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A Beautiful Day To Snowshoe

While we are officially starting snowshoeing and skiing next week in PE, our kindergarten class couldn't pass up this beautiful day to go out!  Students did a fantastic job on their first snowshoe adventure.  Here are a few pictures from our walk:

Snowmen in PE

This week in PE students in kindergarten, first and second grades participated in a snowman lesson.  We learned the game Fire and Ice Tag for a warm-up.  Then students listened to the story Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner.  After the story we had a snowman making relay and then ended with the game Snowball.  Hopefully we will soon have real snow for 
our snowman games!

Skiing in PE

It may not seem like it right now, but cross country skiing is just around the corner!  This week students are being fitted for ski boots so that we will be ready once the snow arrives.  To help make cross country skiing successful, we need parent volunteers.  Here is our weekly skiing/snowshoeing schedule:

Wednesday

Ferreira 8:55-9:40

Curry 12:30-1:15

Mayer 1:30-2:15

Thursday

Jones 8:55-9:40

Porter 9:45-10:30

Danis 10:35-11:20

Preschool 1:00-1:45

Please email me at Amanda.Cowan@cesuvt.org if you are able to help!!  This year we are so fortunate to have the Bill Koch League being run at UCS.  We will have beautifully groomed trails to enjoy all winter.  Now we just need snow🎿!

Third and Fourth Grade First Trimester Overview

Third and fourth grade students began the school year with a Cooperative Games and Team Building Unit.  Students worked together to exercise, solve challenges, and learn strategies for working as part of a team.  Students also learned how to use the Sportsmanship Checklist (playing fair, respecting others, accepting the outcome of the game) to self-assess their behavior during game play.  The checklist will be used throughout the year and social skills/expectations will be added to it each trimester.  Grades three and four then participated in the team sports of Soccer and Volleyball.  Students refined their skills and then applied them to a variety of small and large group modified games.  Students began to learn some of the basic rules of each sport as well as the game concepts of offense and defense.  As the trimester ends, students are completing the PACER running test, which is the first of six Fitnessgram tests they will complete throughout the year.

First and Second Grade First Trimester Overview

First and second grade students began the school year with a review of Space Concepts.  This includes moving in one’s self space as well as with others in the general space.  Other concepts include traveling with and without equipment in different levels, directions, pathways, all while varying force and speed.  Students applied the space concepts to a variety of cooperative and tag games.  Grades one and two have also completed units in Soccer and Volleyball.  Students learned the basic skills used to play the game and then refined their skills through individual, partner, and small group practice.  Throughout the trimester, we have also focused on the theme of Sportsmanship.  Every physical education lesson has been connected to a sportsmanship skill.  Students are learning to play fair, be respectful to other players and the ref (the teacher), and to accept the outcome of the game.  A sportsmanship checklist is used at the end of games for students to self-assess their social skills.

Kindergarten First Trimester Overview

Kindergarten students began the first trimester with a Space Concepts unit in PE.  Students explored and learned ways to move in their self space as well as together in the general space.  They also discovered ways to move themselves and equipment in different levels, directions, and pathways while changing both force and speed.  These concepts were then applied to our soccer unit and a ball unit.  Students also used their space concepts to work with peers and create the letters of the alphabet using their bodies.  This work was captured in photographs and will be made into an alphabet book along with letter art they are making with Mrs. Gomez.  Throughout the trimester we have been working on building our “Team of Movers”.  Students are learning how to interact with each other safely and respectfully.  They practice taking turns, encouraging teammates, and solving disagreements using kind words.  When our “Team” works together, we can all make moving and exercise fun!