Parent Extension Activities
In the case of a school shut down, your child(ren) still needs to remain physically active to promote and keep a healthy attitude and mindset. Physical fitness is especially crucial when "normal" routines are interrupted or stopped by natural disasters or unforeseen circumstances. Fitness is about body coordination, muscle growth and development, cardio respiratory endurance, and physical flexibility.
Nutrition and rest are also very important components in this formula of physical fitness. If you need ideas and information pertaining to these issues check out:
http://www.gladstoneschools.com/Main%20School%20Nurse.htm
To promote large and small muscle group areas and to improve better hand and eye coordination skills imperative to all learning areas . . . check out Mrs. Poma's website:
http://www.gladstoneschools.com/Cameron/Staff/mpoma/parent_page.htm
Some physical activities to do at home -- in the home and also outside yard area.
* take a walk
. . . using as many movements as possible by skipping, hopping,
sliding,
and running. As
an example try a combination of 3 skips, 1 hop, 5
walking steps, 3 slides, and a quick run from one
point to another.
* take a pet for a walk . . . if you don't have one - it can be an imaginary pet
or favorite
stuffed animal.
* make an adventure trail around your yard,
go to the park, or even set up one in the house
with your own pictures of animals and plant
life. Crawl like a snake, stomp
like an elephant, sprint like an antelope, fly
like a bird, do the alligator crawl,
do the crab walk, have fun making up other animal
movements.
* ride your bike . . . and don't forget to wear your helmet
* jump rope - in the basement, garage, or driveway.
- Ocean Waves- turners ripple the long rope up and down
while jumper jumps over
- Snake Jumps - turners wiggle long rope from side to side
keeping rope flat on floor while jumper jumps
over moving rope
- Blue Bells - turners gently swing
the long rope from side
to side. See if jumper can complete 5 then
8 successful jumps.
- Ski Jumper - turners hold the long rope flat to the
ground
on one end with a slight degree of incline on the
other end of rope. Jumpers keep feet together
and jump from side to side along the rope -
jumping slightly higher as they go along. If
doing well forward, jumper can try jumping
backwards.
-Basic Skipping - have jumper stand tall, knees slightly bent, and
Form have head
up. Hold rope behind heels,
keep elbows close to side - forearms and
hands forward and away from body in
outward position. Keep knees and feet
together - turning rope with circular
wrist movements.
* run a lap or two around your house - time yourself with a stop wqtch.
* if you have stairs - run
up and down a certain number of times. Increase the
number and even time yourself with a stop watch.
* set up an obstacle course outside or inside of your home to incorporate
climbing,
jumping, skipping, and/or running skills.
Use old tires, hoops, ropes, various balls, boxes,
benches, chairs, a ladder which is flat on the
ground, and/or homemade hurdles to
jump over.
* set up obstacles where players must move under, over, around, through, across,
in and
out, on or off, or use equipment that they must
carry or wear.
* weave and roll a large ball, inner tube, tire, or hoop around objects outside
(trees,
rocks, a fence, bushes) or objects inside
(chairs, different sized tables, bed, boxes).
* carry a large container such as a laundry basket where the player needs to
pick up
objects in or outside the home, and then deliver
and drop them off to another area in
the home or yard. To make it more fun, use
a stop watch to test speed. Make
it somewhat like a scavenger hunt for objects or
have them deliver household goods
(groceries or laundry needs) to their rooms or
places objects really need to be placed.
* have a relay race - run to and around a pole, a chair, or several objects
where you need
to zigzag around or jump over. Time it for
more fun and competition.
* play a ring toss game or bean bag throw. Use an old tire and throw balls through.
* make up a dance to a favorite song. Be creative - Be
fun!!!!! Twist, jump, hop on
on one leg then on two legs, twist some more.
* do certain animal walks using objects to go around, to go through, or to mark
off
certain distances . . . and have FUN1
- frog
leap
- bear
walk
- lizard squirm
- kangaroo
hop -
camel
walk
- monster walk or lunges
- crab
walk
- alligator
crawl -
duck walk
* Jump for Joy - set up an obstacle course with several jumping stations, such
as 1.) a hopscotch
style grid (made with chalk on a sidewalk,
painters tape on garage or basement floor, old bike
tires or ladder placed flat on ground to jump
through rungs); 2) a series of objects to jump
over or onto (for inside-pillows, blankets, toys,
old books, pictures taped on floor- for outside-
rocks, sticks, lumber, small carpet squares, make
your own hurdles); 3.) and finally, the last
station could be a series of ropes, yardsticks,
or even chalk or paint defined lines on ground
where you vary the distance between each
other. Here you can jump forward, backward, or
sideways (like ski jump method). You can
jump with both feet together, hop on one foot,
do a leap over each jumping obstacle, or do a
combination of all kinds of jumps.
As your child's confidence builds, encourage your
child to increase their speed through the
course by timing them with a stopwatch.
* THIS IS FUN - DO A SWIM ROUTINE
- great anytime - even in the winter or on a rainy day
- play any "Beach Boy's" tape or
"Splish Splash I Was Taking a Bath"
- PRETEND to go to the beach.
On leader's verbal signal "BEACH" , you must jog in
place for 16 counts. (can
change direction of jogging to left, right, forward, backward)
- On leader's signal "BACKCRAWL"
lift one arm and then the other, back and around -
for 4 slow counts then repeat
for 8 quick counts.
Now place your hands on hips,
jump with feet together for 2 counts to the left side and
then 2 counts to the right
side. Push your hips out to that side each time.
- On leader's signal "BEACH"
jog in place again for 16 counts (call direction)
- On leader's signal "BREAST
STROKE" stay on your spot while bringing straight arms
together forward and then
opening arms to each side for 8 slow counts.
- On leader's signal "BEACH"
jog again for 16 counts (call direction)
- On leader's signal "SIDESTROKE
" stay on the spot as you roll hand over hand
extending one arm upward and at
the same time the other arm downward. Repeat
this action - alternating arms
for 8 slow counts.
- On leader's signal "BACKCRAWL"
do 4 slow counts then 8 quick counts - jumping to the
left side for 2 counts and then
jumping to the right side for 2 counts.
- On leader's signal "BEACH" jog
in place for 16 counts (call direction)
- On leader's signal "DOG
PADDLE" cup hands and paddle in front of chest till
music stops.
* Go on a camping trip - can be in the house or you can take a hike in your yard/park.
-
set up blanket over table for tent; get camping gear such as flashlight,
sleeping bag,
backpack (maybe filled with
camping supplies like canned foods to act as weights or
for pretend meals, binoculars,
compass, whatever other items that you can think of.
- can set up one of the obstacle courses listed above for either inside or
outside of
home.
- pretend the stairs are mountains going up and down - do some rock climbing or
they could be a waterfall where
you can "bump" down on your butt.
- go "swimming" in the tub - try some simple swimming movements on
your belly
while in the tub. Stand
under a waterfall - the shower!
- turn the lights out and close the curtains . . . use your flashlight which
always adds to
the authenticity of the camping
trip. Wiggle under chairs, roll under a bed or a table,
jump over stacked books for
rocks . . . let your imagination go wild!
- set up green construction paper circles and tape to floor - all over a room or
several
rooms and jump with either both
feet or l foot from one "rock" or "lily pad" to another
Use socks, pillows, or blankets
as rocks or islands. Use a blue sheet or blanket as a
river and hop over it with one
foot or both feet or jump from side to side the length
of the river. Roll like a
log down a hallway.
- after your "hike" through the house and of course with adult
supervision - sit down
to some candles lit in a high
top glass dish or bowl . . . this is your campfire. Roast
marshmallows on a stick,
some mini franks on a fork, and even make a S'more.
- after eating - read a camping or adventure story by the campfire. Makeup
a story
maybe even a scary one!
- at night - read a book about the stars and go out in your own yard and and
discover
the night stars for yourself .
. . or make a mural of the constellations and tape on the
wall or ceiling. If you
don't want to make a mural, just cut out some stars and tape
them in a particular
formation. Buy the glow in the dark stars and stick them on the
bottom of the table top that
was your tent. Very cool!
- this is a great "family" story and activity to do as a closing to
the camp outing.
A story to be easily memorized
. . . a story to be chanted aloud and acted out - to
be enjoyed over and over again
. . . each time reading and acting out with more and
more expression. When I
was little, while camping in our pop-up camper, we always
chanted this story around the
campfire . . . and I repeated this tradition with my own
children. Make it an
exciting and FUN family memory . . . which will always be
remembered!
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
retold by Michael Rosen
Macmillan Publishing Co. l989
We're going on a bear hunt.
We're
going to catch a big one.
What a
beautiful day!
We're
not scared.
Oh-oh! Grass!
Long,
wavy grass.
We
can't go over it.
We
can't go under it.
Oh, no!
We've
got to go through it!
Swishy swashy
!
[ Move
arms alternating them from going in
Swishy
swashy ! to
going outside of body or moving arms in
Swishy
swashy ! a
back and forth manner.]
We're going on a bear hunt.
We're going to
catch a big one.
What a beautiful
day!
We're not scared.
Oh-oh! A
river!
A deep, cold river.
We can't go over
it.
We can't go under
it.
Oh, no!
We've got to go
through it!
Splish splosh
!
[ move arms up and over shoulders in
a
Splish splosh
! swimming
fashion . . . even the dog paddle]
Splish
splosh !
We're going on a bear hunt.
We're going
to catch a big one.
What a
beautiful day!
We're not
scared.
Oh-oh!
Mud!
Thick, oozy
mud.
We can't go
over it.
We can't go
under it.
Oh, no!
We've got to
go through it!
Squelch squerch
!
[ move feet up and down in a high
Squelch
squerch
! fashion
struggle - with much
Squelch
squerch ! suction
power.]
We're going on a bear hunt.
We're
going to catch a big one.
What a
beautiful day!
We're
not scared.
Oh-no! A forest!
A big ,
dark forest.
We
can't go over it.
We
can't go under it.
Oh,
no!
We've
got to go through it!
Stumble trip
!
[walk and even run in a circle with a
Stumble
trip ! stumble
and trip action]
Stumble
trip !
We're going on a bear hunt.
We're
going to catch a big one.
What a
beautiful day!
We're
not scared.
Oh-oh! A snowstorm!
A
swirling, whirling snowstorm.
We
can't go over it.
We
can't go under it.
Oh, no!
We've
got to go through it!
Hoooo wooooo
!
[walk in a plodding fashion as though
Hoooo
wooooo ! fighting
a heavy cold wind - holding
Hoooo
wooooo ! your jacket
tight around your neck]
We're going on a bear hunt.
We're
going to catch a big one.
What a
beautiful day!
We're
not scared.
Oh-oh! A cave!
A
narrow, gloomy cave.
We
can't go over it.
We
can't go under it.
Oh, no!
We've
got to go through it!
Tiptoe [ tiptoe in a circle acting very scared
Tiptoe looking around and over shoulder]
Tiptoe !
WHAT'S THAT ?
One shiny wet
nose!
Two big furry ears!
Two big goggly eyes!
IT'S A BEAR!!!!!!!
Quick! Back through the cave
! [make sure
to act out each
Tiptoe ! Tiptoe ! Tiptoe
!
stanza as you read through]
Back through the snowstorm !
Hoooo wooooo ! Hoooo wooooo ! Hoooo
wooooo !
Back through the forest !
Stumble trip ! Stumble trip ! Stumble trip !
Back through the mud !
Squelch squerch ! Squelch squerch ! Squelch
squerch !
Back through the river !
Splish splosh ! Splish splosh ! Splish
splosh !
Back through the grass !
Swishy swashy ! Swishy swashy ! Swishy
swashy !
Get to the front door.
Open the
door. [grab doorknob and turn]
Up the
stairs. [jog - as if
climbing stairs]
Oh, no!
We forgot to
shut the door.
Back
downstairs. [jog]
Shut the
door. [clap your hands as you
pretend to shut the door]
Back
upstairs. [jog back]
Into the
bedroom.
Into the bed.
Under the
covers [pull covers over]
We're
not going on a bear hunt . . . ever again !!!!