I had a wonderful chance of being able to teach 3rd graders for 2 weeks. As I mentioned before, the PE programs for middle schools is a lot different than the one in America. Most of the students I dealt with only did physical activity in extracurricular activities, like swimming or soccer. I didn´t do as much of gymnastics as I wanted, in order to feel more secure with myself, and avoiding some of the kids to get injured since only a couple students practiced gymnastic outside of the school. Overall was a great experience, and working with kids was a rewarding experience that I would like to repeat. Some of the videos are posted below, so you can take a closer look and better understanding of the activities I did with them.

Note: The videos posted, are the ones that i could get with better quality to present. Dr. Sather asked me if i had permission to post these videos to everyone and what i did before i started teaching, i wrote a letter and each student took it home to let parents know what i was going to be doing with them, and the purpose of these lessons plans. All my students brought back the paper signed by their parents, consenting that i would record some of my lesson plans in order to present the videos to my classmates as well to the University purposes. Also, i apologize that you will probably not understand the language, obviously, because for those of you that don´t know, i´m teaching in Portugal (home country), at a middle school where i attended back in the days. The lesson plans and the games i did with the kids, were designed the way they were due to the equipment that was available at the school, that wasn´t very helpful. Anyway, you will be able to take a better look at it in the videos.

Instructor: Tiago Valente         

Grade Level: 3rd Grade

School Name: Escola Primária do Monte Abraão

Date: February 23, 2010 through March 5, 2010

Equipment: Sponge Balls, Circles, Ropes, Padded Mats, Balls, Wood Bench

Objectives: General conditioning warm-up exercises developing endurance, and practice of locomotor skills; Reinforce concepts of personal and general space; Practice basic gymnastics skills; Learn and Practice Body Control, coordination, and tightness;

Warm Up: Stuck in the Mudd

Teaching Cues: Be careful when tagging someone; Don´t be aggressive and be aware of your surroundings

                       Time: 5 Minutes 

Stretching exercises: 3-4 Minutes

• Shoulders (Side and Shoulder Stretches)
• Modified Hurdle and Hip Stretch
• Straddle Stretch
• Chin-to-chest, Ear-to-Shoulder Stretch

Skill-Development Activity: Games/Gymnastics

Gymnastics circuit and games

Sponge Ball Tag

Using one sponge ball students must tag others in order for them to be eliminated. The lasting 3 students win the game.

Gymnastics Circuit

As seen in the video, I used some of the material available to create a simple gymnastics circuit.

Wheelbarrow

Students must hold on to their partner’s ankles in order to support them, while they use their arms to carry their bodies along the padded mats. (Video)

Rope Competition

As demonstrated on the video, class was divided into 2 groups and each group had to try to push them other in order for them to reach the midline. (Video)

Circles

Students must run around the circles, and the instructor must take a couple pieces each time, and when the instructor claps his hands students must run inside the circles as fast as they can. (Video)

Jump the Sock

Divide class into groups of 8 to 10 students. Each group forms a circle standing arms ´length apart, with one student or instructor in the middle holding one end of the rope. The person in the middle designates the jump to be used then begins to turn in place, swinging the rope in a circle along the floor. Students use the designated jump to jump over the sock as the end of the rope passes under them.

Games

A couple different games are shown in the videos.

Teaching Cues: Work Together

                         Be Careful

Time: 25 minutes each sesson

VIDEOS

Warm up Tag -           http://pevideo.org/node/936

Games -                     http://pevideo.org/teaching-skills-beta/teaching-games

Gymnastics/Circuit -     http://pevideo.org/node/938

Teaching Kids -           http://pevideo.org/node/940

Jump The Sock -         http://pevideo.org/node/941

Rope Competition -      http://pevideo.org/node/942

Circles -                     http://pevideo.org/node/943

Sponge Tag -             http://pevideo.org/node/944

Wheelbarrow -           http://pevideo.org/node/945