Themes :
Body awareness (body parts)
Body awareness (transfer of weight)
Sequences

Lesson :

After a warm-up working on various ways to transfer weight (walking being the easiest) have the class form stationary balances on one, two,three and four body parts touching the ground (one balance at each).
You can challenge the students in all ed. gym. lessons by asking them to
a) shrink the base of support, i.e., from foot to toes, from knee to side of knee, etc.
b) point the extremities, think of what your extra parts doing!
c) remind them a true balance is held for 3 seconds.
This allows for refining of all tasks from start to finish of the lesson.

The students then show a partner their four stationary balances and vise versa. I have the students then contact any one of their balances to a partner - it may the same number of parts or a different number, i.e., one partner has one part touching the ground the other has two (touching in some way - no standing on backs or other safety risks). The partners then work on transfering into the balance and transfering out of it. This presents a challenge to transfer at a level their balance is formed. I liken this small sequence to a sentence. You may want to have a Capital to start and a period to end which is analogous to a starting and ending position. So it is - a starting position, transfer into your contacted balance, transfer out and ending position. They have a lot of fun creating this sequence to show the class. This lesson can also make up several in that individuals do, 1, 2, 3, 4 body part stationary balances (with refinement) and then transfer into each one and out to the next. This can lead to a long sequence - i.e., starting position, transfer to 2 parts hold, transfer to 4 hold, transfer to 1 hold, transfer to 3 hold and transfer to an ending position. They can select the order and the balances they enjoy. These lessons create sequences, allow for various levels of abiltites and challenge, everyone is praised through teacher and classmates applause and it is fun. I have all students in bare feet and shorts and t-shirts for all ed. gym. lessons. We have a great deal of fun and we make performing to classmates a positive display of all the hard work you have put into your sequence.

Submitted by :

Dr. Tim Sawicki ( sawickit@loyola.canisius.edu )

Department of Physical Education Canisius College

Buffalo, New York, 14208 sawickit@loyola.canisius.edu

Back to Lessons Page

---

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page