EXPECTATIONS & GRADING
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For a breakdown of how students are assessed in PE at HMS, please click the link the left to view the opening day powerpoint shown to all students. If there are any questions, please click here to visit the contact me page.
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Physical education units
fitness fridays
Each and every Friday students are reminded that exercise doesn't have to be work. Too often students associate fitness with negativity and use word like pain, sweaty and sore to describe their definition of fitness, thus making them disinterested in exercise. Fitness Fridays takes that negativity and flips it on its head offering students a different perspective on fitness: FUN! Borrowing activities from fitness centers around the country, students experience ways to get fit, while also laughing and having fun. Sports training circuits, cardio kickball, drum fit and quidditch are just some examples of how we blend fitness with fun. Cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle endurance, flexibility and strength are the main concepts students learn about in this unit which lasts the entire quarter.
teamwork & cooperative games
An introductory week dedicated to promoting respect and empathy . Students participate in a variety of ice breaker activities as they explore what it means to show respect, but also expect it when interacting with peers. We discuss the term empathy and how it relates to our class goals of creating a safe and enjoyable learning experience for all regardless of differences among students. Similar to the first few days of a summer camp, activities are paired with discussion and reflection to show students exactly what is expected of them throughout the PE curriculum and how to best succeed in achieving their goals both in and out of PE class.
dynamic games
A week focused on teaching the basic fundamentals of team-centered strategic concepts of gameplay. Unlike team sports, dynamic games offer opportunities for students to participate in sport-like games, but without prior experience thus increasing equality on the court. Wacky rules, progressive modifications and team balancing strategies ensure that all students are playing these games with little prior experience to maximize participation and health gains. It is during this week when sportsmanship and strategic collaboration are first introduced to our students. Concepts like offense vs. defense, invasion tactics and taking open space are taught to all age levels with progressive expectations to ensure all students are learning how dynamic games can offer fitness gains, but also social and mental health gains as well.
project adventure
Project Adventure is a week of strategic planning and implementation. Our students love a break from the games when they get to have a simulated adventure each day of this one week unit. Unlike sports and games, this unit provides students controlled amounts of stress and aims to develop their problem-solving skills, communication methods and conflict resolution strategies. Figuring out how to solve each puzzle with a group of their peers creates just the right amount of anxiety and frustration to provide our students the teachable moments and character development opportunities they need. It is this week when students review the three types of communication, how to provide constructive criticism and how to manage one's emotions as they work their way toward each objective each day of this one week unit.
team sports
This two week unit is a review of the classics. Sports vary from quarter to quarter, but are usually selected from floor hockey, flag football, basketball, baseball and soccer. Four sports are chosen to make up our extended unit offering a day of skill building and gameplay for each sport. Students review the basic rules and components of each sport, receive skill instruction and are then given an entire class period just to play. Through traditional team sports, students experience a faster style of gameplay with a broad spectrum of individual skill which provides opportunities to foster leadership and cooperation.
rhythmic movements
To appeal to our music lovers and disco stars, this unit offers students an opportunity to explore the relationship between music and fitness. Running with iPods, taking a Zumba class or jamming to rock n' roll while lifting weights, music has always been a part of fitness and always will. Not only is music used to motivate when exercising, but recently music has actually become the cadence for the exercise itself. Students learn to define and identify rhythm and complete a collaborative group project which has them creating their very own choreography to music. Students create unique movements and pair them with a rhythm of choice to create a dance that represents their interests and personality. Finally, Fitness Friday this week is always Drum Fit, the fitness trend sweeping the nation which pairs high intensity exercise with drumming! Click here to learn more.
individual sports
Finally, during the last weeks of the quarter, students spend their last PE classes learning the basics of individual sport. Discussion topics include motivating factors, leisure and social health as students explore the value of enjoying sports without teammates. Similar to team sports units, students receive skill instruction and a brief education on the rules and strategies of gameplay and are then given an entire class period to just go and play. To promote student-driven outcomes, students can choose the level of which they wish to participate and the game style. Options include recreational or competitive levels and formats vary from 1 on 1, 2 vs 2 and at times even 3 person teams depending on the sport. It is through individual sport that students begin to understand the value of goal setting, skill acquisition and achievement in reference to their fitness.