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P.E. School Connectedness

FUN FITNESS FRIDAYS

In my elementary school, it was evident that students social skills and ability to make friends outside of their classroom had been negatively impacted by Covid-19. This led me to keep thinking about how I could get the different grades interacting in a safe manor. Being a P.E. major, I believe fun and exercise is one of the best ways to increase student's social ability. It is also a way for students who may be shy, to interact with others in a fun way. At my school, around 40% of our students are ELL Spanish. Gym class is an area these students can try and communicate with their fellow peers, as well as feel included in activities. Fun Fitness Friday was created to bring our school together. Whether it was through the games, the competition for the golden sneakers, or a fun break during the week with an extra gym class, students attitudes improved as they were introduced to a variety of activities.

Below are some of the highlights and pictures of each week, where I was able to grow school community in a fun and meaningful way.

Week 1

Steal The Gold

This week, students played a variation of capture the flag. The classes were split into two teams. Each group had to protect their beanbags or "gold" and steal the other teams gold. If they were tagged on the other teams half of the gym, they proceeded to go to jail. To be freed from jail, a student from their team had to save them. It was a fun way to get the kids sweating and working on their teamwork skills.

For the competition, I was looking for the class that showed me their best teamwork and sportsmanship skills.

Week 2

Olympic Mania

This week, in light of the Olympics happening, I set up three stations of different winter Olympic sports. The students rotated through variations of Ski Jump, Curling and Biathlon. Scooters for curling rocks, scarves for skis, can you jump and reach the farthest cone? This was a fun way to find out more about Olympic sports while being active and trying to beat our best scores.

For the competition, I was looking for classes that showed me their best effort in each of the sports.

Week 5

Ultimate Handball

This week students participated in a game of ultimate handball. The gym was split into three sections or courts. The classes were split into six teams. Each team had to work together to get the ball from one side of the court to their endzone on the other side, using their hands. When you have the ball you are not allowed to run with it, you are only allowed to pass or take two big steps. This game gave students a chance to work on their passing, getting open and defensive skills.

For the competition, I was looking for the class that showed me their best teamwork skills and made sure everyone was included in the game.

Week 3

100s Day Relay

This week we were celebrating the one hundredth day of school and therefore I set up a 100s Day relay race. The students were split into four teams. Each team raced to finish the surprise ten activities on the sheets of paper. Each activity had to be completed in sets of ten. I asked the classes why ten activities ten times? they all were awesome mathematicians and realized it equaled a total of 100 activities.

For the competition, I was looking for the class that showed me their best participation and cheered on their team.

Week 6

Flag Tag

This week students participated in a high speed tag game. This game was everyone for themselves! Each student received a flag football flag (gr. 3/4/5) or a pinny (gr. 1/2). The goal was to try and steal as many flags from the other classmates as possible. Those whose flags were stolen were not eliminated. They still had the chance to go and steal a flag back. The students who had the most flags by the end of the timer would win the round and the students would reset.

For the competition, I was looking for the class that showed me their best effort and participation. Let's just say there were a lot of sweaty faces after!

Week 4

Four Corner Dodgeball

This week, students played a variation of dodgeball. The classes were split into four teams. Each team had to try and hit other teams in each corner of the gym. If you were hit by a ball, you are now apart of the team that hit you. This leads to one team getting bigger and bigger until they conquer every team. It is a fun way for students to constantly be in movement and participation.

For the competition, I was looking for the class that showed me their best rule following and honesty.

Interested in doing Fun Fitness Fridays with your school?

CLick here to see the activity and games bank I used.
It's full of many resources!

Before Survey

To gain insight on the current situation of the school, I handed participating teachers a before survey to gather information about their students, classes, and the connectedness of our school.

What are your current opportunities for your students to connect with other students, and the school community? How has this impacted your current students?

"Really just at recess and after school, they miss doing things together as a school community and getting to help with younger kids/getting helped by older kids."

"Playground at recess, some students are able to play with neighbours outside of school."

"Extra-curricular activities have been cancelled, which has caused lots of disconnection between students."

"The students are socially immature because they are unable to make strong relationships."

Do you find it harder for students to create connections and relationships with other students during this period of Covid-19?

"Yes! I find that they are almost a year behind developmentally and social skills wise. Just really missed out on opportunities to develop those skills."

"Yes because they are cohorted into their small groups at recess, I don't think that the students even know kids from other grades."

"The students have received little to know time to connect with other students, even from the same grade, this impacts their relationships and ability to socialize."

What does your class need to work on the most?

"Not cheating whining and tattling."

"Not bossing others around, their sportsmanship skills are non-existant. They pout when they lose."

"Working together, taking turns, problem-solving without adult assistance, and communicating kindly."

"Focus, patience and compassion."

Are there any attitudes you see quite often during gym class?

"Bossiness, whining, cheating, pouting when losing."

"Listening, fair play with rules."

"Anger and frustration when the game does not go their way."

"Too competitive, they do not understand that it is just for fun, focuses only on winning and losing."

Golden Sneaker winners

Here is an insider view of the smiles for classes who won the golden sneaker.

After Survey

Have you seen any improvements in your students' attitude during gym class?

"Students are aware that they are being "watched" which helps them stay positive and pushing through! The external motivation really helps with elementary aged kids!"

"Students were showing better teamwork and sportsmanship skills by the end of the 4th or 5th week! I really noticed students catching each other during gym class saying "Remember how Ms. Ashleigh told us to be kind and how everyone has their own strengths and helps their team in the best way they can"."

Have you seen an improvement in students' abilities to create connections and relationships with other students?

"Students are now activirtly focusing on trying to make an effort and it helps them begin to do it regularly"

"Students were seen playing games with others during recess that they had not played with before. I believe that this was due to being put on a variety of teams during the Fitness Friday games!"

"Students have shown an improvement in social skills which then helps them improve and grow connections with other students and other grades during recess."

Did this competition improve our school community as a whole?

"Yes! Listening to the kids shout and celebrate when they win is so rewarding and each class is working hard towards those common goals."

"For sure! This gave you a chance to have some staff and grow students connections by chatting with teachers about their students and by giving them preps. It was also awesome for you to interact with all elementary grades and not just grade 2."

During my PS2, I learned from a teacher mentor that was extremely passionate about doing fitness games and activities with the whole school. I was amazed at the school community and the ability of these fun activity days to bring students together in a fun and interactive way. It was also a way to target behavioural attitudes you see quite often in gym class. I saw many improvements throughout the 8 weeks of activities. For example, students were including everyone, cheering on their teams, following the rules better, getting others to take responsibility when they are cheating and more.

When I started my PS3, I knew that this was something I wanted do with my grade 2s, especially because they were working on sportsmanship, teamwork, following the rules and social abilities in gym class. Having an extra gym class where I target different attitudes we want to improve would benefit them even more. This led me to think other teachers might be in the same boat and therefore maybe I should base, my project on this to impact our school connectedness.

I sent an email out to the other elementary teachers in my school, seeing if they would be interested in having me take their class to do thirty minutes a week with their students. I was lucky enough to have 5 teachers volunteer their classes. This was such a fun project and it allowed me to make connections with students outside of grade 2. I loved seeing the other students in the hall and conversing with them throughout the week.