WEEK 6: SCOOTERS

2nd - 5th grades
A...This week will be a transition from Throwing to Pre-Fitness Testing. Scooters will be used after a 4 minute run, working on teamwork, coordination, and building our leg muscles: hamstrings, quads, and calves! We will start with partner scooter pushing. Students will explore their own needs, both with speed, balance, and safety. Ropes will be given out and students will explore speed, balance, and safety with pulling their partners. We will do some "Scooter Races" for speed and then have a three person game to promote more balance. 2nd grade will do an obsticle course with partners during the last game.

B...We will stretch and do a 2:30 no walk jog and then jump right into scooters. We will do some practice with partners, both with and without a pull rope. We will do a few races then play NASCAR around a set circular area. Students push or pull partner around changing directions every so often. The class will end with a tennis ball collection using the partner scooters.

K - 1st grades
A...Students will stretch and then practice their "Lap". Students will take turns practicing moving around the court on scooters. Students will see the difference between forward scooting and backward scooting. We will do 2 person relay races and then have a partner push free time. All this to MUSIC!!!

B...Students will again be using scooter, first with a little practice. A large circle of cones will be formed and students will be in groups of one or two. They will have to sail into the middle and steal treasure from the sea because they are pirates. The name of the game... "Treasure Hunt". Students can only collect one piece of treasure, laid out throughout the middle and keep it intheir hidden treasure chest. Different values will be given to treasures. 2nd grade will play this game as well.

WEEK 5: THROWING / COOPERATION FUN

2nd - 5th grade
A...Students will stretch and then come up with one muscle that is used in the throw. The Run for the Stars will be a long run and depend on place of finish. Students return and divide into four teams, playing "Tattoo" where students throw tennis balls and try to smash their target, the basketball backboard. After cleaning up the tennis ball. Students will be placed in four groups around an 18 foot-side rope perimeter square. The game "Cleaning House" will involve throwing medium sized balls at the targets in the middle and try to keep them clear of their side. At the end of each game, the team that has blasted the targets farthest away from their own side is the cleaning champion.
B...Today will be a similar day as earlier in the week but we will make the games more competitive. "Tatoo" will have two teams on each side of the court, divided by an extended tug-o-war rope. Students will try to hit their target, the basketball goal on the opposite side as many times as possible. Score will be kept. "Cleaning House" will be improved with a larger square to give students more room to throw. Nerf balls will be removed and more volleyballs will be added. Less targets will be in the center.

K - 1st grade
A...Students will stretch and practice once again on running "Around" and completing a "Lap". We will pull out the Parachute and have a little fun this week. We will do (1) waves, (2) the Tent, (3) Magic Carpet, (4) Turtles, (5) Igloo, (6) Merry-go-round, (7) Popcorn, and other parachute games. Class will end with some advanced "5 Corners" and start to understand the concept of winning and losing.
B...We will start the day with more emphasis on going "Around" cones and completing a "Lap". We will move nto some "Self-Exploration" where students will use equipment that has been placed on the court. Kindergarten classes will use any equipment and 1st grade will be put into centers or stations and moved from center to center, like an circuit course.

MEET COACH AUGUST!

Williams would like to welcome Coach August to our school! She has come from the University of Florida and is a true GATOR fan. Coach August will graduate with her degree in Physical Education in December and is really excited about teaching PE. She says she loves our students and will be sad to leave at the end of October when she heads to Sidney Lanier to continue teaching PE. Thanks Coach August for all you do for Williams PE!!!

WEEK 4: THROWING / BODY ID

2nd - 5th grades
A...Students will stretch and star run with a "long run of 2:20". Upon return, students will make seven groups and do the "Muscle PreTest". Next, Students in 3rd - 5th that received an A last week on their throw will play "Battleball", a wild target throwing game with two teams on different sides of the court and lots and lots of tragets to throw at on the opposing side. Work with the non-A students will result in inclusion in the game with a little extra practice. Students in 2nd grade will practice throwing in lines designed by skill level and help will be given to students that did not get an A on the throw.
B...Stretching will be followed by a "no walk/stop long run". Students will return to their lines and work together to think of the 12 muscles we study and report to the teacher for a line point. 4th and 5th grades will begin Battleball and 2nd and 3rd grades will partner throw before starting Battleball.

K - 1st grades

A...We will start with our stretches and again practice locomotor movements with the "Freeze Game". Students will grab a partner, not hard of course, and will be challenged to touch body parts together when that part is called. The called parts will get more complicated including two or three different parts touching. We will throw in a new twist, and when "Scramble" is called students will have to switch partners.

B...Stretches will start class and we will really get serious about teaching students to go "Around" cones, in the fashion of a lap. We will try different types of runs trying to work up to a "Lap". Will will play "Freeze" one more time and then sit on our own spot, spread out on the court. Students will be shown large flash cards with body parts shown and students must figure out how to put only those parts on the floor. Students must have good balance and be thinking! We will end with a beanbag and balnce it on certain body parts!

WEEK 3: THROWING / SPATIAL AWARENESS

2nd - 5th grades
A...Students stretch and warmup, with emphasis on deltoids, including a 2 minute pacer run, called a "no pass." Students are introduced to the throw in 4 cues: (1) stand to the side, (2) ball behind head, (3) slide step, and (4) twist and throw. Students model the throw while they are observed and corrected. Students then throw for power and distance, as compared to a baseball pitcher. Small team of 2 or 3 are formed and students are challenged to throw at targets, like bowling pins and stacked crates to knock them down with force.
B...Students will again stretch and warmup, again emphasis on the deltoids. The run today... a 2 minute no walk or stop! Students will play catch with a partner and be graded based upon following the four cues and without regard for accuracy. Students will then get into groups of 2 to 3 and play more target games, like "knock it back" where stacked crates are moved back every time they are knocked down.

K - 1st grades
A...Student names will be reviewed...AGAIN!!! The "Freeze Game" will be played for spatial wareness, locomotor movements and moving to music. Polyspots will be spread out on the court to encourage "own space" and we will move around spots to music and even play "Moving Spots" once again. We finished the day with some "Body Part Identification" and played "5 Corners" to complete PE time.
B...Students will stretch and again encourage spatial awareness through the "Freeze Game". Polyspots will be put in a large circle formation and we will play "Magic Color Call" encouraging students to move quickly, pay attention, and learn colors. We will add beanbags to the middle of the circle and play "Magic Beanbags" as students have to hear their color and quickly run to get a beanbag or sometimes more from the middle...carefully! We will finish with "Ship to Shore" working in partner groups. Different motions are called and partner groups will perform the motion when called. If SHIP is called students must find a different partner quickly!

WEEK 2: GROUP CHALLENGES / SPATIAL AWARENESS

2nd - 5th grades
A...Students will once again reveiw spots, stretch and warmup, then do a "Run 4 the Star". Students will find the same groups they had last week during the "Group Challenges" and then be sent to the next challenge. Today, students will participate in 2 more challenges. Music will accompany the work.
B...Today will be the final day of "Group Challenges". Students will participate in 2 or 3 challenges. 5th grade students will end 5 minutes early to be shown the techniques to use to succeed in each challenge for future use. Music will accompnay the work.

K - 1st grades
A...Students will review lining up on red spots, review student names, and do stretches. We will play the freeze game to get students moving in different types of locomotor movements and to identify that the whistle means stop. Music will accompany. Students will play small and large group games. Class will end with a "Snow Ball War".
B...After warmups, students will revisit the "Freeze Game" and then do some new parachute games involving colors and "under the parachute" action! We will use polyspots to introduce "spreading out" to studnets and practice with and without spots. We will move in different locomotor movements around the spots to music and then play "Musical Spots" and those not finding spots will have to go to exercise corner for some intense workout before returning to the game! Class will end with an elimination "5 Corners" game!

WEEK 1: COOPERATION

Welcome back Williams students and families. I hope you are ready for an exciting year in PE. Some new changes have made Williams PE again one of the best places for students to learn about their body, working with others, physical skills, and how to have fun physically! All classes will attend PE two times every week and for 50 minutes. We are able to do this by have two classes come to PE at a time. The classes are bigger but will not sacrifice time in activities. We have added lots of new equipment with grants, additional budget money, GRU funds, and PTA funds.

2nd-5th grades
A...Students will become familiar with the red spot formation, learn the 2 class behavior rules, and then go immediately into parachute activities. We will add a parachute and do (1) waves, (2) tent, (3) igloo, and (4) magic carpet. Next, we will stop parachuting and learn our assigned spots for the rest of the year. Our coomunication/cooperation game will follow. Student must group themselves by the answer to several questions. All students must cooperate with each other to succeed in finding everyone with the same answer. This game will be followed by a few more parachute games: (1) merry go round, (2) blast off, (3) over under, and (4) popcorn. Within theses parachute games, the 3 grading rules of PE will be introduced.
B...Students will review their spots when classes begins. We will introduce warmups and stretch, emphasis on "Hamstrings". The class will do a few parachute games that did not get finished last class or have student choice. Students will begin their unit on "Group Challenges". Students will get into groups of 6 - 8 students and be placed in a station, or challenge: (1) Acid River, (2) Time Machine, (3) Frogs on the Pond, (4) Three Story Building, (5) Group Juggling, (6) Hot Lava, (7) The Switch. Students will see two challenges today.

K - 1st grade
A...These grades will learn about red spots for lining up when coming to PE. Parachute games will follow with similar games as 2nd - 5th grades. The PE behavior rules will be introduced. We will review spots once again then go over the concept of running "Around" something! We will do a few practice runs, a few more parachute games, then play "5 Corners". Students must moves to one of five designated areas on the court in ten seconds without touching other students.
B...The second class of the week will again review spots then learn about stretches and warmups. Students will play parachute games once again and revisit games from earlier in the week. Students will do a "Grouping Game" where a number will be called out and students will have to get themselves into groups of that size as quickly as possible. We will end class with active games of "Squirrels in the Trees" and "Dog Tails". These games are designed to get students to start thinking about spatial awareness and locomotor movements.

WEEK 36: BONKER BALL BASEBALL

In our second to last week we are doing baseball striking skills for thrid through fifth grades. We will review the baseball swing and play "Bonker Ball." Students will divide into groups of 4 or 5 to play. Each student will get a turn to bat, either off a tee, a toss and hit, or off a pitch. Upon the hit, the batter runs to 1st base and back home as many times as he/she can until the fielding players get the ball and tag home plate. Students keep score from inning to inning. Strategies are encouraged and reviewed on fielding techniques. Students should understand positions and relay to move the ball quickly to home plate.

Some students in kindergarten through second grades are finsihing up their test still!! They will move to striking with a bat when complete.

UPDATE ON THE MILE RUN!

Top 20 Boys Mile Run
1. Will Burger 3rd grade 6:48
2. Ayaz Khan 4th grade 6:59
3. Kyung Seok Oh 5th grade 7:22
4. Jonah Thiele 4th grade 7:22
5. Eric Burch 4th grade 7:33
6. Damonte Flowers 4th grade 7:42
7. Nathan Fisher 4th grade 7:43
8. Bamboo Blanchard 5th grade 7:48
9. Robin Xu 5th grade 7:49
9. Joshua Quillen 3rd grade 7:49
11. Rico Mirti 3rd grade 7:52
12. Noah Killingsworth 4th grade 7:54
13. John Dampier 4th grade 7:55
14. Ricky Rivers 5th grade 7:59
15. Stephen So 5th grade 8:04
16. Aloha Blanchard 4th grade 8:05
17. Steven Gu 5th grade 8:11
18. Jamie Williams 3rd grade 8:12
19. Davonte Scott 3rd grade 8:14
20. Luke Hall 5th grade 8:19

Top 20 Girls Mile Run
1. Madison Burger 5th grade 6:30
2. Christine Pu 5th grade 6:43
3. Sarah Collings 5th grade 7:03
4. Kelsey Dunn 5th grade 7:21
5. Jasmin Brown 4th grade 7:29
6. Charlotte Talham 4th grade 7:53
7. Vivian Zhu 5th grade 8:02
7. Amaleah Mirti 5th grade 8:02
9. Samantha Payne 5th grade 8:10
10. Stella Reneke 4th grade 8:22
11. Jasmine Jackson 4th grade 8:26
12. Kate Warren 4th grade 8:41
13. Ladajah Arnold 5th grade 8:45
14. Allie Sourakov 5th grade 8:48
15. Delaney Rua 3rd grade 9:01
16. Lillian Zhu 3rd grade 9:28
17. Ul'Ondrea Johnson 3rd grade 9:31
18. Lonquisha Williams 4th grade 9:33
19. Amber Monk 5th grade 9:34
20. Brianna Moorehead 5th grade 9:43

WEEK 34: THE DUEL & FINISH TESTING

Third through fifth grades have completed their fitness tests. Some make up testing will be done this week for these grades but classes will study tournament play and brackets this week while performing the activity "THE DUEL." Students will be taught how a tournament is set up and write their own names into a tournament bracket as it progresses toward a champion. The Duel is a one on one tug of war game that combines strategy and balance. Students stand on a platform about 5 feet apart holding the end of a 12 foot rope. On the signal each student will try to make the other fall off their platform while remaining on their own. Don't forget to keep hold on the rope, if you let go you are finished.

Kindergarten through second will complete their final fitness test this week!

WEEK 33: MORE FITNESS TESTING

The second week of fitness testing will see most of our students complete the fitness test. Third through fifth grades will be completing the situps and the sit and reach (flexibility) test. Any make up tests that need to be completed will be done this week also. Kindergarten through second grades will take the situps and sit and reach test also but they will have to complete one more test next week, the pull ups.

A mile run make up test will be next week. Students who missed the mile run last week will come on this day to do their mile run. Fifth grade students wishing to improve their mile run one last time will also get the opportunity to run next week.

WEEK 32: FITNESS TESTING BEGINS

This week the second through the fifth grades will run the mile run and the kindergarten and first grades will run the half mile. This will be the first leg of the fitness test, one of four test students will take over the next few weeks. Students are encouraged to run for several reasons: to set a personal best, to pass the fitness test at the national or presidential level, to pass the school time of 14 minutes, to get into the "Mile of Fame", and to be a top runner in the school or grade. Next week the top scores will be posted. Students who miss the mile this week will make it up later. If time permits, the pull up or flexed arm hang test will be performed.

Next week will be situps and the flexibility test. Remember if students pass all tests at the presidential or national level, they will win an award! The testing scores to pass can be seen in the links section titled "FITNESS TESTING STANDARDS." A passing score depends on the age and if the student is a boy or girl.

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.

WEEK 27: HOOPIN SHOOTS!

All classes jump to the basketball shot in the second week of our basketball unit. Second through fifth grades will begin the day in groups of two and practice shooting "Very High" to each other. We will stop periodically and review incorrect form and the three basketball shooting cues. Students will also help instruct their partner if incorrect form exists. After the practice session, we will play "Make It, Take It". Students will take turns shooting baskets and every time one makes a basket, they get to shoot again. There is no defense, just a shooter and a rebounder, and students will keep score. After 5 to 10 minutes of this game, where we will alternate goals to avoid the sunny goal, we will divided into two teams and play a game. Each team will shoot non-stop at their goal and make as many shots as possible. I will keep score and after 3 or 4 minutes, we will switch goals and do it once again, the winning team will shoot from outside blue lines. Our last game, if time permits, will keep the same teams and between every shoot students must dribble to the center line and step on it before shooting again!

Kindergarten and first grades will start of similarly but no partner groups, they will have their own ball. More time is spent on incorrect form and getting away from tosses and throws and thinking about "Push"! Students will line up on a line and shoot one at a time quickly so I can evaluate each students shot. Students will get in groups of two and shoot back and forth then at the hoops, two of which are low roll out goals. Novice shooters will use these and experts will use the high goals, no mare than two groups at a goal. The last five minutes of class will be free shooting time.

WEEK 26: BASKETBALL BOUNCES IN!

To get back on track after a wild month or two, we started our basketball unit on Wednesday March 7 with day one on our schedule for 3rd through 5th grades. We will introduce and practice dribbling this week. We all had our own basketball for skill work this week. There were short talks on why dribbling is the most important skill, correct dribbling technique, and strategies to avoid defenders: looking up, dribbling low and the crossover dribble. We praticed these dribbles to music. Next we got in groups of two and played "Two Ball DribbleWar" where partners score points by tapping the partners ball while keeping theirs going. If double dribble occurs, a point can also be scored. Students keep their own points. Next we put a ball away and played "One Ball Dribble War" where one partner tries to steal the ball from the other. Students try to keep the ball in their possession as long as possible. At the end of class we had three to five minutes of free basketball and shooting. Here I evaluated the shooting form of students to prepare for next week, and helped a few! Second grade did much of the same thing but if a class had problems with dribbling we focused more on technique and less on strategy. Other games that were played in these scenarios include dribble races and "Lot od Balls Dribble War" where three students don't have a ball and try to steal the ball from other students. If a students ball is stolen then they have to steal from someone else. Take away more balls and it gets more interesting.

In Kindergarten through first grades dribbled too and used many of the same set up skills with more focus on technique and stopped frequently for tips and advice. We had dribble races and then instead of partnering fro games, we partnered to pass the basketball. We tried two ball passing with different types of passes and then worked one one ball passing, mainly the bounce pass. These students had five minutes of free basketball time at the end of class too!

WEEK 25: JUMP ROPE CONTINUES

Though Jump Rope 4 Heart is over, all classes will continue jump roping this week. Some will do the single jump ropes that did not finish from two weeks ago. Other classes will work with long jump ropes. Third through fifth grades will have a little fun with the long jump ropes. Groups of three or four will be made and students will be given a chance to create a one minute jump rope routine, performed at the end of class. Each routine will be scored and students will be given tips and hints on how to score the most possible points in their routine. Everything done in the routine that is not a regular jump is a point, incuding any tricks, dancing, turner switching and running in and out. Everytime the rope stops or is messed up, one point is taken away. Students are encouraged to do tricks quickly and use strategy to score points.

Kindergarten through second grades will also work with the long jump ropes. Emphasis will begin with the rope turn. Students will practice with a partner turning high, low and slow! Students will then break into threes and try to get each person in the group to jump 10 consecutive times. At the end of class, three groups will try to see who can get the most points by jumping ten times. Every time a student in each group jumps ten times, the group scores a point.

WEEK 24: SUBSTITUTE

There were no plans this week. A substitute conducted the PE class and on Wednesday, February 14, the entire school participated in Jump Rope 4 Heart. Regular PE will resume next week on Tuesday February 20.

I was absent this week because my dad died Saturday February 10. He had been sick for a while but I am still a little sad. If you would like to read about my dad click here http://www.lsureveille.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=13ec27b7-f494-46ae-b5d7-4a5216bdaf3a

WEEK 23: QUICK SWITCH TO JUMP ROPES

With "Jump Rope 4 Heart" approaching next Wednesday, we will do a jump rope challenge this week. 2nd through 5th grades will be doing a recorded challenge of four jump roping skills. Next Wednesday at the event, the classes that are the best in each skill will be recognized. Class is set up in a large cone circle with a jumprope between each set of cones. Students will work on their first two challenges as I walk around and mark them correct or give feedback and instruction. Those who get checked off on the challenge can practice any other tricks. The first challenge is jumping ten times without messing up and the second is 20 times without messing up. Students in 2nd through 5th grades must do the fast turning as two jumps between each turn will not count. The second challenge will be the "Criss Cross" jump. Students will be instructed on techniques and led through all parts of this jump. If students are successful they will be challenged to beat the school record for criss cross jumps in a row...25! Last will be the "Double Turn" jump where students have to do two turns on one jump. This is very hard and if students need to make up other jumps they missed, now is the time. Music will be played all during jumping.

Kindergarten and first grades are a little different. Students will be started like the higher grades but no challenges will exist. I will give students a quick example and they will begin to try jump roping to the music. Students will be identified and used as examples of good jump roping skills. At various time, the music will be stopped and small suggestions issued to the class like don't bend over, small circles with the hands, keeping the beat with your hands and feet. Sometimes we will review the correct swing by no jumping, just turning the rope and letting it slide under the feet, then stepping over it. I will also circulate and give specific help or advanced instructions to students. Different kinds of jumps will be done including, the one hop, two hop, the run in place, and the run around. We will end class with jump rope running races.

WEEK 22: GOLF CONTINUES & FLAGS!

Week two of our golf unit has begun. There are still some classes who have not done week one yet because of weather! We are still trying and I know that students are frustrated and want to continue golfing. In week 2, instruction time will go down and practice time will go up. We will all review quickly the rules and swing directions quickly and then get started. If I had to guess I would say every student hits at least 40 golf balls! Students will be given a letter grade. The grade will go down one letter for every cue we have discussed. These include: triangle with feet, correct aim, hand configuration correct, hands together, club behind the ball before the swing, head stays down, full swing, both hands stay on club. Students are given their grade immediately and told what can do to improve grade. Grades are constantly assessed throughout the class and they can either go up...or down! Grades will not count on report card but they are only for our ability to improve.

Kindergaretn through 2nd grades will be playing flag games. Classes have already started this and they love it! Review of flags rules will be followed by three game. The first game, with a partner, is "Grudge Match". Students will go one on one to pull their partners flag off. Once a flag is pulled off the puller must dance while the pullee puts it back on then the game restarts. Game two is "Triple Tag" in groups of three. This is the same game as before but to win a student has to be the only one left with a flag on. IF somehow all the flags come off, often the winner could be the one who puts the flag on the fastest! The third and most exciting game is "Flag Collecting" where it is you against the class. Everyone has a flag on to start but if your flag gets pulled off it does not matter, just keep going. The object is to pull as many flags of other people as possible and have the most flags in your hand at the end of the game. Sometimes students can find falgs onthe ground but you can never pull a flag out of someones hands!

WEEK 21: GOLF BEGINS & ENDS QUICKLY

After many weeks of waiting, golf began with the third grade but the fun quickly ended when a downpour completely soaked all of the equipment. The field is now wet once again and we will be doing tennis ball games on the court this week with all of the grades. We will be partnering up for some relay and continuous relay games including rolling, throwing and many modified activities. All grades will participate!

UPDATE: We have some new decent weather and have resumed golf for 3rd through 5th grades. Keep your fingers crossed for our students. They are very excited and really want this unit to begin!

WEEK 20: 5th GRADE TO CAMP CRYSTAL

This entire week was dedicated to 5th graders and their trip to Camp Crystal. Kindergarten through 4th grades have a PE sub and will be doing fun alternate plans at school. The 5th grade took a three day trip to Camp Crystal to study science in nature and I went along to encourage participation during the outside activities. We did quite a bit of hiking, played team building games, shot the bow and arrow, dancing, and played lots of volleyball and four square during our many break times. Students got more "PE" type time during these days than they ever would have during a regular week in school!

WEEK 19: WEATHER CONTINUES DELAYS

More delays this week from weather problems. We will continue "Four Square" and "Wildcat Ball" with all grades. Kindergarten through 1st grades will be doing very basic work in these areas. Golf is still planned for our next unit in the 3rd through 5th grades and Kindergarten through 2nd grades will do rolling balls.

WEEK 18: MORE DELAYS

Due to more weather problems and a wet field, PE has again opted for the optional lesson. Third through fourth grades will be playing "Wildcat Ball". "Wildcat Ball" is similar to volleyball but there are some major game modifications. The court is very large, about 30 yards wide and each side has about 20 yards depth. Anyone can serve and can be decided by the team. When the serve goes over the net, the ball must be struck in the air or it can bounce one time. If it bounces twice then the point goes to the other team and a the other team also gets to serve. Players and teams can hit an unlimitesd amount of times before the ball goes back over. If it goes under the net the other team gets the serve and point. Small classes or lower skilled calsses use the throw and catch as a further modification. Teams are encouraged to keep the ball up and pass to teammates as a higher strategy. Fourth and fifth grades are combining classes with PE2.

Second grade is still working on "Four Square" and is progressing from "Two Square" very nicely. They will continue this until next week. First and Kindergarten are at different levels of "Two Square". They are practicing the serve and some volleying but not much emphasis is given to the actual game.

COLONIAL DAY FOR 5th GRADE

PE was called off on Friday before the Christmas holidays due to "5TH GRADE COLONIAL DAY". Students in the 5th grade went to six stations to learn about things colonial americans did. One station was the "Colonial Game". Students spent time learning about colonial games and then focused on "Horse Shoes". Rules were reviewed and then the games began!

WEEK 17: LAST WEEK OF SOCCER DELAYED

Before Christmas holiday began, our 3rd through 5th grades got a few days of soccer in but due to the rain from the start of the year we have had to change plans and do an alternate activity on the covered court. PE1 and PE 2 have combined and will do a few days of "Four Square". Students will learn the rules and play basic "Four Square" in small groups. Students will learn how the proper athletic stance is helpful, strategies for personal game improvement, and strategies for refereeing their own game. Sportsmanship is the main emphasis and students are encouraged to work out their own problems in their own games.

Kindergarten through 2nd grades will be playing "Two Square" which is the same as "Four Square" but with two squares. Focus will begin basic without squares, move to serve practice, then playing small games. Some free ball time will end class. Second grade will move to a little "Four Square" play at the end of their class.

WEEK 16: SOCCER IS FINALLY HERE

After practicing a week of kicking, students have been rewarded with two weeks of soccer. This is actually not normal soccer but "Two Ball Soccer". The rule changes are as follows: two balls in play at all times, no out of bounds on the side, no out of bounds on the ends, only stops of play on hand ball and fouls. This is another good opportunity for students to learn how a referee impacts a game. The ball never stops unless blown dead by the referee (me). Sportsmanship and teamwork are emphasized to keep a fun flow in the game. A small meeting with each team at the beginning talks about the importance and responsibility of the goalie, defense, and offense.

Kindergarten and first grade continue to practice the power kick on the ground then will play "Circle Number Ball". Students stand on a pre-set spot and colors and numbers are called, cuing students to race to the middle of the circle to get a ball and do some skill. Second grade will learn the punt. It will be introduced and then practiced in partner groups. After some practice time, these groups will punt over the soccer goal and then keep score. Cues for the punt include; dropping the ball 9not throwing it), drop and kick at the same time, and drop the ball forward to meet the foot.

WEEK 15: EVERYBODY KICKING

We remain on the field this week with all classes and are starting three weeks of "Kicking and Soccer." All grades will study the power kick. Students will learn that a power kick of a non-moving ball is used in football and soccer. It involves running to the ball, stepping beside the ball, bringing the foot under the ball, keeping the foot flexed, and following through with a high leg kick. We encourage long high kicks that can be caught in the air. Students will practice with partners in the field and then play "Goal Scoring." There are eight teams of two or three students in each line. A student will power kick to the goal for points from 10 to 20 yards away depending on the level. One point through the soccer goal, two points between the narrow passage inside the cone target and three points over the goal like a field goal. Students will also gain points from hustling and good teamwork and sportsmanship. Kindergarten and first grade will be a little less organized. They will "Kick and Go" all the way down to the opposite goal. They will score goals repeatedly and not in any order to help them learn about goals and points.

This is Coach Viau's last week at Williams. If you see him tell him what a great job he did teaching here at our school. We wish him the best of luck and know that he will be a great PE teacher somewhere!

WEEK 14: CATCHING WITH A GLOVE

With the end of paddles comes a similar skill that is necessary to continue to build hand-eye coordination, catching with a glove. Our students will be introduced to gloves in week 14 and play a fun game for lots of catching practice. We will start with an introduction of the baseball glove and how to put it on and use it. We will catch our own tossed up fly balls and we will catch with a partner. The culminating activity, "Meteor Ball", will see two teams throwing pop-flys over a 25 foot middle area so that each team has chances to catch many balls. Students must throw high, no line drives, and they must have their own side of the activity area clean for bonus points at the end. Points are scored for every catch made during the game. It is a wild and exciting game giving lots of opportunity to catch with the glove.

Kindergarten through second grades will be rolling balls this week. They will learn the proper techniques, comparing the roll to the bowling movement and skee-ball in the video arcade. Students will work with a partner from different lengths and different rolling velocities. Students will then be put in groups of three and have a middle person as the target...well not really a target! The outside students will roll under the legs of the middle person and the middle person will have different skills they must do as the ball goes under thier legs. Groups will switch jobs. A target rolling game will end the class if there is still time!

WEEK 13: PADDLE BALL TOURNAMENT

Third through fifth grades will be continuing "Paddle Ball" this week and we will also be participating in an "one-on-one Paddle Ball" tournament. We will begin thew tournament with a single elimination bracket including every student in the class. Three games will be played at a time, all games going to 5 points. Students who are not intheir game or are eliminated are challenged to practice using the passles at their own pace; striking alone, with a partner, creating a unique game or even cheering their classmates on. At the end of class, the class champion will be named.

Listed below are the class champions of the 'Paddle Ball" singles tournament that each 3rd through 5th grade class participated in during week 13.

3rd grade - Wilson Peter - Jonah Thiele - Riko Mirti
4th grade - Akis Pardalos - Fred Carmen - Peter Sarmiento
5th grade - Paige Vermeulen - Allie Sourakov

Kindergarten through 2nd grades

WEEK 12: PADDLES AND HOOPS

3rd through 5th grades will continue striking but this time with implements...paddles! We will work individually with a paddle, trying to strike the ball up continuously, low and high. Students will be challenged to count how many times in a row they can strike the ball, a tennis ball, without it touching the ground. Students will also be challenged to move the paddle in different ways while continuously striking. Students will move to partner groups and try to strike the ball back and forth with unlimited bouces between strikes. This will lead into "PADDLE BALL". Four small courts, 10 feet square sides, are marked with a 2 - 3 foot net betweeen. Students will play doubles action with a few rules: the ball must bounce once and only once, serve must be bounce ball and then strike underhanded, students can only hit the ball one time on their side before it goes over. Games are played to ten and groups switch to play other teams. Teamwork and sportmanship is a main emphasis.

Kindergarten through 2nd grades are working with hoops this week. Mostly students will have a hula hoop for themselves and emphasis will be put on individual skills. These skills include: trick around arm, hips, neck, switching arms during spin, spin hoops on ground, walk the dog, drop over body, around the leg, jump rope, rolling hoop, chasing hoop, hoop race, and jumping through a moving hoop. An ending activity will be target practice throwing nerf balls through moving hoops.

WEEK 11: REAL VOLLEYBALL ACTION

This will mark the third and final week of Volleyball for our 3rd through 5th grade students. We will continue to practice our basic skills through partner work. The bump and set will be broken down into basic easy parts and students will be challenged to work with their partner to keep the ball up. Emphasis will be put on the height of the shot! Students will again be placed on a team and then begin real volleyball. Truthfully this is not real volleyball but it is closer! All volleyball rules are the same except you can hit the ball as many times as you like on your side to get that ball over the net.

Kindergarten through 2nd grades will be continuing scooter games. They will again go over the safety rules for scooter use and do a little free scooting. The court will be set up by placing treasure boxes (cones) in a wide 25 yard diameter circle. Students will take their scooter to a treasure box and prepare to play "Treasure Hunt". On the signal students will sail their scooter into the middle of the ocean and can grab one piece of treasure from the middle are, which has been littered with hundreds of assorted little treasures. Students must work quickly to grab a piece of treasure, bring it back to their treasure box and then sail back in for more. Some treasures will be assigned a different value to improve higher counting skills upon game completion.

BEST MILE TIMES

Over 350 2nd through 5th grade students took the mile run test at the beginning of October. The following students were the best runners in the entire school. Check out the top girl. She is not only the fastest runner in the school right now but she also broke the all-time girls mile run record!

GIRLS

1. Christine Pu - 5th grade - 6:58

2. Madison Burger - 5th grade - 7:25

3. Charlotte Talham - 4th grade - 8:02

4. Jasmin Brown - 4th grade - 8:05

5. Allie Sourakov - 5th grade - 8:10

6. Amaleah Mirti - 5th grade - 8:23

7. Delaney Rua - 3rd grade - 8:42

8. Sarah Collings - 5th grade - 8:51

9. Daniela Roth - 5th grade - 9:25

10. Vivian Zhu - 5th grade - 9:26

11. Kate Warren - 4th grade - 9:30

12. Brittany Thomas - 5th grade - 9:37

13. Dershona Glenn - 5th grade - 9:40

14. Stella Reneke - 4th grade - 9:45

15. Jasmine Jackson - 4th grade - 9:46

16. Lillian Zhu - 3rd grade - 9:49

17. Sarah Lulu - 4th grade - 10:03

17. Meghan McCallister - 4th grade - 10:03

17. Samantha Payne - 5th grade - 10:03

17. Asia Cromwell - 5th grade - 10:03

.

BOYS

1. Michael Quillen - 5th grade - 7:12

2. Will Burger - 3rd grade - 7:15

3. Ayaz Khan - 4th grade - 7:29

4. John Dampier - 4th grade - 7:37

4. Noah Killingsworth - 4th grade - 7:37

6. Lorenzo Smith - 5th grade - 7:43

6. Robin Xu - 5th grade - 7:43

8. Joshua Quillen - 3rd grade - 7:55

9. Darius Mitchum - 4th grade - 7:57

10. Jeramie Jones - 3rd grade - 8:01

11. Kyung Seok Oh - 5th grade - 8:04

12. Camilo Moraga-Lewy - 3rd grade - 8:06

12. Steven So - 5th grade - 8:06

14. Eric Burch - 3rd grade - 8:25

15. Luca Diplan - 5th grade - 8:32

16. Nathan Fisher - 4th grade - 8:33

17. Bamboo Blanchard - 5th grade - 8:36

18. Aloha Blanchard - 4th grade - 8:38

19. Jonah Thiele - 3rd grade - 8:41

20. Davonte Scott - 3rd grade - 8:42

PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS AWARDS

The fitness award mostly talked about is the National Fitness Award, given to students passing all tests at the 50th percentile. An even more impressive honor is achieved when a student passes all tests at the 85th percentile, the Presidential Fitness Award. This award is rarely given out but amazingly, we had 8 who qualified for this award.

5th GRADE

Allie Sourakov - Madison Burger - Christine Pu

4th GRADE

Nathan Fisher - Charlotte Talham

3rd GRADE

Eric Burch - Joshua Quillen - Jonah Thiele

NATIONAL FITNESS AWARDS

Our October pre-fitness test is complete. Students that passed all four fitness tests at the 50th percentile qualify for the National Fitness Award. These students are listed below.

5th GRADE

Bamboo Blanchard - Luca Diplan - Luke Hall -Kyung Seok Oh

Samantha Payne - Lorenzo Smith - Brittany Bennett - Hannah Burgess

Sierra Coomber - Spencer Perrine - Michael Quillen - Jaquita Richardson

Daniela Roth - Kenya Tolbert - Sarah Collings - Ronerica Johnson

Ricky Rivers - Robin Xu - Vivian Zhu - Rebecca Figlio

Amaleah Mirti - Brittany Thomas - Asia Cromwell

4th GRADE

Darius Mitchum - Stella Reneke - Kate Warren - Aloha Blanchard

Ayaz Khan - Sarah Lulu - Meghan McCallister - Alice Hou

Kaylee O'Neal - Fred Carmen - Bethany Webster - John Dampier

Damonte Flowers - Jasmine Jackson - Gloria Kann - Noah Killingsworth

Jasmin Brown - Evan Milch - Jordan Warmke-Robitaille - Sarah Peace

3rd GRADE

Rafael Bichier - Katwain Daniels - Bhavani Srinivas - Carly Alexander

Ryan Jacobs - Soowhan Kim - Jason Myers - John Finnerty

Camilo Moraga-Lewy - Delaney Rua - Davonte Scott - Axel VanOostrom

Ul'Ondrea Johnson - Jackson Jost - Jakyia Lovett - Wilson Peter

Collin Ulmer - William Burger - Seth Giles

2nd GRADE

Mountain Blanchard - Xzavion Carmen - Kara Doles - Spencer Warren

Claire Meyer - Nicholas Schrott - Malika Smalls - Morgan Giles

Emilie Pearson - Elaa Singh - Victoria Thompson - Corey Daniels

Jeremiah Robinson - Donavin Bird - Owen Gardiner

WEEK 10: VOLLLEYBALL and SCOOTERS

Volleyball continues this week as Wednesday starts the beginning of week 2. This week we will continue to emphasize the volleyball serve. Students will practice for a short time with a partner then take an assessment/test form and record how many times they can serve over the net out of ten. After partner groups turn in their skills test, they will be quickly introduced to the bump and challenged to practice with their partner. When all groups are finished with the skills test, students will form two teams and play another week of "Serve Newcombe Volleyball".

Kindergarten through 2nd grades will continue finishing their fitness test. All grades should finish by the middle of next week. When they finish their final test there will be half of the class left and they will begin to use the scooters. They will be introduced to keeping their bottoms only on the scooters for safety and pushing backwards instead of forward for greater speeds! We will play free scoot, bumper scooters, speed races, tag, and partner push. Next week will be teh great "Treasure Hunt".

WEEK 9: VOLLEYBALL BEGINS

On Tuesday of this week, the 3rd through 5th grades completed their fitness test. The fitness test winners and other great scores will be posted soon. Kindergarten through 2nd grades will test unitl next week.

Wednesday marked the beginning of "Volleyball". Students will participate in a three week unit to improve serving skills, bumping and setting skills, learn how volleyball positions and rotations are done, and finally scoring. We will practice skills, play games and do assessments. This week we start with proper serving technique. We will practice in groups of two, trying to serve the ball high and accuartely so our partner can catch the ball when hit over the net. We will use the underhand serve and emphasis is put on a straight serving arm, contact with the ball out of the holding hand, and follow through. After skill practice we will create two teams for "Serve Ball". Points will be kept in this wild and active game. Anyone can score anytime by serving any ball over the net and having it land on the other side...ANYWHERE. Watch out though, the other team can catch a ball to save a point! We will end with "Serve Newcombe Volleyball". This game is played just like a real rotation volleyball game except there are no strikes, students must catch and then serve either to a teammate or over the net. Students must be quick and use strategies to score. Students will learn the importance of serving excellence and get a lot of practice with serving during game play.

WEEK 8: FITNESS TEST CONTINUES

We will begin our second week of fitness testing Tuesday, September 3. Most classes in second through fifth grades have completed the mile run and pull ups, some even have started their sit ups. These grades will definitely finish the sit ups and sit and reach by the end of the wheel, which will be the middle of next week. We have a day off on Friday so no test that day. If some students missed the mile run, there will be a make up day next week. Please continue to bring water. Encourage your child to give the test the best attempt they are able to give. Unfortunately, kindergarten, first and second grades were only able to complete the running test. They will be doing the test for an extra week.

Third through fifth grades will begin "Volleyball" when the next whelll starts next week. This unit will be for three weeks. Look forward to learning lots of great skills and volleyball strategies!

WEEK 7: FITNESS TEST BEGINS

This week we will begin the pre-fitness test. All grades will participate in 4 tests that will show progress toward cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength and flexibility. The tests will include running, pull ups, sit ups and sit and reach. This week we will attempt to complete two tests: the run and pull ups. Second through fifth grades will be doing the mile run and kindergarten and first will do the half mile run. Students will get to have some fun time with PE equipment between testing opportunities. Please bring water, it gets hot out there! GOOD LUCK!!