3rd/4th Grade: Team Handball & Intro to Badminton Units!

Our 3rd and 4th grade students are in the middle of our first flip/flop unit. Our 3rd/4th grade students attend PE as a double class, meaning two classes come together. There are two PE teachers ready to teach when they arrive! We use both of our gyms, and split the classes into two groups. One class works with one of our PE teachers within our Team Handball unit and the other class works with the other PE teacher within our Intro to Badminton unit. After the students complete the unit, they flip/flop and switch units and PE teachers. We use this method for a variety of units as we move through the school year.

Below are some pictures of our Team Handball Unit. Within this unit students get to apply the skills of throwing and catching. It is the first time we ask students to think about moving to open space, and using space as a strategy. We discuss offense and defense.

Below are some pictures of our Into to Badminton unit. Students work on striking a shuttle with a modified racquet. This racquet, called a Racqualoon, allows for optimal success due to its design. Students work towards starting a rally using an underhand serve, and attempt to set a record as they rally with different partners over a badminton net!

Indoor Tennis

Our 5th - 8th grade students are currently participating within our indoor tennis unit. This unit begins with an introduction to basic striking skills using our indoor tennis racquets. We begin the unit with individual skill challenges that we call "ups", "downs", "flip/flops", and "rim". Students set individual records and attempt to break these records on a daily basis. Next, we introduce a great lead up activity called "rally ball". Rally ball is a game played on our indoor tennis courts, but is a combination of tennis and pickleball rules. We finish the unit with students using the regular rules to tennis, while playing doubles on our courts. The skill we assess within this unit is the forehand.

Sand Volleyball/Newcomb

Sand Volleyball/Newcomb is one of our first 5th-8th grade PE units offered this year. We are lucky enough to have four sand volleyball courts here at the school. What a great opportunity for our students! We design the unit to be a combination of both general volleyball rules and newcomb rules. Newcomb is a modified version of volleyball that follows many of the same rules, concepts, and strategies as general volleyball, however you are allowed to catch and throw the ball. We give students the choice, when the ball comes to them, to use a regular volleyball skill or to catch/throw. All students are asked to use an underhand serve to start any point within game play, as it is the assessed skill within this unit. Check out some action shots below!

5th - 8th Grade PE Warm-up!

On Tuesdays and Thursdays our 5th-8th grade PE students participate within our strength and balance warm-up. This warm-up was brought to our WCS PE teachers by two individuals who work for the University of Vermont. It was designed to improve strength and balance, through exercises that can be done without the need for specialized equipment or a specialized space. The number one piece of feedback we have received from our students is that they enjoy the fact that these exercises can be done anywhere, without any equipment! Take a look at the pictures below for a few examples.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back WCS students and families! Mrs. Kohlasch, Mrs. McClintock, and I (Mr. King) would like to welcome you back to a new school year. We are excited to welcome you into our new PE space, and know you will be amazed by what you see when you come down to PE for the first time.

We wanted to send you a few reminders!

5th-8th Grade PE - When you join us for your first 6-week rotation, please be ready with the following items.

• sneakers/shoes
• clothing, different from what you wear to school, that you will be comfortable moving in. 
• t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, shorts, athletic pants, extra socks, etc. 
• a locker (with lock) will be signed out to you as a place to store your clothes, shoes, extra socks, etc. 

3rd/4th Grade PE - When you join us for your twice a week PE class, please be ready with the following items.

• sneakers/shoes
• wear clothes to school that you will be comfortable moving in

3rd/4th Grade Exploratory PE - When you join me, Mr. King, for your 8-week exploratory PE rotation you will need the following items. Sometimes, your exploratory PE class will be scheduled on a day you do not regularly have PE. Something to keep in mind!

• sneakers/shoes
• wear clothes to school that you will be comfortable moving in 

We leave you with one final thought! Come with an open, positive attitude. Be willing to try new things, and learn the importance of being active as you grow into what we hope are people who enjoy lifelong recreation and activity.

"Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity." --- JFK

We look forward to seeing you!

Mr. King, Mrs. McClintock, & Mrs. Kohlasch

An Up and Coming Lifetime Activity - Disc Golf

A lifetime activity that continues to grow within the state of Vermont, Disc Golf provides our middle school students with the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors here in Vermont. The activity is very similar to the game of golf. The object for this lifetime activity is to throw your disc, and continue to throw from the point at which your disc stops on the ground, until your disc is thrown and caught by the chained basket at the end of the hole. We are lucky enough to have a 12-hole disc golf course right here at the school. Students work towards making a backhand and forehand throw with a mature pattern. Next, we discuss proper disc golf etiquette and respecting others on the course. We apply these two learned skills as students play through our 12-hole disc golf course. A great way to spend a few days outside in the fall here in Vermont.

A Brand New Activity for our Middle School Students - Tchoukball

We have a brand new activity for our middle school students this year. The game is called Tchoukball. Can you take a guess at the pronunciation? The game is named after the noise that is made when the ball bounces off the net. We play this game with small sided teams to be sure there are more opportunities to catch and pass. The students work towards a mature pattern when they catch the ball. Our other goal is for students to work towards making the appropriate pass within the game based upon the movement concepts they are using. The goal of the game is to score a point by passing the ball to teammates, move across the court, and throw the ball off of the net. If the ball rebounds off the net and lands on the floor within the boundaries, your team has scored a point. If the opposing team can catch the ball before it hits the floor, the gameplay continues. An interesting aspect of this game is a lack of guarding or defense. It is not allowed. It is a self refereed game as well.