The Ann Arbor Public Schools physical education program is a developmentally appropriate and sequential one. Best practice and regular formative and summative assessments are used to plan lessons and activities that build upon the previous year’s achievements. While the goal is for every child to meet grade level objectives, the focus is on consistent improvement from the level a child begins.
Kindergartners, first and second graders spend a good deal of time learning about personal and general space and how to move safely and effectively in the gym. This allows us to build a good foundation for simple low organization games all the way up to more complex activities. We explore many pieces of equipment, including balls of different sizes and weights, balloons, paddles, bean bags, jump ropes, and gymnastic apparatuses. We work on locomotor patterns - running, skipping, hopping, galloping, jumping, sideways sliding, leaping - and how they can be used to move from one place to another. Children also are introduced to basic health-related fitness concepts such as what their pulse is, how to find it, and how it relates to exercise. Additionally, we play lead-up and modified games that serve as an introduction to team sports such as soccer, basketball, and baseball.
Third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and now seventh graders are involved in more sophisticated activities that require increased cooperation, increased focus of collaboration and problem-solving, smaller boundaries, and more rules. We also look for more smoothly integrated, mature movement patterns. Fitness concepts are expanded upon and students learn more about cardio-respiratory endurance and its connection to one’s overall health; individual goal setting is a an important component of fitness development. Having a voice in what they do in PE is important to students; it typically leads to increased engagement, enjoyment, and ownership.
An added focus of PE at A2 STEAM is subject integration. It is exciting to see students gain an understanding of how math, science and engineering are all part of PE! Additionally, the one-to-one iPad component of STEAM allows us to add a technology piece into PE. Older students have used iPads to read QR codes, create mind-maps to illustrate the connections between PE (the physical arts), science, technology, engineering, and math, calculate target heart rate, and create design ideas for the new gym.
Kindergartners, first and second graders spend a good deal of time learning about personal and general space and how to move safely and effectively in the gym. This allows us to build a good foundation for simple low organization games all the way up to more complex activities. We explore many pieces of equipment, including balls of different sizes and weights, balloons, paddles, bean bags, jump ropes, and gymnastic apparatuses. We work on locomotor patterns - running, skipping, hopping, galloping, jumping, sideways sliding, leaping - and how they can be used to move from one place to another. Children also are introduced to basic health-related fitness concepts such as what their pulse is, how to find it, and how it relates to exercise. Additionally, we play lead-up and modified games that serve as an introduction to team sports such as soccer, basketball, and baseball.
Third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and now seventh graders are involved in more sophisticated activities that require increased cooperation, increased focus of collaboration and problem-solving, smaller boundaries, and more rules. We also look for more smoothly integrated, mature movement patterns. Fitness concepts are expanded upon and students learn more about cardio-respiratory endurance and its connection to one’s overall health; individual goal setting is a an important component of fitness development. Having a voice in what they do in PE is important to students; it typically leads to increased engagement, enjoyment, and ownership.
An added focus of PE at A2 STEAM is subject integration. It is exciting to see students gain an understanding of how math, science and engineering are all part of PE! Additionally, the one-to-one iPad component of STEAM allows us to add a technology piece into PE. Older students have used iPads to read QR codes, create mind-maps to illustrate the connections between PE (the physical arts), science, technology, engineering, and math, calculate target heart rate, and create design ideas for the new gym.