January

SPEDS YOGIS

I am guessing some of you may have heard about the Yoga we have been doing in P.E. throughout the year. After we have returned from winter break, I have tried to incorporate it into each of the grade levels at least once a week in a way that is age appropriate--whether it is Yoga tag, partner Yoga, or going on a Yoga adventure (basically using our body to tell a story through movement), it has been a wonderful way to see students find peace and strength while still moving around! While not unlike adult Yoga, yoga with kids still incorporates strength and a calm state, but involves much more movement catering to the wiggly bodies, imagination, creativity, and still emphasizing something I am big on--teamwork! It is a joy to see my students connecting with their body in a way that does not come out in other gross motor or game learning practice.

Here are some pictures of Kindergarten doing partner Yoga poses:

ELEVATOR 

DOUBLE BOAT

LIZARD ON A ROCK

DOUBLE PRETZEL

OPEN HEART

DOUBLE DOG

Here is a picture of 3rd grade doing a Double Double Dog during a station day:

CASTLE BALL

In 2nd through 4th Grade this January we have been playing a game called Castle Ball.  A cousin of Dodge Ball, Castle Ball eliminates the element of throwing balls at each other, and puts the focus on throwing, rolling, catching, problem solving and guarding skills--but it proves to be equally exciting, if not more!  
Castle Ball is a cooperative game that is most successful when each team figures out their role, and how to support each other's skills--we all have different levels of skill. First, each team works together to figure out how to build the castle out of six hoola hoops. I show them once, and it takes them a few times, but the more they build it, the faster they get. At all time during the game, one person can guard the castles, and one person can guard the jail. The rest of the team works together to knock the other teams castle over, catching balls from the other team to get those members out (sending them to jail on the other side) and in turn rescuing their own teammates from jail. It is fast moving, full of strategy and moments to practice their ball skills, patience, and communication. 

It was a joy to watch the progression as classes figured out that they would not win if they did not work together--the teams must help each other guard and then rebuild castles, save each other from jail, and hand off balls to people that had a good shot. But even more so, after playing a few times, cooperation seemed effortless, and equal excitement came from knocking down a castle as it did when they rescued their teammates from jail. 

Here are some pictures of 2nd Grade playing Castle Ball: