Summer Activities
There is no need to stop the train of learning because of summer vacation. The best way is to insert the fitness calendar as a viable means to continue the learning process. During the school year , the students have maintained this concept ,which carries over to the summer. Check out some examples from my webpage by clicking on the Fitness Calendar link from the start page and look for it from the left pane. I mentioned to the students to make their own fitness calendars and continue them until the start of school.This gave them a chance to not only have fun and be creative ,but also to have them ready the very first day of school. The results proved to be very effective . Since ,I lived within the district it was easy for them to show me their progress and ingenuity. They even took the calendars on vacation and filled the days in with days at the beach playing volleyball, frisbee ,walking , running, swimming ,biking ,skate boarding or any activity that got them moving. This is where the snowball express came into view. The students involved the parents with their signature of checking that their child finished the calendar.Shortly there after ,I started a neighborhood walk that led to a fitness trail and member of the recreation board in the community. This carry over (from the parents /PTA) gave me monies to pursue more equipment and also meant that the lifetime of fitness concept was realized. Of course it didn't hurt that grandparents were included in the summer fitness calendar. So, the adage that learning never stops and fitness for a lifetime proved to be an exemplary motivator. The calendar is not a unique idea but it gives the students ownership and shows then how to make an individual plan.In many cases ,they repeated an activity but tried to improve on a previous performance.That is, walk a half mile on Monday ,they tried to increase to a mile on Tuesday. I gave then ideas ahead of time with any backyard and open areas .It ranged from anything they did during the school year to making homemade equipment.I tried to encourage integration with reading and core subject skills.
EXAMPLES

Ride anything wheels today for 30 minutes

Help mom with laundry , use bath towels for toss and catch game

Set up a clothesline between trees or house, play baloon volleyball

DAD'S special day, take him golfing, bowling, walking or play a game of catch

Toss any type object into garbage cans from different distances(clean the can first and help with garbage detail)

Gather soda pop cans and stack to play bowling(pyramid shape)

Walk the beach all day with mom /dad/family

Play beach towel volleyball with friends or family( toss a ball over a net)

Play frisbee at the beach or campground/park/with family or friends

Gather sea shells , toss in sand bucket, repeat for a better score

Jog in the sand , forward , backward, sideward for 15 minutes

Make a hop skotch grid and or horseshoe pit and play with family or friends

Play a game of tag using the sun and shadows(shadow tag

Hike with family or friends at the community park

Take in a baseball or softball team and support the local or pro team of your choice

Make small weights using sand buckets, milk jugs with water and exercise for 15 minutes

Pile up used phone books and put a golf tube on each end(crawl or jump over 15 times)

At the beach, pool or backyard=toss water balloons for distance with a friend or family

Drag a used tire with a rope around the yard for 15 minutes

Jump in and out of a hula hoop 50 times, repeat for a better score

Flashlight Tag= shine the light on opponents in a hide and seek night game

Go to a Senior Center and help them workout/read or walk

Teach a 'new ' friend while on vacation, a game that you learned in PE class

Use beach towels to practice stretching skills learned in PE class

Run or jog back and forth 30 feet( shuttle run), 5 times

Throw socks(rolled) into the laundry basket , increase distance each time

Hand volley a tennis ball against a wall 100 times(forehand stroke)

Use a tennis ball can to toss and catch inside 10 times with each hand

Play FLINGO( tennis ball inside tube sock) with family or friends

Attach a coffee can(ask mom to cut open one end) on a tree and shoot baskets with the tennis ball

Use a blanket(old) as a parachute and exercise or fling equipment off

Walk one mile with your family , keep heart rate checked

Sportime
If you want any type of help just check out my comments from the NASPE discussion group at http://www.sportimeresources.com . Afer the initial sign up process type in my name ( Gerry Cernicky) in the search box for over 500 comments .

Fall Activities
Now Playing: Anybody who will listen?

FALL ACTIVITIES

 

The entire premise of fall activities is to get outside and just do something, whether it be 

 

the neighborhood or any place that has proper facilities. All of this is inherent upon the

 

carryover from the gymnasium and school grounds. The P.E. teacher should teach the

 

information and skills through developmentally appropriate activities, which will serve as

 

an impetus to get the students excited and interested in P.E. class.

 

At this time of year across the country , the Fall has a myriad of different

 

seasonal changes.  Of course ,  the temperature throughout each state will vary , but the

 

opportunities to experience the environment offer a vast array of challenges . In all cases ,

 

there should be an incentive to be involved in a lifetime of fitness that can excite the

 

students  to a comfortable level  , which will be a valuable asset in the learning process.

 

This will give them the prospect to find something they can enjoy the rest of their

 

lives well beyond the school years .

 

There are many agencies  on the national , state and local level  to peek the interest of

 

not only the students , but the entire family unit . The hardest part is setting out to do it .

 

This task is a vital part the physical educator will have to combine what is learned in P.E.

 

class , and then carry over to the family in activities that can be utilized at home .

 

A first step may be a fitness calendar , which the students take home  and complete each

 

day and then returned to the PE instructor. This involves the family in activities using

 

either original or makeshift / home made equipment.  The monthly calendar serves as an

 

impetus to be life long learners in all health and fitness pursuits.

 

Outdoor adventures in the Fall season with amazing color changes along with the various

 

activities can promote a wonderful experience for both the students and their family. A

 

visit to the national  or state level parks offers a chance to engage in a host of activities

 

that includes hiking/walking , biking , canoeing, kayaking ,  caving , zip lining , and

 

photography .  There are wonderful national parks with breath taking vistas that can

 

pump up the heart rate with exhilarating activities. Here is a cross section of those parks

 

that can be used within a moderate driving distance :

 

• Acadia – Maine
• Great Smoky – North Carolina and Tennessee
• Glacier – Montana
• Shenandoah – Virginia
• Yosemite – California
• Denali- Alaska
• Capital Reef- Utah
• Yellowstone – Wyoming , Montana , Idaho
• Big Bend – West Texas , Colorado
• Voyaguers – Minnesota
• Mount Rainier – Washington
• Cuyahoga – Ohio
• Guadalupe- west Texas
• Rocky Mountain- Colorado

 

In a national survey , the Grand Canyon was rated as the best national park for families 

 

and the best hiking adventure was the Smoky Mountain range .  There are many great

 

state level agencies / programs that can present activities for the students and their

 

families. An example , in Pennsylvania , there is Venture Outdoors  , which has hiking ,

 

kayaking , biking , rock climbing , and walking tours throughout the city and diverse

 

neighborhoods .

 

Included in these activities are geocaching , cruiser bikes , fishing , climbing wall , and

 

adventures that include guide work , gear / equipment  , scavenger hunts , orienteering ,

 

pedometers , GPS units , and compasses. This allows the students to learn about problem

 

solving , self esteem and teamwork .

 

On the local level , in Allegheny County , near Pittsburgh , there is a Wise Walk program

sponsored by the (28) libraries that involves walking groups under the auspices of AARP

 

and Highmark hospital in their People Able to Lend Support(PALS). It has been in the

 

fourth year geared to increase physical activity while providing a social outlet.  The

 

Highmark PALS program ties in with the company for  a mission to keep people healthy

 

through wellness and prevention. The participants are given pedometers to track their

 

steps . One walker noted ,“ The more steps we have , the farther we can go on the map .”

 

She pointed to the Grand Canyon  ,  a journey of more than 4 million steps , and Disney

 

World , a journey of 2 million steps .( calculated)

 

There are charity walks and races that can provide a healthy and community service for

 

all the participants . Usually , these are sponsored by hospitals , banks , sporting goods

 

stores and radio /TV stations .

 

The environment and outdoor adventures are a vital component , not only for fitness , but

 

also a sense of pride in the school and community. By being actual participants , the P.E.

 

teacher , will provide the leadership needed to instill the motivation to participate .

 

Gerry Cernicky

https://igreen.tripod.com/gerpe

  

          

Mood:  quizzical
Now Playing: More preparation
Topic: Look back at the year ?

There is more than teaching P.E. Take steps and prepare to furthur your education. Take some classes to keep you abreast of the new trends in education . This can take the form of technology or techniques that will keep the students enthusiastic and wanting for more .

 

Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: More options
Topic: Look back at the year ?

The next step is to join all the national , state and local organizations to keep abreast of all the new trends . It is important to volunteer in both the school and community . You must advocate P.E. in any way you can.

Try an in-service at the start or end of the school year . It doesn't have to be a P.E. entry . Maybe it can be a technological presentation . In this way , the bond with the core subject teachers will show you are a real teacher , too.

Last month of school
Mood:  on fire
Now Playing: Hints and suggestions
Topic: Look back at the year ?

Make sure to retool , adjust and modify at the end of each school year . Dissect what worked , what didn't , and why ? The national standards should have been developed .