparisons to track and field, disqualifications, strategies for better performance, and teamwork. We will do realys such as normal running relay, backwards forwards relay, skipping relay, ball behind the back relay, ring relay, one block relay, tee block relay, baton relay, and others. Teams will run relat races to two different lengths, thirty feet and sixty feet. Some classes will meet again and do a quick review of relays then do sprinting. Students will run the 50 yard dash. Five line will be set up and students will run against each other, then walking abck to get back in a line to race different students. We will discuss running through the finish line and sprinting style. Students will try to match with students of similar skill. At the end of both classes, students will play a quick game of "Hill Dill" before leaving.

Students in kindergarten through 2nd grades will do chasing, fleeing, and doding games. They will be reintroduced to "Hill Dill" and go throught the steps to learn all the rules. The game will be played until there are about 5 to 10 left and then restarted. Students will be encouraged to watch there space and look in all directions when running. Out of bounds will be discussed in detail.

WEEK 29: BASKETBALL GAMES II

Students in fourth and fifth grades will talk about game play and relation to basketball. We will talk about types of small games and how playing basketball promotes fun. Students will break into groups of 3 to 5 and spend time in class working together playing their choice of games or creating their own games together. Students will be encouraged to get along and have fun!

Third grade will play "Around the World". The game will be taught using a demonstration and students will break into groups of 3 to 5, given poly spot sets of 10 numbers, and sent to their own basketball goal. Tips will be given from group to group on best play practice and modifying games ideas to make the game more fun!

Kindergarten through second grades will play the basketball number game on a small sized goal. K and 1st grade will use only numbers one a two and will do shooting challenges by "how fast can that number group make 15 shots" and so on. They will start with checking the basketball shooting technique off in the grade book. The class will end with a couple of minutes of free basketball.

WEEK 28: BASKETBALL GAMES I

Third through fifth grades will play number basketball during this week of the basketball unit. The court will be preset with poly spots numbers 1 - 3 or 1 - 2, each set of numbers in a diffferent color. Each student willbegin class practicing the basketball shot in their own space. Technique will be reviewed and then students will be graded on their own shooting technique. From sooting students will have free shooting on goals until a signal to find a pre-set spot. Coach will call a number and students will follow set criteria to score points for their team. Some criteria will be first 5 students to make a shot, first five shots, first two students to make a shot, and so on. Points may be kept or not, bonus points awarded for teamwork and sportsmanship.

Kindergarten through 2nd grade will also continue shooting. Students will be challenged to shoot high and correctly alone and with a partner. Students will expereince shooting in many different small activities with partners, small groups and large groups. A final activity gives students the opportunity to pass and catch with a partner using one or two balls in many different pthways. The last few minutes students will shoot on their choice of three hieghts of basketball goals.