Obstacle Courses

This week was focused on our fourth and final obstacle course. This last course included many different skills for the students to practice:

• Running and jumping onto an oversized bean bag
• Crawling through a tunnel
• Scooter through a cone maze
• Crawl over various sized tires
• Walk/run through a tunnel
• Leap/jump between hula hoops
• Step on top of stepping stones

Many of the students were eager to try the obstacle course this week. In each class, students were helping each other out, cheering each other on, and giving high fives to one another.  In Mrs. Kelly’s class all students learned how to time each other and were able to time a peer independently.  In Mrs. Plow’s class students were giving a helping hand with balancing and scooter directions.  In Mrs. I’s class students were patient while taking turns running and jumping on the bean bag.  In Mrs. Kilt’s class students were role models to each other with proper behaviors and skills.

Come back and visit before Thanksgiving break. The students will be challenged with days of the week, names of body parts, a physical education skill, school rules, and healthy foods all in one activity! 

Keep Moving, 

Miss Shirey 

Ringette

This week the Pathfinder students played a game that incorporates the school’s theme of the month, Native American literature and history. The game is called “Ringette.”

Historically, Ringette was played on a large dirt field with a large post on each side of the field.  Each of the players carried a straight stick usually about three or four feet in length.  The “ring” could be one of several thing, but was typically a branch bent into a hoop with a diameter of about 10 to 12 inches.  The hoop was then be wrapped with animal skin.  The result was a disc with a large opening in the middle.

Using their sticks, each team worked together to bring the ring across the field and score a goal by hitting the ring against the other team’s pole.  For our games at Pathinder held in the gymnasium, each athlete used a floor hockey stick to move a Yolf disc to other team’s post – we used an oversized garbage pail, which worked well.  The students were enthusiastic about the game and tried their best. Mrs. Kelly’s and Mrs. Plow’s class played games competitively.  The younger students in Mrs. Kilts’ and Mrs. I’s classes learned different skills, like pushing the ring at different speeds, moving in different directions, and defensive moves.

            During the rest of the week, we revisited obstacle courses that focused on balance.  Students had to:

•          walk across a foam balance beam,
•          go under and over benches,
•          walk across six tires of different sizes and nine stepping stones,
•          climb up and down stairs,
•          jump from spot to spot,
•          jump on a small trampoline, and
•       walk backwards through a maze of cones

I loved watching the students excel at different parts of the obstacle course and to work through their challenges.And, I think it is even better to see the students continually enjoy themselves in physical education!

Keep In Touch,

Miss Shirey 

Physical Activity Calendar

Congratulations to Rebekah, Keona and Genieve for turning in their October Physical Activity Calendars. These students got to choose a softball, basketball, and a soccer ball or football sweat arm band!  Look below for the November Physical Activity Calendar.  Complete 3 of the activities a week (have an adult sign the day) and bring it in the first of December to earn a P.E. prize!

***Remember to do at least 3 activities a week. Try to do the activities on the calendar. Have an adult sign the days you were active! If you have done 3 activities a week bring in the calendar for P.E. reward at the end of the month!					1. Play Man Hunt/ Flash Light Tag inside or outside at dusk!	2. Corn Maze (if it’s not snowing!)
3. Sneaker jumping contest – put on your favorite shoes and see if you can jump more than a friend	4. Get at least 8 hours of sleep	5. Put on a dance show	6. Practice tying your shoes	7.If you have a Wii, play “Lets Dance” or any sport game	8. While watching TV stand up during commercials and stretch!	9. Glow in the dark mini golf! (many malls have this as an option now!)
10. Go to a Home-Depot kids workshop	11. Veterans Day . Color a flag at home with your friends	12. Drink 1 glass of water or more throughout the day!	13. play a board game	14. Try a headstand. Make sure someone helps you.	15 Crab walk and/or bear walk race with a friend	16 Go Bowling

17.  National “Take a Hike” Day. Go on a nature trail or take a walk in your own back yard!	18. Got a balloon? Play volleyball in your living room!	19 Play a tag game…the students loving playing this game in school!	20. Play with your favorite toy and write/draw it in this box/backside of sheet	21. Have a yo-yo contest	22. Make paper air planes and fly them around your house.	23. One part of being healthy is helping others! Take canned food to a local pantry.
24. If it’s warm out help wash the car Keep Active, Miss Shirey	25. Put on the Hokey-Pokey and show everybody what it is all about!	26. Play “Rock, Paper, Scissors…Shoot”	27. Draw or find pictures of veggies and make a vegetable person	28. Make a list of at least 10 things that you are thankful for (words or pictures) and attach to this calendar!	29.Tin can Stilts – empty tin cans with yarn tied long enough to reach your students hands – this is a great activity for balance at home!

Obstacle Courses & Swimming

             Last week, we started our Obstacle Course unit, which provided the Pathfinder School students with many physical and thinking challenges.  The students needed to keep their balance as they encountered different levels of stepping stones and maneuver over benches.  They used their leg strength to get from one area to another, and hand-eye coordination to move a hula hoop. Students also used loco-motor skills, such as jumping over jump ropes, leaping through hula hoops, and running through different parts of the course.

Obstacle courses are great because students get to use their imaginations and be creative as they encounter course elements. Some students like to go forwards, backwards, sideways, and lie on their stomachs while using the scooters.  Some students chose to hop through the hula hoops instead of leaping. Other students challenged themselves by skipping a stepping stone/hula hoop. Keep checking back for future obstacle course videos or pictures! 

            Every week we the students go swimming and bowling at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown – our students love going there and we’re thankful to Excellus BlueCross Blue Shield for underwriting these fitness opportunities!  Some students are working on diving, floating skills, the front  crawl, using kick boards, and completing laps in the pool. Some of our favorite games are “Splish, Splish, Splash,” aerobic work outs, tag, obstacle courses, and making big kicks during our warm-ups to create a big SPLASH. In bowling,students are learning to carry the bowling ball by themselves, to push the ball down the lane, and are starting to develop proper bowling form.

"Just keep swimming" 

 - Miss Shirey 

Spooky Scary Halloween Spirit

This week Pathfinder School had some very special events happen, and this carried through in the students’ Adaptive Physical Education classes.  Our football throwing and catching unit has ended, and for the next couple of weeks the students will work their way through various obstacle courses and may even create an obstacle course of their own design.  We also included some Halloween activities in our APE classes this week.

One of our throwing activities that the students really enjoy is called “Caboose.” A giant box is placed on top of a floor scooter and is pulled by a rope. The teacher starts off as the engine pulling the caboose; if the students have met class goals and exhibited sportsmanship,they get turns at being the train.  As the caboose is pulled along, all the students stand at half court (on a basketball court) and throw as many balls as they can (yarn-, foot-, soccer- and tennis balls) into the caboose before the timer runs out and the train needs to get more fuel. 

 Our older students in Mrs. Kelly’s class have been playing flag football games when they come to Adaptive PE. When a student scores, each loves to do his own special dance and yell “TOUCHDOWN!” Playing this game really has been a highlight for me as a teacher. It’s amazing to see how students’ skills improve and they often surprise me with what they can accomplish.  Some students can spiral throw, others can step with their opposite foot without any prompts, and some can catch a ball at 50-foot distances.  At times, students may get confused about the game rules, but their peers are supportive in reminding them of what to do --when to hike the ball, which way to run, and when to pull a flag off an opponent’s belt.

Each Wednesday, our teaching staff takes turns developing programs for our weekly special. This week was my turn to host the Wednesday special, and of course I focused on a Halloween theme. JI set up six stations that all the students rotated through as spooky music played: coloring, costumes&dress up, pin-the- nose on the pumpkin, “Scary Spider Toss,”and the limbo.  The final station,“Trick-or-Treat”offered each student coloring sheets of candy, pumpkins and bats with activities on the back. I am pretty sure that the costumes station was the students’ favorite.

Until next time, keep active!

Miss Shirey