Summer Activities Outside in Nature

Summer is here and a great time to keep learning about nature and exploring outside!!!

Here is a link to 8 environmental organizations offering hundreds of activity ideas:

https://www.nrcm.org/blog/kids-nature-activities-distance-learning-maine/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=512539e6-48ec-4750-8f4e-d12bb07aff63

Here are some examples of what they offer:

Nature Nuggets-short videos to guide you on ecological adventures.

Sit Spots, Sound Maps, Nature Walks and more from ME Environmental Education Nature Connections

Wolfe's Neck Center with tons of resources and activities.

EcoMaine and Recycling virtual tours.

Chewonki offering over 60 fantastic short video lessons, my favorites being the bird song segments and using binoculars.

Great job staying active and outside this past spring and hope you have a fun, safe summer!!  Remember to review the summer safety links from my last blog.

Summer Safety

Hi everyone! This week we will go back to some of our basic warm-ups:

Remember to keep active and try these activities on your PE day and challenge yourself to do it 2 or more days. 

 

Magic number is 17  this week. 

Warm-up:(Perform 17 of each or hold for 17 seconds)
Plank
Crab Kicks
Push-ups(wall or floor)
Jumping Jacks
Tree Pose
Crescent Pose(my favorite)
Can you do it 2x?

Jump Rope(If you don't have one try a piece of rope or mark a line on the floor to jump over-back and forth and sideways.  Try the 2 feet together jump.)
       *How many can you do in one minute?

Locomotor Skills:(Try these outside, in your garage, in a safe space where objects are moved aside)
Side SlideMarchingJoggingGallopingSkippingTip ToeHeel Walk

As SUMMER is fast approaching I want to talk about Summer Safety.  Since we will be outside ALOT biking, swimming, hiking, fishing and just playing in your backyard, keep in mind how to stay SAFE and have FUN!

Follow these guidelines to stay SAFE this summer:

* Always let an adult know what, when and where you will be playing.

*Always play with a partner if possible.

*Stay safe by following these suggested guidelines:

BIKE SAFETY: https://www.bikemaine.org/education/biking-basics/

WATER/SWIM SAFETY: https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/water-safety.html

TICK SAFETY: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/gotpests/bugs/factsheets/Maine-Home-Garden-News-July-2010-Tick-article.pdf

DEHYDRATION/HEAT EXHAUSTION:https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/symptoms-causes/syc-20354086

GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY!!!

IT'S GREEN OUTSIDE!

Take a look outside and you see green!  It is definitely Spring which means we will be spending a lot more time outdoors playing and exploring.

Last week we played Hopscotch.  I hope everyone had a chance to make their own hopscotch and maybe even challenged a family member to a game!  Some other activities we could play are frisbee and frisbee golf, jump rope, have a catch using a ball or a rolled up sock, kickball, tag games, hide and seek, four-square or two-square, riding your bike and this week I want to challenge you to creating your own Obstacle Course!

To set up an obstacle course in your backyard, look around at your space and get creative with what you have available to make it fun and challenging. Use  stones or an old 2x4 to create a balance beam, mark a pathway to run,  jump or crawl, set up a bucket to throw objects in.  Have a jump rope? Perform a magic number of jumps, run around, over and under objects.  Even perform yoga poses, locomotor movements or exercises such as jumping jacks and crab kicks.

Use your imagination and create your own Obstacle Course!

If you don't have an outdoor space, you can still turn a playroom, garage, basement, or even your kid's bedroom into an obstacle course. Set up different stations like pillows for them to jump over, a row of chairs for them to crawl under, or a line made from painter's tape on the floor for them to walk or run on while balancing a beanbag on your head.

Here are some links for ideas on both an indoor obstacle course and an outdoor obstacle course:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7V_uKNvxvk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS0v8uyR8CU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfB1nhHcy2A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NkJxXtGuAI

Please send me pictures of your obstacle course!!!

mmccauley@rsu1.org

Set up an obstacle course in the backyard. Get creative with what you have available to make it fun and challenging. Use garden stones or an old 2x4 to create a balance beam, mark a pathway for them to run or ride their bike on, set up a big bucket for them to throw a ball in.

If you don't have an outdoor space, you can still turn a playroom, garage, basement, or even your kid's bedroom into an obstacle course. Set up different stations like pillows for them to jump over, a row of chairs for them to crawl under, or a line made from painter's tape on the floor for them to walk or run on while balancing a beanbag on your head.

Spring Outdoor Activities

Now that you are spending more time outside since the days are longer,  think of all the different games you can play.  Try and name as many as you can.  I can think of a few examples: Frisbee, Badminton, Hopscotch, Four-Square, Kickball...

It definitely feels like Spring!  Warmer weather, more sunlight, it makes me want to be outside.  This week we are focusing on an outdoor game that you can play by yourself or with a partner.

Our game is Hopscotch:

Hopscotch helps children to manage body rhythm, which is the core of numerous other skills. Movements involved build body strength, balance, eye/hand coordination and more. 

To begin you will need to make a hopscotch court.  You can do this with chalk, tape or a stick to etch it in the dirt.  I prefer to make 10 squares(and you can use the number 10 area as a "rest").  You will also need an object to toss, such as a stone. 

There are various ways to make a hopscotch court,  just use your imagination or stick with the basic style. 

View the following links to see how to make one and how to play.

https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Hopscotch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ikg9qnWrDU

Challenge members of your family to a game!!!

Yoga and Fitness Monopoly

This week we will focus on Yoga as a warm-up and a Fitness Activity similar to monopoly.  Have your family join in and once you have tried the activities see if you can create your own monopoly fitness game! 

Yoga for PreK-2nd Grade:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXdIsoV737s

Yoga for Grades 3-5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A47zwWsjXgs

Here is the monopoly fitness activity:

Enjoy your week and remember to get OUTSIDE to explore nature and play!

Also-check out my newest slideshow about half-way through Spring:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VsBSmCI0y4

Has Spring Sprung?

Has Spring Sprung?

What have you noticed when being outside?  Have you seen signs of spring?  What about hearing or smelling signs of spring?  This week's lesson will be all about getting outside and finding signs of spring by using your senses(see, hear, smell).

Open up this link for an OUTDOOR SCAVENGER HUNT:

https://teachingmama.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SPRING-SCAVENGER-HUNT.jpg

Can you find all the signs of spring on the 2 sheets?  Can you find additional signs?  What are they?  Leave me your comments at the bottom comment section.

Don't forget to check out the video on outdoor activities from my last post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmPhdusG6Xk 

GET OUTSIDE, HAVE FUN, BE ACTIVE AND BE SAFE!

What's your favorite outdoor activity?

Check out this video on various outdoor activities!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmPhdusG6Xk

Let me know what you think.

FAMILY FITNESS FUN!

FAMILY FITNESS FUN!!!

This week we are focusing on performing various exercises to music.  In the link provided there are 14 different videos that you can choose from.  I encourage you to start with Double Time Recess and have your family join with you.This is the shortest workout at 12-13 minutes.  Next you can challenge yourself and family members to one of the longer ones. Add comments or send me pics of you performing these fun and challenging videos. Let me know which are your favorites.  mmccauley@rsu1.org

https://vimeo.com/showcase/6880106?page=1

Remember to get outside for some fresh air and exploration of early spring signs.  Can you find new buds on trees?

Creative Outdoor Activity

CALLING ALL IMAGINATIONS!!! 

 

This week for PE we will be using the GREAT OUTDOORS as our classroom.

For this week's class you will need to use your creativity and imagination to construct a small home or shelter(sometimes referred to as a Fairy House).

The guidelines are that you must use natural materials such as sticks, bark, pine cones etc...try to use dead materials and not take things from living plants.

You want to choose a good location that is safe and you must have permission to use that area.  Your own backyard or woods would be perfect. (Tick check)

You can make them any size and they must be able to house a fairy, frog or small creature.

Here is a link to an article that describes making Fairy Houses that may give you more guidance.

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/03/29/act-out/how-to-build-a-fairy-house/

If you would like to take a picture of your finished product please send them to me and I will post them on this blog.  mmccauley@rsu1.org

LET'S USE OUR IMAGINATION AND GET BUILDING!

Here is our first picture of a finished Fairy House by Jace!

Nice job Sam!!  I love the swimming pool!

Jace upgraded his house!!

Fabulous work

Ayla!!

Great brother/sister teamwork !

1. 
   

Fitness Activities and Catching

Hi everyone! 

Remember to keep active and try these activities on your PE day and challenge yourself to do it 2 or more days.  

Magic number is 15  this week. 

Warm-up:(Perform 15 of each or hold for 15 seconds)

Plank

Crab Kicks

Push-ups(wall or floor)

Jumping Jacks

Tree Pose

Crescent Pose(my favorite)

Can you do it 2x?

Jump Rope(If you don't have one try a piece of rope or mark a line on the floor to jump over-back and forth and sideways.  Try the 2 feet together jump.)

       *How many can you do in one minute?

Locomotor Skills:(Try these outside, in your garage, in a safe space where objects are moved aside)

Side Slide
Marching
Jogging
Galloping
Skipping
Tip Toe
Heel Walk

Catching Activity:

Catching Lesson: To yourself then with a partner.
-Using rolled up sock, stress ball, tennis ball, squishy, football, etc.-

 

-reach for ball
-hands the size of the ball (thumbs together=chest level or higher / pinkies together=below chest) -track ball into hands
-squeeze ball and absorb force at contact (bend elbows during catch)
Warm-Up: “Magic Club” (self-throw and catch)

1. 1)  Dominant toss, above where hands can reach, catch (10x)
2. 2)  Non-dominant toss, above where hands can reach, catch (10x)
3. 3)  Toss, 3 claps, catch (10x)
4. 4)  Toss, head-shoulders-knees-toes, catch (10x)
   
   Now try with a partner!
   
   Have fun and don't forget to check out the Outdoor Classroom page with Links to activities under the Link page. https://sites.google.com/rsu1.org/pesoutdoorclassroom/home

Yoga Outside

Great examples of the tree pose

Way to show everyone your yoga skills Sloan and Grady!

Bonus for being outside!

Outdoor Classroom Discoveries

Links to Phippsburg Trail Maps and More

I will be adding to this list each week.



Here are some links for activities to do as a family outside:

https://phippsburglandtrust.org/visit-the-land/

https://bangordailynews.com/2020/03/18/act-out/6-educational-outdoor-family-activities-to-try-during-the-pandemic/?mc_cid=1f16ac697d&mc_eid=de23b37d9e&fbclid=IwAR1YD0daGiZSrl4uvo1bCFacYPR9uJO9RAKYn5rDRzzb9APJeBkbVlunA00

https://creamaine.org/sequester-at-home-with-crea/

Warm-ups and Playing Outside

Happy Wednesday!  I hope you were able to get outside and play in the snow!  It's been a long time since we saw the white stuff : )

Try and start the day with some stretching and small exercises that we have done in PE.  Remember the magic number?  This week it is 10.  Can you do 10 of each of these:

Jumping Jacks
Push-ups(wall or floor)
Crab Kicks
Tree Pose(hold on each side)

Can you do all of these 2X?

Now find some space, outside or in an area where you can move without bumping into things : )
Can you perform these locomotor skills:

Side Slide
Marching
Jogging
Galloping
Skipping
Tip Toe
Heel Walk

Great!  Now check your heart.  Is it beating fast?  Nice job!  Now walk around to cool down and enjoy the fresh air if you can get outside.  Your driveway or just around your house can be a safe place to do these.

Suggestions for things to do outside:

Go for a walk or hike(with an adult)
Ride your bike
Shoot some hoops
Jump Rope
Play tag with your dog or brother/sister/mom/dad

Enjoy your day/week!  Look at my previous blog below for yoga videos, they are a lot of fun!

Physical Education

Hi everyone!  Let's try and stay active during this break in our school year.  Remember to get outside and PLAY if you can.  I have some suggestions for activities in the links below but getting outside and playing and exploring will keep you active.  The 5-2-1-0 guidelines suggest 1 hour of physical activity a day, why not try 2 or more hours total of being physically active?

Some simple activities to do can be what we have done in PE classes in our warm-up and cool-down.
Locomotor movements(skip, gallop, side slide, march, jog etc...), jumping jacks, push-ups, jump rope, and yoga poses.

Yoga links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8QWtCzurkM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A47zwWsjXgs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A47zwWsjXgs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at0PHzBDqyY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXdIsoV737s



Other exercise options:


https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1_ph3YQchYCwDb_eGLzOCIy0BrMbQ4T1r

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMVEAJpeqSk&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtVbyXz4sio&feature=youtu.be