Innovative PE Homework Ideas: Boosting Student Fitness and Engagement

How can PE homework enhance student fitness. What are effective strategies for implementing PE assignments. How can teachers motivate students to complete optional PE tasks. What are the benefits of PE homework for students’ overall health and wellness.

The Importance of Physical Education Homework

Physical education (PE) homework has traditionally been an underutilized tool in promoting student fitness and health. However, as schools face increasing pressure to improve academic performance while also addressing rising childhood obesity rates, innovative PE teachers are exploring ways to extend learning beyond the gym. Well-designed PE homework can reinforce key concepts, encourage regular physical activity, and foster lifelong healthy habits.

Benefits of PE Homework

• Increased physical activity levels outside of school
• Reinforcement of skills and concepts learned in class
• Development of self-motivation and time management skills
• Opportunity for family engagement in fitness activities
• Cultivation of lifelong healthy habits

While some may question the need for additional assignments in an already busy student schedule, research suggests that well-implemented PE homework can yield significant benefits without overburdening students.

Effective Strategies for Implementing PE Homework

Implementing successful PE homework requires careful planning and consideration. Teachers must balance the need for meaningful assignments with the realities of students’ time constraints and varying home environments.

Key Principles for PE Homework Design

1. Keep assignments short and manageable
2. Offer a variety of activity options to suit different interests and abilities
3. Provide clear instructions and expectations
4. Incorporate goal-setting and self-reflection components
5. Ensure activities can be completed safely without specialized equipment

Juanita Elementary School’s PE teacher, Mrs. Lynn Kohlwes, offers an excellent example of how to structure optional PE homework. Her approach includes monthly fitness calendars, goal-setting sheets, and creative assignments like “Fit Art” that appeal to diverse student interests.

Motivating Students to Complete Optional PE Tasks

One challenge in implementing PE homework is encouraging student participation, especially when assignments are optional. Effective motivation strategies can significantly boost engagement and completion rates.

Successful Motivation Techniques

• Offer small prizes or incentives for completed assignments
• Implement a points or badge system to track progress
• Create friendly competitions or challenges
• Recognize student achievements through public displays or announcements
• Provide opportunities for student choice and autonomy

Mrs. Kohlwes’ approach at Juanita Elementary includes publishing students’ names in a monthly “Fitness Champs” flyer and awarding fitness medals at the end of the year for consistent participation. These recognition systems can be powerful motivators for many students.

Incorporating Technology in PE Homework

As digital tools become increasingly prevalent in education, PE teachers can leverage technology to enhance homework assignments and track student progress.

Innovative Tech-Based PE Homework Ideas

• Fitness tracking apps to log activities and steps
• Video demonstrations of exercises or skills
• Online quizzes to reinforce health and fitness knowledge
• Virtual challenges or competitions
• Digital portfolios to document progress and reflection

By incorporating technology, teachers can make PE homework more engaging and relevant to tech-savvy students while also streamlining the process of assignment submission and tracking.

Addressing Equity Concerns in PE Homework

When implementing PE homework, it’s crucial to consider potential equity issues that may arise due to differences in students’ home environments, resources, and parental support.

Strategies for Promoting Equity

1. Offer a wide range of activity options to accommodate different living situations
2. Provide alternatives that don’t require special equipment or large spaces
3. Consider creating homework “kits” with basic equipment for students to borrow
4. Ensure assignments can be completed independently without requiring adult supervision
5. Offer flexible submission options, such as written logs or photo/video evidence

By thoughtfully addressing potential barriers, teachers can create PE homework assignments that are accessible and beneficial to all students, regardless of their circumstances.

Linking PE Homework to Academic Success

While the primary goal of PE homework is to promote physical fitness and health, these assignments can also support broader academic success. Research has consistently shown a positive relationship between physical activity and cognitive function, including improved focus, memory, and problem-solving skills.

Ways PE Homework Supports Academic Performance

• Improves concentration and attention span
• Reduces stress and anxiety, leading to better overall well-being
• Enhances sleep quality, crucial for learning and memory consolidation
• Develops self-discipline and time management skills
• Boosts self-confidence, which can translate to academic settings

By highlighting these connections, PE teachers can build stronger support for homework assignments among students, parents, and administrators.

Assessing the Impact of PE Homework

To justify the implementation of PE homework and continuously improve its effectiveness, it’s important to assess its impact on student fitness, engagement, and overall health.

Methods for Evaluating PE Homework Effectiveness

1. Regular fitness assessments to track physical improvements
2. Surveys to gauge student and parent attitudes towards assignments
3. Analysis of participation rates and completion trends
4. Monitoring of broader health indicators, such as BMI or cardiovascular health
5. Collection of qualitative feedback through student reflections or interviews

By systematically evaluating the outcomes of PE homework, teachers can refine their approaches and demonstrate the value of these assignments to stakeholders.

Integrating PE Homework with Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs

PE homework should not exist in isolation but rather as part of a comprehensive approach to promoting physical activity throughout the school day and beyond. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that schools implement Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs (CSPAP) to ensure students engage in the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

Components of a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program

• Quality physical education
• Physical activity during school
• Physical activity before and after school
• Staff involvement
• Family and community engagement

PE homework can play a crucial role in supporting these components, particularly in encouraging physical activity outside of school hours and fostering family engagement in fitness activities.

Strategies for Aligning PE Homework with CSPAP Goals

1. Design assignments that complement in-class PE instruction
2. Encourage students to participate in before and after-school physical activities
3. Create family-oriented assignments that promote active time together
4. Develop community partnerships to expand activity options and resources
5. Involve school staff in fitness challenges or activities to model healthy behaviors

By integrating PE homework into a broader CSPAP framework, schools can create a more cohesive and effective approach to promoting student health and fitness.

Addressing Common Concerns About PE Homework

Despite the potential benefits of PE homework, some stakeholders may have reservations about its implementation. Addressing these concerns proactively can help build support for PE homework initiatives.

Frequently Raised Concerns and Responses

• Time constraints: Emphasize that PE homework can be short, flexible, and integrated into daily routines.
• Safety: Provide clear guidelines for safe exercise practices and offer modifications for various skill levels.
• Lack of equipment: Design assignments that primarily use bodyweight exercises or common household items.
• Parental involvement: While family engagement can be beneficial, ensure assignments can be completed independently.
• Motivation: Implement engaging incentive systems and allow for student choice in activities.

By addressing these concerns thoughtfully, PE teachers can build a stronger case for the inclusion of homework in their curriculum.

Future Directions for PE Homework Research and Practice

As the field of physical education continues to evolve, there are numerous opportunities for further research and innovation in PE homework practices.

Potential Areas for Future Exploration

1. Long-term impacts of PE homework on fitness levels and health outcomes
2. Effectiveness of different types of PE homework assignments
3. Role of technology in enhancing PE homework engagement and outcomes
4. Strategies for integrating social-emotional learning into PE homework
5. Best practices for adapting PE homework for students with disabilities

Continued research and experimentation in these areas can help refine PE homework practices and maximize their benefits for students.

Emerging Trends in PE Homework

• Gamification of fitness activities
• Integration of mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques
• Cross-curricular assignments linking PE with other subject areas
• Personalized fitness plans based on individual student data
• Virtual reality and augmented reality applications for at-home skill practice

As these trends develop, PE teachers will have an expanding toolkit of innovative approaches to engage students and promote lifelong fitness habits through homework assignments.

Cultivating Lifelong Fitness Habits Through PE Homework

Perhaps the most significant potential impact of well-designed PE homework is its ability to foster lifelong fitness habits in students. By encouraging regular physical activity outside of school and helping students develop the skills and motivation to maintain an active lifestyle, PE homework can have far-reaching effects on long-term health and well-being.

Strategies for Promoting Lifelong Fitness Through Homework

1. Teach students how to set and monitor personal fitness goals
2. Introduce a wide variety of activities to help students find exercises they enjoy
3. Emphasize the connection between physical activity and overall well-being
4. Encourage students to reflect on how different activities make them feel
5. Provide resources for continuing physical activity beyond the school years

By focusing on these long-term objectives, PE homework can play a crucial role in addressing the public health challenges of sedentary lifestyles and obesity.

The Role of PE Homework in Building Healthy Communities

• Encourages family participation in physical activities
• Raises awareness of local fitness resources and opportunities
• Promotes a culture of health and wellness within the school community
• Empowers students to become advocates for healthy living
• Supports broader community health initiatives

As PE homework initiatives expand and evolve, they have the potential to contribute significantly to creating healthier, more active communities for generations to come.

Optional PE Homework – Juanita Elementary School

Since school is not in session at the moment, please send me optional PE homework the following ways.

Scan it or take a picture of the completed work  with your cell phoneand send the photo as an attachment to my email at [email protected]

Download the PDF Calendars or Fitness Goal setting sheets, or any other Optional PE Homework found both on the Juanita Website and my PowerSchool site, type on these documents, Save them (and if you can rename the file with your child’s name) and then attach the document to an email.

My email is [email protected]

All optional PE assignments can be found on this page (if you scroll down)

 or

Power School Website (username and password required)

Link to how to set up your username and password: https://www.lwsd.org/help/guide-to-parent-logins

My specific Juanita PowerSchool Website: https://lms.lwsd. org/lkohlwes/jua-pe-kohlwes-2019-2020

In September, and periodically through out the school year I review with all the students how they can earn a small prize and a “Fitness” certificate every month, and also how they can earn a Fitness Medal at the end of the school year. However, especially with younger students, parents need to re-explain at home and/or support their child’s efforts if you and/or your child desires to complete “optional” PE fitness homework.

Fitness Medals

If a child completes 8 or more optional PE assignments (one per month) for 8 or more months for the 10 months we are in school, they will receive a fitness medal at the end of the year assembly in June or in the fall if school’s are still closed.

All assignments are NOT new learning an are:
•Optional
•Non-Graded
•Gets your child’s name published in the monthly fitness champs flyer (posted on the Power School Website Only & Hanging on my PE Bulletin Board outside the office at Juanita Elementary)
•Earns your child a certificate and a small prize (one prize a month)
•Earns your child a fitness medal at the end of the year if they do one assignment on time, every month for 8 out of the 10 months that your child is in school.

A child can choose to do a variety of assignments, or they can do the same assignment (for example, a fitness calendar) each month throughout the school year. Late Fitness Calendars will not be accepted. Fit Art & Fitness Is Fun Photos counts they month that I receive it. For example, if a child draws a picture in September but they do NOT give it to me until mid October, the Fit Art assignment is credited for October.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Lynn Kohlwes: Juanita Elementary PE Teacher

Homework in Physical Education?

JOPERD Table of Contents
Kory Hill

The perceived value of assigning homework as a learning tool has fluctuated from one decade to the next. Historically, social and political forces have influenced the amounts and types of homework assigned to students (Gill & Schlossman, 2004; Maltese, Tai, & Fan, 2012). The often contentious debate about the efficacy of homework persists today. Some have argued that it is a vital learning tool that can help students master necessary content while fostering skills such as time management and self-direction (Bembenutty, 2011). Others, such as Kohn (2006), have maintained that homework leads to a loss of interest, and that it merely forces rote practice while failing to promote higher-order cognitive skills. Kohn further contended that time devoted to homework could be better spent engaging in activities that truly interest students without exacerbating

the achievement gap observed between students who have a lot of parental support versus those who do not (Kohn, 2006). While intense debates regarding homework for academic classes continue, the use of homework in physical education classes has not inflamed such passions. Homework has not traditionally been used as a learning tool in physical education to any significant degree (Mitchell, Stanne, & Barton, 2000). Consequently, the efficacy of physical education homework has received little attention from researchers.

Given the limited amount of time typically set aside for physical education and the increasing need to document evidence of student achievement, some physical educators have proposed an expanded role for homework in physical education (Hill, 2009; Novak & Lynott, 2015; St. Ours & Scrabis-Fletcher, 2013). Many of the characteristics of active homework, that which requires physical activity, are likely to increase physical activity levels.

For example, levels of physical activity tend to increase when there is parental involvement, activity choice, encouragement of extracurricular participation, and the acquisition of motor skills (Baranowski et al., 1997), all of which are characteristics of active homework (M. A. Smith & Claxton, 2003). As more schools incorporate comprehensive school physical activity programs (CSPAPs), there should be more opportunities for physical educators to involve parents and classroom teachers through the assignment of homework that promotes physical activity (Castelli & Ward, 2012).

Physical educators should have as complete an understanding as possible about the current research regarding the use of homework in their discipline. The aim of this article is to explore the efficacy of using homework as a teaching tool in physical education. Reviewed studies address the perceptions and practices of teachers, parents and students related to physical education homework and the influence of homework across multiple learning domains.

To read the rest of this article, click here to download a pdf.

At Home PE – Virtual Activity Ideas for Students

I was scheduled to have a Friday off in March before our weeklong Spring Break started. My daughter had a Field Trip planned on that Friday but was eventually cancelled. When I always leave my office, I take a minute or two to look around to make sure I didn’t forget anything. On this day, for some reason, I stayed to look for a while. I didn’t understand why. Little did I know that was the last time I would be in my office for the rest of the school year. Our school was shut down during the middle of our Spring Break, and eventually shut down for the rest of the year due to the Covid Virus. This is my 9th year of teaching P.E., and I wasn’t for sure what was going to happen next.

It was approached to us that we would be doing Distance Learning with students. The problem was, I know students didn’t have the equipment that I had for P.E. at home. Specials teachers sent out a document with all kinds of resources for students to do. I wanted to make sure students had choices of what to do and not too much for them to do. I didn’t want to overload them with activities.

I first created a Choice Board for the first four weeks for them to do. It had links for students to use, but it also had descriptions for students who don’t have the internet. I had created some videos for students (like a Putt-Putt course and a Levels Game). I then started thinking a little bit more. For the past 7 weeks, for every single day, I posted a new activity online. These activities came in a lesson visual (props to Mike Graham for the outline) that showed equipment (mostly household items, but allowed for substitutes), set-up, description of the activity, modification/enrichment, diagram of the activity, and standards aligned with the activity. I used the app Comic Life 3 to create the visuals.

Each lesson focused on different skills (throwing, catching, kicking, balancing, etc.). I would share these through our social media for the school, as well as my own account. The ones that have gotten a lot of great reactions have been:

Couch Island

Flip The Yard

Sock Hop

Plinko

Para’shoe’te

Cliffhanger

Using Zoom to see students playing these activities was cool to see. These became really popular! I had people from all over sending me their pictures and videos of students, even parents, playing these activities. Every morning I’d check social media and other schools were having their students do these activities. It was a hit! This was a simple way for my students to stay active while being at home.

Overall, I thought this was a different process, but still something that got done. It did take a lot to create everything, but I wanted to make sure students had the opportunity to stay safe and be active at the same time. There are several other P.E. Teachers do the same thing, by making sure their students are active. This just goes to show that no matter where we are , or what’s going on in the world, we still care about our students.

About the Author:

Drew Burris is in his 9th year of teaching Physical Education at Ridge View Elementary in Warrensburg, MO. He has been published on PE Central, published in The Great Activities Magazine, won the 2015 Star of the Classroom, won the 2016 CTA Teacher of the Year, won the 2018 MOSHAPE West Central District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, and presents at MOSHAPE (Missouri SHAPE Convention) every year. Drew says the best part of his job is seeing the students learning and also having fun being physically active. Drew has a website: projectphysed.weebly.com with all his and other physical educators content on it. Twitter handle is @projectphysed.

Distance Learning For Physical Education

This post is part of a series called The #PhysEd Lab. The series focuses on ideas that I am currently exploring in my teaching. The ideas are past the “half-baked” phase and I feel comfortable sharing them, but I know that there is still more to learn. That’s why I will be coming back every now and then to update this post with my latest findings, as well as any wins, fails, struggles, and successes that I may have experienced along the way. Sound good? Let’s get into it!

First of all, I hope you’re ok. Well, as ok as someone can be when their world has been turned upside down. Do me a favour and don’t ignore the underlying feelings that are bubbling inside you at this time. Maybe it’s worry, maybe it’s anxiety. Maybe you have been stocking a bunker with toilet paper for years now and all you are feeling is pride and excitement. I don’t know, to each their own. You’re allowed to feel those emotions: you’re a human being, it’s part of the experience. Meet them, acknowledge them, invite them to tea and then carry on with your day knowing that you don’t have to pretend that any of this is normal. Just because it isn’t normal doesn’t mean that we can’t find a way to thrive in it all.

Also, because I don’t know that you’ve heard this recently, you are good enough. There’s a lot out there right now and a lot of people are hustling. That doesn’t put them ahead and you behind. Everyone meets a moment in their own way, so all you have to do is meet this one in yours. Personally, I use work as a self-soothing system (ask my therapist). I’m not making content to make you feel bad, I’m making it to make me feel good. If any of these resources make you feel stressed out, I will not be offended if you mute me for a while. You do you.

Ok, onwards.

Last Thursday, I found out that my school was going to be closing for two weeks in a provincial effort to flatten the COVID-19 curve. My wife and I had also just returned from our first family March Break vacation to the US with our son (South Carolina, you’re a beaut!) only to find out that we would now have to keep ourselves in voluntary quarantine for 14 days. Our son’s daycare has closed (shout out to all of the daycare educators out there, we love you) and we’re both attempting to teach at home while being good parents and good spouses.

This is not how I thought 2020 would be kicking off, but hey: I won’t be forgetting it any time soon! I can’t remember a single thing that happened in 1994. What a bore!

I’ve been working on a few different resources for my this distance learning reality that we now find ourselves in. My focus/philosophy (for now, this is a #PhysEd Lab post), is as follows:

1. The work should help students find a new normal and not just ignore that their world has changed.
2. The work should minimize burden on parents as they work to rebuild family routines.
3. The work will have limitations as I have limitations. I cannot meet everyone’s needs but will get better at meeting more needs as I grow more comfortable creating distance learning resources.
4. Since we don’t know how long this new situation will actually last, the pace of the work needs to be slow and steady.

I took a minute to try and make sense of this current situation.

? First off, so proud of the #physed community. Seeing everyone rally together and contribute to #HPEatHome has been amazing.

?In terms of new content, check below to see where I’m at.

? Stay safe everyone! pic.twitter.com/li8ZKtMp32

— ThePhysicalEducator.com (@phys_educator) March 17, 2020

As I mentioned on Twitter, I’ll be sharing anything and everything I make during this weird time for free. To make it easier for you to access these resources and to make it faster for me to share, I’ll be putting everything into a Dropbox folder as opposed to uploading it to the Shop. This site is my small business, and I know it’s going to hurt for a while. That’s ok: my wife and I are blessed to have our teacher incomes.

Physical Education @ Home Curriculum Document

I wanted to put together a curriculum document to be shared with my students and families. In it, I’ll be including at-home lesson plans as well as a variety of resources that families can check out in order to build a healthy home environment during this pandemic.

I built the doc in Google Slides and did my best to make it feel like an app by including “buttons” to navigate around it (it’s still a Google Presentation document, so expect accidentally taps to the next page). I figured that having everything in one place gave families more to explore and could possibly serve siblings who don’t attend my school.

As I mentioned earlier, my intention here is to slowly populate this document with new resources, lessons, and more. I don’t want to overwhelm anybody and I recognize that I need to pace myself. I have weekly virtual check ins with my students/families (via Google Meet, Google Classroom, and/or email) in which I will bring updates and assignments to their attention. That being said, none of this will contribute to students’ grades. I don’t know what our next report card will look like, but I know that I cannot expect all families to be able to complete assigned work on a regular schedule. The lessons and resources are there for students to explore and have fun with while learning. That being said, I am still going to do my best to make lessons follow a familiar structure (e.g. What/Why/How introductions, Learning Roadmaps for self-assessment, etc).

I will be trying to make video-based lessons. To be honest, they are very time-consuming and challenging to produce. I’m waiting to see how my students react to them to determine if this is something I should continue to focus on.

Access The Curriculum

I’m happy to make this document public. You can use it/share it as is, but I will not be taking requests to edit it in any way. I’m asking everyone to understand that I need to limit what is on my plate so that I can focus on staying balanced.

“Take Care Of…” Graphics

A4. Also, we’re using the “Take Care of […]” system under which all our rules will fit. #pechat pic.twitter.com/SSh2IVILTN

— Joey Feith (@JoeyFeith) August 24, 2015

Five years ago, when we were living in pandemic-free times, I shared a graphic that I had created for my teaching. The idea was to have behaviour expectations all fall under three categories: taking care of ourselves, taking care of each other, taking care of this place(our classroom).

Since students are now learning at home, I figured it would be a good time to revisit this idea and redesign it to help students create a healthy learning environment at home.

Your home is now your classroom. Making it a safe & positive place for learning will help you get the most out of this moment.

3️⃣ Focus Areas:
? Take care of yourself
❤️ Take care of each other
? Take care of this home

Can you unpack these further with your family? #HPEatHome pic.twitter.com/jbSA3wWgCM

— ThePhysicalEducator.com (@phys_educator) March 17, 2020

To achieve this, I started unpacking each focus area (“yourself”, “each other”, “this home”) into sub-areas and listed a few examples of behaviours that align to those. My intention is to share these with families and invited them to unpack each level further so that they can build this up together. You can access these graphics in PDF form in the #HPEatHome Dropbox folder.

Free #HPEatHome Folder

Super Schedule Sheet

I’m someone who functions best when I have a schedule. Scheduling my time helps me feel like I’m in control of my day and helps me ensure that days don’t just blend into each other. Our family is very routine-based, which has gone a long way in helping us function with a toddler at home.

For kids, schedules can give them something to look forward to, help them take ownership of their time, and have fun planning an exciting day. To help kids (and their families) out, I made the Super Schedule Sheet (a daily schedule template).

On the schedule, I provided 16 hour-long blocks that kids can use to schedule their day (they absolutely DO NOT have to use all of them). To the right of those, I provided 8 different types of activity categories that kids can choose from. The idea here wasn’t to tell kids how their day should go, but rather to give them the freedom they need to plan it themselves and the tools required to make sure their day is balanced and includes different health-promoting activities (e.g. moving, eating, washing, sleeping, relaxing, etc.)

?As someone who thrives in a structured environment, I know how powerful a balanced schedule can be.

?Putting together something that can help kids and their families plan out their days (should they want to).

? I’ll be making this and more available soon! #HPEatHome pic.twitter.com/7u9jSbKztv

— ThePhysicalEducator.com (@phys_educator) March 19, 2020

Based on the response to the preview I posted on Twitter, I’d say there are a few of you who were interested in using this sheet with your family/students. You can access it for free in the Shop.

Download This Resource

Pokemon Scavenger Hunt

Here’s an activity designed to help kids have fun, be active, and stay busy while parents work from home!

I made a set of 15 30 Pokemon Fitness Cards (there are more on the way… I’m pacing myself.). The idea is that parents can print these out, cut them up, and hide them around the house (like, really hide them).

Then, kids are given a coin (let’s call it a Pokecoin because I’m already all in here) and a Pokedex sheet. Their job is to look through the house, find the Pokemon, and try to catch ‘em all!

Here’s how to catch a Pokemon:

1. Find a Pokemon hiding in your house.
2. Look at the exercise associated to that Pokemon.
3. Decide which type of Pokeball you will use to catch the Pokemon (i.e. Pokeball, Great Ball, Ultra Ball). Each Pokeball gives you a certain amount of coin flips.
4. Perform the correct amount of repetitions of the exercise to throw that Pokeball.
5. Once you have completed the exercises, start flipping your Pokecoin (keeping in mind the amount of flips you are allowed to use based on which ball you threw).
6. If you get a “heads” within the flips you have earned, you’ve caught that Pokemon!
7. If you do not get a “heads” within the flips you have earned, you’ve missed and have not caught the Pokemon.
8. You may not try to catch that Pokemon again until a) the next day or b) you’ve caught a different Pokemon.
9. If you catch a Pokemon, add its information to your Pokedex!
10. Keep going until you’ve caught them all!

I figured this is a fun way to get kids exploring in their homes. I have a few ideas for other rules (like how to “unlock” new Pokemon or get an immediate second attempt), but I’m going to roll those out later with the next set of cards.

UPDATES:

1. I’ve added 15 new cards, with 3 new Pokémon types and some 1st evolution Pokémon (which are harder to catch). Find the updated document here.
2. I’ve added playing card codes to each Pokémon card. This way, students who cannot print out the cards can substitute them for regular playing cards instead. Just use the PDF as the reference key.

You can find the resources for this game in the free #HPEatHome folder.

Free #HPEatHome Folder

I hope these resources can help you out! I’ll continue to add more as I make more, but I wanted to get this first batch out. If you’re looking for even more resources, check out the #HPEatHome hashtag on Twitter.

Please, please, please keep yourselves, your loved ones, and your neighbours safe! My dad works at Costco, he’s working insane hours, and it would make me feel so much better if I knew that everyone reading this was doing their part to flatten the curve.

Take care of yourselves. Thanks for reading!

Happy Teaching!

Joey Feith

Joey Feith is the founder of ThePhysicalEducator.com. Having taught elementary physical education for 10 years, Joey is now focused on helping physical educators grow their confidence and competence as teachers.

How P.E. teachers are trying to get students off the couch during the pandemic

Photo courtesy Los Angeles Unified School District

Felix Quiñónez, an elementary school P.E. teacher in Los Angeles Unified, leads his students in physical exercises online.

Photo courtesy Los Angeles Unified School District

Felix Quiñónez, an elementary school P.E. teacher in Los Angeles Unified, leads his students in physical exercises online.

Imagine trying to work out in a crowded living room, with no exercise equipment besides rolled-up socks and soup cans.

For many students in California, that’s what physical education class looks like these days. Since campuses closed in March, P.E. teachers are scrambling for creative ways to keep students physically active — with no gymnasiums, sports fields or playgrounds — at a time when experts say students’ physical and mental health is paramount.

“P.E. has been one of the most challenging subjects to teach online. Teachers are working incredibly hard,” said Patricia Suppe, president of the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. “But the irony is, students need P.E. now more than ever, not just for physical health but mental health.”

Even before the pandemic, children in California suffered from higher-than-average rates of obesity. According to 2019 data compiled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 17.1% of children ages 10-17 in California are obese, compared to 15.5% nationwide. Now, with children spending more time in front of screens and less time engaged in physical activity, the obesity rate is expected to jump in 2020.

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Schools are required to provide physical education while campuses are closed, but in March, Gov. Gavin Newsom waived the minimum number of P.E. minutes schools had to offer. Previously, the law required that students receive 200 minutes of physical education every 10 days in elementary school, and 400 minutes every 10 days in middle and high school.

Most schools in California are offering some sort of virtual P.E., at least a few hours a week, Suppe said.

The challenges are many. Some students live in neighborhoods where it’s not safe to run or walk outside. Others live in apartments with no yards. In many cities, parks are closed due to the pandemic. And in much of California, extreme heat or smoke has limited students’ access to the outdoors, regardless of other issues.

A survey of 489 P.E. teachers in California, conducted this fall by Suppe’s organization, found other obstacles, as well. Students often turn off their cameras, so teachers can’t see if students are exercising; many districts have eliminated P. E. as a stand-alone class or made it an elective; and teachers are worried about liability if students injure themselves while exercising at home.

Despite these hurdles, P.E. teachers are trying to keep students active and physically healthy during the pandemic. For starters, they’ve designed workouts that can be done safely indoors, using common household objects that can be fashioned into exercise equipment. A few examples include:

• Using water bottles for soccer goals.
• Letting students pick their favorite music to dance to.
• Calisthenic activities that can be done in one place.
• Using soup cans or milk cartons as weights.
• Yoga.
• Using rolled-up socks for balls.
• Running up and down stairs.

Where possible, teachers are urging students to go for bike rides, hikes, jogs or walks, logging their distance and time. Other teachers are distributing basic equipment for students to use at home, such as jump-ropes, hula hoops, balls and stretch bands.

Felix Quiñonez, who teaches P.E. in elementary schools in Los Angeles Unified and was a district Teacher of the Year for 2019-20, has taken his lessons far beyond push-ups and jumping jacks. He talks to his students about all aspects of health, including the harmful effects of sugar, the importance of warm-up and cool-down routines and how physical activity can reduce anxiety and boost mental health overall.

Throughout every class, he asks his students to use emojis to show how they’re feeling emotionally, and adjusts his lesson plan accordingly.

“It’s not just movement for movement’s sake,” he said. “It’s about brain health. It’s about how exercise can give you a mindset to help you deal with challenges.”

It’s not just that exercising is good for children’s health; it’s also that not exercising can be particularly harmful, said Adriana Valenzuela, who oversees P.E. for Los Angeles Unified. She described the phenomenon as a “double whammy.”

Sitting for long periods can make one feel sluggish, mentally foggy and irritable or depressed, which in turn can make one not want to exercise, she said.

“That’s why it’s so important that we teach students not just how to exercise, but why to exercise,” she said. “And it’s not just about kids. We try to reach families, too.”

Dr. Susan Babey, senior research scientist at UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research, said the stakes for children’s health are high, and go far beyond P.E. Risk factors for obesity all appear to be on the rise.

Students who rely on healthy meals from school lunch programs might not be getting them, and are eating more junk food and snacks at home. Students are more sedentary, spending hours every day in front of computer screens. And even outside P.E., students are getting far less physical activity than they once did because they’re missing soccer, baseball and other extracurricular sports, after-school programs and even recess.

“These were already problems for many students, but the pandemic has exacerbated them,” Babey said.

The lack of physical activity can have a ripple effect, affecting students’ mental and emotional well-being, as well as their ability to focus on academics, she said.

That’s a chief concern for Michele Pacheco, manager of P.E. for Fresno Unified. She worries that without regular exercise, students won’t be able to cope with the stress and uncertainty many are facing.

Lack of, or limited, physical education also has a social cost, she added. Playing sports is a way to make friends and connect with peers in an informal context, and can help students learn important social-emotional skills like how to win, how to lose and how to support your teammates. Students are also typically better behaved after exercising, she said.

“P.E. is so critically important for kids,” Pacheco said. “It helps with emotional regulation, helps you do better in class, gives you a better outlook. It releases feel-good hormones and helps you better retain information. Your whole brain lights up.”

But more than anything else, physical activity is fun — something in short supply these days. Dancing, running around with friends, riding a bike — those are the joys of childhood (and adulthood), said Terri Drain, president-elect of the Society of Health and Physical Educators and a retired P. E. teacher in Pleasanton.

Those moments of happiness can help students endure the more challenging times, she said.

“Movement is an opportunity to experience intrinsic satisfaction, to know what it is to be alive,” she said. “Kids who learn these skills do better in school, and in life. … My heart breaks for kids who aren’t able to be physically active right now.”

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Prince Henry’s High School » Homework: PE

HOMEWORK: PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Years 9, 10 & 11 – Core Physical Education
Due to all core PE lessons being practical, there is no homework set in this part of Physical Education. However, all students are encouraged to get involved in our extra-curricular programme and we expect regular physical activity to be undertaken by the pupils in their own time.

Year 10 and Year 11 – GCSE Physical Education
GCSE students will be set two homework tasks of 1 hour per fortnight. This may be through two smaller tasks or one extended piece of work. They will also be expected to be taking part in at least one extra-curricular club. Students should be practicing their individual skills regularly for the three practical assessments that take place in Year 11.

All homework tasks will be recorded on ‘show my homework’ where possible. Students are also recommended to write all tasks in their planners.

Year 12 and Year 13 – A Level Physical Education
A Level students will be set homework in some form in most lessons. This may be a formal marked piece of work, a private study task, revising for an assessment or reading through notes taken during the previous lesson. This should take between 30-60 minutes per task.

They will also be expected to be taking part in at least one activity in their own time. Students should be practicing their individual skills regularly for the practical assessment that takes place in Year 13.

‘Show my homework’ will be used where possible. Students are also recommended to write all tasks in their planners.

For both GCSE & A Level – Homework activities include:

• Research Tasks
• Revision for unit tests
• Exam style questions
• Reinforcing class work
• Finding sporting examples from media sources

6^th Form Private Study Tasks
All students will be issued with a sheet detailing the tasks that need to be done during private study sessions. This will include creating key word cards, answering past paper questions, completing summaries of topics and preparing essay plans. A copy of the private study tasks can be found on PHHSLive.

Incomplete Homework
Students who fail to complete homework will be dealt with in the first instance by the subject teacher. This may result in a detention or the loss of a core PE lesson to catch up the work. If the student doesn’t complete this sanction then they will be put into a Head of Department detention. If this is not attended then parents are informed by letter.

Support from parents and guardians
We would encourage you to check their planners/‘show my homework’ to see what work has been set.

Talking to students about their work can help them to clarify their understanding and improve their use of key terms. Parents may also need to reinforce the time students are expected to spend on homework and ensure that the appropriate time is used.

When students are preparing for unit tests or exams it is always useful to help by testing their knowledge.

When students are preparing for their practical assessments students should be encouraged to practice their individual skills where possible and that may mean you need to give them lifts to the leisure centre/swimming pool/ training pitch more than normal!

Top 10 Free Physical Education Apps – Gopher PE Blog

These days, there is an app for everything you need. We gathered the best free physical education apps for teachers to take your teaching to the next level! Check out our recommendations below and comment at the bottom if there are any we may have missed. Challenge yourself to learn new technology and incorporate these apps into your teaching!

1. Swork-It Kids: (iOS)(Android)

This is a great free physical education app that introduces kids to strength, agility, flexibility, and balance exercises. Easily customize activities and the length of your workout. This app shows kids demonstrating activities with proper technique, making it easy for your students to learn and follow along. Minimize instruction time and get your students moving right away with this training app!

Customize beginner workouts with the Swork-It Kids App

2. Sweat Deck: (iOS)

Sweat Deck is a user-friendly app that includes built-in-exercises to teach your students healthy habits. This free app is flexible, allowing you to choose the number of cards in a deck. These easy-to-learn exercises will have your students working on numerous muscle groups. Teach your students early about the importance of physical activity with this fun elementary physical education app!

Teach healthy habits with the Sweat Deck App

3. J & J Official 7 Minute Workout: (iOS)(Android)

Based on scientific research, this is one of the best apps for physical education classes. This 7-minute, non-stop, high-intensity workout will get your students’ hearts pumping. Each exercise is 30 seconds long, requires no gym equipment, and includes a video demonstration of each exercise. Customize your student’s workout by choosing the number of circuits, rest periods, and the level of difficulty desired. Optimize your students’ gym class time with this free and informative app!

Introduce high-intensity workouts with the J & J Official 7 Minute Workout

4. GoNoodle Kids: (iOS)(Android)

GoNoodle Kids is a free app focusing on kid’s yoga, dancing, and mind activities. GoNoodle Kids is one of the best apps for physical education teachers, as it allows your kids to be creative, active, and to express themselves. Your students will sing, think, and move along with animated figures, making physical activity fun and exciting. Get your students’ minds and bodies moving with this physical education app!

Allow your students to express themselves with the GoNoodle Kids app

5. 7-Minute Workout for Kids: (iOS)

With this 7-minute workout app, your students will be able to improve their endurance, strength, and flexibility. This free elementary physical education app includes 12 straightforward exercises that will get your students active starting at an early age. Each exercise will have a video demonstration, allowing your students to develop and practice good technique. Lead your students on the right path to an active and healthy lifestyle with this app!

Improve endurance, strength and flexibility with the 7-Minute Workout for Kids app

Down Dog is a unique yoga app that combines strength, balance, and flexibility exercises all into one app. With clear audio instruction and randomized workouts, your students will stay focused and excited. This customizable health and physical education app provides quick and full workouts, allowing you to choose what works best with your schedule. Get your students physically active and relaxed with this free app!

Introduce Yoga to your students with the Down Dog app

7. Skipping Skills: (iOS)

This free jump roping app is a great option for P.E. activities. World class jump ropers explain and demonstrate each skill, so students can easily understand how to perform it. With 6 skill levels, your students will be able to practice and master numerous skills. They will use their creativity and have a blast while doing one of the best workouts possible. Get your students excited about working out with this physical education app!

Teach jump roping skills with the Skipping Skills app

8. Daily Workouts: (iOS)(Android)

Daily Workouts app is a valuable tool for helping your students develop proper technique. With over 95 exercises, your students will be able to work on several muscle groups. You can choose Pilates, stretching, ball, or kettlebell workouts for your students. Students can easily follow along with video demonstrations for each exercise. Help your students get their daily physical activity in and keep heart rates up with this free app!

Build strength with the Daily Workouts App

9. Random Workout Builder: (iOS)

This is a wonderful physical education app specifically designed for older and more experienced students. Cardio, bodyweight, free weight, and machine workouts are incorporated in this app, which will increase your students’ strength and fitness. Based on your interests, Random Workout Builder will quickly create a workout for you and includes many video demonstrations. Take your students’ fitness to the next level with this app!

Create customized workouts with the Random Workout Building App

10. Interval Timer – HIIT Workouts: (iOS)(Android)

Interval Timer app, designed specifically for high intensity workouts, is one of the best apps for physical education teachers. Easily adjust rest lengths, and choose between low and high interval cycles on this app. Simply set up multiple timers for your students’ workouts, and let the app keep track of time for you. Spend less time worrying about your stop watch and more time watching your students’ technique with this efficient physical education app!

Easily set up rotating stations with the Interval Timer app 90,000 35 creative homework ideas – SHO School

Reading time: 2 minutes

When we hear the forbidden word “homework”, we want
wake up from this dream and wipe off the cold sweat, because this is a terrible memory
from school.

Is it wrong with you?

You are very lucky.

But if this word really gives you goosebumps,
let’s see what kind of homework can be pleasant and even expected with
impatiently.

Positive emotions are important for our school when studying
foreign language like
for children (we are always friends with them), and for adults (many who already had
bitter experience).

Therefore,
since the value of homework is great (you repeat, use your imagination
and self-study at the same time), it makes sense to make it interesting and creative.

For
we have selected 35 options for creative homework that will bring
only pleasure for you.

VIEWS

1. View
   video with subtitles on tedx, on a topic you like and retell the thesis to the teacher
   (teach the teacher).
2. View
   a series of your favorite TV series with subtitles and write down the N number of words and phrases,
   which you liked very much
3. View
   motivational video
4. Watch
   HOME movie and tell 6 things that impressed you
5. Describe
   events from 5 photos in your instagram

WRITING

1. Write
   a letter to yourself in the past (to your child), when studying the past time
2. Write
   a letter to yourself in the future (to yourself to an old man), when studying the future tense
3. Write
   list “Before I die, . ..”
4. Write
   list of goals for the next year / 5 years
5. Write
   why do you love your partner
6. Write
   big congratulations for the New Year / Birthday
7. Write
   a short description of your future book
8. Write
   review of your favorite book / movie / TV series
9. Write
   10 things that inspire you
10. Write 10 things that
    will cheer you up in spring / autumn / your version
11. Write a list of all things,
    which please your partner / mother / friend
12. Write alternative
    proposals for events in your life “What if …” (when we learn conditional
    suggestions)
13. Write 10 complaints grumpy
    wife
14. Write the perfect script
    relaxation of the day
15. Write about the worst
    on a date (dating, if anything)
16. Write a personal letter
    Queen / President / your idol

ENTRY
VIDEO

1. Take
   interview with girlfriend / boyfriend
   about mistakes in business
2. Remove
   video for Instagram / Facebook
   about your activity (acquaintance)
3. Remove
   video about your love story
4. Get
   interview with an English-speaking person on any topic
5. Remove
   video for Instagram / Facebook
   with promises to yourself
6. Remove
   video for Instagram / Facebook
   with feedback about the event / seminar / training
7. Make
   live broadcast from any routine business (prepare, clean), and voice everything
   actions in English
8. Do
   video with your child (if not, borrow someone else), where you explain the easy
   children’s theme
9. Remove
   a video of some favorite scene from a movie / cartoon, you can with children
10. You can shoot a video like “Beginner blogger”, you can even on a closed YouTube channel,
    tell about everything

MAKE

1. A box with encouraging phrases for a friend / partner / parents
2. Wish card with English inscriptions total
3. Stick a sticker on everything in the bedroom / kitchen / bathroom, with the name of the item in English (stick a sticker on the cabinet with the words waredrobe)
4. Encouragements lettering on a loose-leaf calendar

And this is only part of what we can ask for homework. Video is an option for the most daring, because you need to be really open to allow yourself to make mistakes on video or do your homework on camera. In all other ideas, we adapt to the interests, moods and goals of our students.

Don’t believe me?

We will prove it to you already in a trial lesson.

Have a great day!

90,000 5 ideas for a fun homework check in an English lesson

These 5-10 minutes are usually the most passive, slow and not engaging at all – this is homework check .But what if everything has its own purpose and the correct “homework” is an indicator of whether the topic has been mastered or not. This stage cannot be skipped in any way, but it can be modified. We are here to fight boredom in the classroom and to conduct classes as productively as possible, so we suggest you look at the homework check from a different angle.

Let the students double-check the answers on their own.

Divide the class into pairs or mini-groups and set a time limit of 2-3 minutes.This should be enough time to correct, change, and complete their answers before being reviewed by the class.

This will activate independence in learning and place the student at the head of the educational process. After that, check the answers with the class and discuss controversial points – this way you turn homework checking into a separate activity.

Information gap checking

This variation is similar to the previous one in its student-student interaction style, but here you will shorten the final teacher-group stage.

Divide students into pairs and distribute two pieces of paper: for student A and student B. Student A will have answers for odd numbers (1, 3, 5 …), and B for even numbers (2, 4, 6 …).

First, they should check their answers, and then check their partner. As a result, there is no need to check all the answers with the class, since the students will have all the correct options. You just have to observe and answer tricky questions, if any.

Group students according to assignments

This method can be called another variation of the information gap.

Divide the class into groups and provide answers to a specific activity for each group. Each group verifies their answers with the team and then reads them out to the entire class. Each student listens carefully so as not to miss the correct answer.

You can add an element of competition and reward the team with a minimum number of mistakes with some kind of prize (a set of stickers, funny stationery, candy, chocolate medal).

Give students the right to vote

If you are an adherent of the classic whole-class-taking-turns approach, then add a little variety to your routine.

Choose the one who will answer first and after his answer tell him that it is now his turn to choose the next lucky one. Etc. This will definitely surprise your students and the guys on the last desks will be on their guard, because, perhaps, they will be called next.

Moreover, students will be over engaged , as they will have to listen carefully not only to each other’s answers, but also to the name of the next “victim”. A great alternative for large groups where discipline is difficult to control.

Let my people go the students choose

It is not always necessary to check all 100500 exercises in homework, some can be easily missed. For example, you can send vocabulary assignments with a clear conscience for self-examination with a dictionary.

Ask your students which exercises they doubt the most, and work them out completely. Focus on the grammar exercises, especially if the grammar is new and misunderstood in the previous lesson.

Extra bonus: check-play

Snake

This approach does not require an old nokia, but this is also a game, and it will captivate you no worse than a mobile hit of all time. This test method is perfect for a-b-c choice assignments or exercises with 20 or more items.

Step 1. On the board, draw a rectangle with numbers from 1 to 20.

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20

Step 2. Divide the class into two teams. Write their names on the board in different colors (trust me, this will help you in the next step).

Step 3. Team A answers question # 1 from the homework. If the team responds correctly, circle 1 on the board with a colored marker.

Team B gets question 5, and similarly, if the answer is correct, circle 5 on the board, only in a different color.

Team A can now choose question 2, 6 or 7. Here the tic-tac-toe principle works, the team can move in any direction across the field.If the team answered incorrectly, it does not advance further, and the opponent can answer twice.

In the end, the team with the longest snake wins.

Choose an approach based on the types of assignments and the performance of the group, find one that will help your students to learn from mistakes and work them competently. Checking homework in an English lesson should not be a burden for you and your students. Instead of mechanically checking the answers and gagging, add interactivity and fun to this five-minute session.

Let’s prove once again that everything in English-e can be fun!

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90,000 How to motivate students to do their homework? 7 creative solutions

How to get students to do their homework? Here are 7 proven ideas!

Imagine a world in which students rush home to get started with their homework as soon as possible. They do not miss your classes, submit their work on time and look forward to the next portion of “homework” …

No, this is not a parallel reality or an ideal school.This is just the right motivation and creative approach.

Homework is something that the vast majority of students dislike. Answers to the same type of questions, solving problems, drawing up proposals – what can be more boring than this routine? And all this is repeated from year to year! Not surprisingly, many students are simply not interested in doing their homework.

But tasks don’t have to be boring! There are many ideas to help you motivate students to do their homework.

We have come up with as many as 7 such methods:

1. Offer a choice

Give your students the freedom to choose whenever possible. Need to write an essay? Suggest a list of topics and give the children the opportunity to decide for themselves what to write about.

Of several options, the student will probably be able to choose the one that best suits his own interests, and the probability of cheating from the neighbor will be minimal.

2. Encourage creativity

Sometimes creative projects become great motivators and make routine tasks mega interesting for students.

Ask the children to do their homework in any form, be it a drawn comic strip, a poem, a story, or a small sketch to show in class.

Think of a task that the children will enjoy doing – and you will open up your students from a completely different side. Trust me, they will go out of their way to impress you and their classmates.

3. Personalize tasks

Making learning personal is another way to increase student interest in homework.Children will be much more interested in doing their homework, which means something to them.

Give students the opportunity to connect real life and personal interests with what they are learning and their motivation will literally skyrocket.

4. Consider the interests of the students

How to get students interested in homework? Incorporate what they already know! For example, if most of your class is involved in sports, figure out how to integrate sports into your assignments.

If homework improves a skill that is very important for a student, then he will make every effort to complete it efficiently and on time.

5. Define group projects

Many students love to work on assignments in pairs or groups. Such tasks foster creativity and also develop communication and teamwork skills.

A team project is a great way to give students the opportunity to express themselves. Children are more likely to enjoy this activity and be more focused in class — especially when reviewing their classmates’ projects.

6. Make students think

Allow students to “discover” their homework. Give them the opportunity to think for themselves, explore different ideas, and extract information from other resources.

Non-standard tasks contribute to the development of critical thinking and will be excellent motivators for students.

Let them get creative and try to add some element to your assignment – and boring “homework” will turn into an exciting creative project.

7. Link assignments to real life

Practical tasks related to the real world stimulate a natural interest in the students. Use as many real-life situations as possible in the lessons and reinforce these experiences with appropriate homework.

Let’s say you are examining the judicial system in a jurisprudence class. Organize a trial in which the students will be lawyers, judges, plaintiffs and defendants. The better they prepare, the more chances they will have of winning the process.

There are many ways to increase students’ interest in homework, you just need to find a suitable method and show a little imagination.

Your floor is: Dear teachers, are your homework tasks creative enough? Let us know in the comments!

90,000 Homework in Swiss schools: the epidemic will end, but they will remain

The curriculum for German-speaking Switzerland provides for an exemption from homework during the holidays, but if the teacher finds it expedient otherwise, he can do as he pleases.Keystone / Melanie Duchene

After the closure of Swiss schools due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the idea of ​​doing homework at home sparkled with new colors and possibilities. We have a separate material on this topic, read it below. But the quarantine will inevitably come to an end, and when the students return to their desks, the discussions about whether schoolchildren need homework at all and, if so, to what extent, will certainly resume.

This content was published on 23 March 2020 – 11:00
23 March 2020 – 11:00