Submitted by: Sonia Sheehan, HPEC Vice President Communications
In March 2018 I was fortunate to be able to attend and
present at the National SHAPE America Conference in Nashville. Throughout the
weeklong professional learning experience, I gained numerous insights, ideas
and teaching strategies to enhance my professional practice. One session I
attended shared best practices in the area of involving parents in our physical
education programs. I was introduced to the idea of “Bring Your Parents to PE
Class”. This sounded like an amazing way to invite parents to experience a
physical education class and move, play, and learn alongside their student. As
a physical education teacher at an elementary school my goal became looking
into ways to incorporate this parental involvement idea into my physical
education program and host my very own “Bring Your Parents to PE Class”.
On my journey to plan and implement a “Bring Your Parents to
PE Class” there were a few things I needed to consider to increase the
probability of a successful event.
1.
Timing/Date: Finding the right time within the
school year is important to help the “Bring Your Parents to PE Class” event be
successful. Hosting the parent/student PE class during a Family PE Week, during
a welcome back BBQ or during student learning conferences can be possible
options. At my school I aligned my “Bring Your Parents to PE Classes” with my school
learning conferences. During both the fall learning conferences (October) and winter
learning conferences (January) I host my “Bring Your Parents to PE Class”.
Choosing school learning conference days and evenings allowed me to host
multiple classes both during the day and during the evening. Being in a K-4
school, I was also able to host a kindergarten specific class and a grade 1 – 4
class during this time. Hosting the classes during learning conferences allowed
me to interact with parents and showcase student learning in physical education
class in an active and parent included manner.
2.
Length of Class/Class format/Class Capacity:
Determining the class length, format and capacity is important when planning
for a successful event. When I was planning for my “Bring Your Parents to PE
Class” I tried to plan for my class similarly to my regular PE classes. I
planned for a 30 minute class that followed our regular PE format including: an
entry activity, review of expectations, warm up activities, an introduction to
a movement skill, practice and application of the movement skill into a game
activity that allowed all participants (students and parents) to experience
success. Determining the capacity of the class was linked to the space I have
available in my gymnasium and the required space to ensure safe movement
experiences. I did incorporate a sign up process to ensure the “Bring Your
Parents to PE Class” did not reach an unsafe number of participants. I was also
flexible and was able to add additional classes once the original classes
reached their capacity. I usually run 3 – 4 separate classes to accommodate
approximately 200 students and parents during the “Bring Your Parents to PE
Class”..
3.
Promotion: Letting both parents and students
know about the “Bring Your Parents to PE Class” was important to fill the
classes. I announced the event during physical education classes, promoted the
event on our school communication pages and used the school parent messaging
application to ensure parents received the information about the event. I also
personally invited parents of students who might need a little extra help being
successful in physical education class.
4.
Lesson Plan/Activities: Planning the activities
for the “Bring Your Parents to PE Class” is important to ensure safe and active
participation by all those attending. I usually make sure students have learned
all the activities previously in PE class and can model the activities to help
their parents. When using any equipment during the “Bring Your Parents to PE
Class” I make sure there is enough equipment and choices of equipment for
participants to choose from. Focusing on cooperative activities rather than
competitive activities has also helped for a more enjoyable and successful
event.
Through the development of my “Bring Your Parents to PE
Class” I reached my goal of creating an opportunity for both students and
parents to experience a safe, fun, developmentally appropriate physical
education experience. Parents and students arrive ready and prepared to be
active for each class and leave with a positive and active family experience.
Many parents who attended the “Bring Your Parents to PE Class” expressed
gratitude for the opportunity to be active with their student and appreciated
the ideas of how they could continue to be active with their student at home.
If you are interested in developing a “Bring Your Parents to
PE Class” at your school, below are some resources that may be of help in your
planning, preparation and delivery of an event. I highly recommend hosing a
‘Bring Your Parents to PE Class” and hopefully it will become a positive way to
engage parents in your Physical Education Program.
Bring
Your Parents to PE Class Resources:
Connect your “Bring Your Parents to PE Class” to a Family PE
Week and the US Games OPEN resources: https://openphysed.org/familieslovepe
Sample
“Bring Your Parents to PE Class” sign up template:
Bring Your Parents to PE Class during January 2025 Learning
Conferences on Thursday January 23, 2025:
During the upcoming Learning
Conferences at SWE, join Mrs. Sheehan and Mrs. Bishop for a “Bring Your Parents
to PE Class”. This PE class is for students currently attending the SWE Campus
(Kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4). Parents need to
accompany their child and be ready to participate in all activities with their
student. There is available space for 24 students and their parent(s) to
sign up for each PE class. Please dress to be active with your clothing
and wear indoor athletic shoes. The sign up link for the "Bring Your
Parents to PE Class" will close when the class is filled or at 12pm on
January 22.
Thursday January 23: 2:15-2:45pm Bring Your Parents to PE: insert your school sign up link
Thursday January 23: 5:15-5:45pm Bring Your Parents to PE: insert your school sign up link
Thursday January 23 6:15-6:45pm
Bring Your Parents to PE: insert your school sign up link
Sample
Family PE Week Template:
Be Part of our 4th
Annual SWE Family PE Week
What: SWE Family PE
Week
When: October 7 - 11,
2024
Where: Participate at
home with your family members and attend the Bring Your Parents to PE Event at
SWE
Who: All SWE students
and their family members
Add some
movement to your family evenings with our 4th Annual SWE Family PE week. PE stands for Physical Education. Our SWE Physical Education program promotes
physical literacy. Physical literacy is
the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to
value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for
life. During the SWE Family PE Week SWE
families are encouraged to be active as a family.
Family
Activities for the week of October 7 - 11:
· Sign up and participate in one of the
“Bring Your Parents to PE Classes”
· October 7 – 11 is iwalk International
Walk to School Week, more information here: https://shapeab.ca/iwalk/, consider registering your family and add some additional
walking to your daily school drop off or pick up, registration is open for
individual families
· Go for a family hike
· Take your family pet for a walk
around your neighborhood
· Go for a family bike ride
· Go for a family swim at a local pool
· Play at a local playground with your
family
· Create an active game your family can
play outside
· Rake some leaves and jump in or over
the piles of leaves
· Play throw and catch with your family
members using some type of ball
· As a family try out the Family
Fitness Challenge, or one of the Fun Fitness video links or Advanced Object
Control videos included below
·
Send
in a picture of your family being active to Mrs. Sheehan
Thank you
for being active during the SWE Family PE Week!
Wednesday
October 9: “Bring
Your Parents to PE Class for Kindergarten” – must sign up to attend – Join Mrs.
Sheehan for a Kindergarten focused PE class from 4:30-5:00pm. There is
available space for 24 students and their parent(s) to sign up. Parents need to
accompany their child and be ready to participate in all activities with their
student. Please dress to be active with your clothing and shoes. The sign up
link for the “Bring Your Parents to PE Class” for Kindergarten students will
close at 8pm on Tuesday October 8.
Thursday
October 10: “Bring
Your Parents to PE Class for Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4” – must sign up to attend - Join Mrs. Sheehan for a PE class on Thursday October 10 from 5:00-5:30pm
for Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4. There is available space for 24 students and
their parent(s) to sign up. Parents need to accompany their child and be ready
to participate in all activities with their student. Please dress to be
active with your clothing and shoes. The sign up link for the "Bring
Your Parents to PE Class" will close at 8pm on October 9.
Additional
Resources for Families to be Active during the 4th Annual SWE Family
PE Week:
Family Fitness
Challenges:
10 Jumping Jacks
5 Spins
10 High Leg Kicks
20 Air Punches
Balance on one foot for 15 seconds
Speed walk safely to 4 different rooms in your house or
around the outside of your house
Give a high 5 to all your family members
Hold a plank position for 15 seconds
Wall sit for 20 seconds
10 Frog Jumps
Do your favourite Fitness Activity 15 times
If space is available outside, create a start line and a
finish line and have a family running race
Follow Along Fun Fitness Videos:
10 minute Family Fun Cardio Fitness Workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7nrOBBfcYI
Tabata Workout for Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzVR5Wz9On0
Spiderman Workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15BWn39QYY0
Kid Fit Go HIIT Workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fomkRYcl_mo&t=13s
Super Mario Adventure Fitness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxfI5pYDqjE&t=4s
Superhero Races: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfeyvOtSdWU
Advanced object control skill videos:
Advanced Football/Soccer Ball Mastery at Home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzB1gxI3w2A
Tennis Ball Skills at Home:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_pxajnfCj4
Sample
“Bring Your Parents to PE Class” Lesson Plans:
Bring Your Parents to PE Class Lesson Plan for Grades K-4:
2:15-2:45pm: K, Gr 1, Gr 2, Gr 3 and Gr 4 (sign up to
attend) 24 spots
5:15-5:45pm: K, Gr 1, Gr 2, Gr 3 and Gr 4 (sign up to
attend) 24 spots
6:15-6:45pm: K, Gr 1, Gr 2, Gr 3 and Gr 4 (sign up to
attend) 24 sports
Extra class added: 6:15-6:45pm: K, Gr 1, Gr 2, Gr 3 and Gr 4
(sign up on google form) 24 spots
Equipment: 25 poly spots, 25 gator balls, Last Student
Standing Cards (Sit, Stand, Kneel, Lay Down), 25 blue buckets, 75 bowling pins,
25 reaction balls, 25 entry task cards (suggestion to have each blue bucket
with 3 bowling pins and 1 poly spot for ease of equipment distribution)
1.
Enter Gym and choose a home base for your family
(student/parent)
2.
Entry Activity: Home Base Challenges (provide
each parent/child with a PE entry task sheet with the following choices:
reaction ball bounce and catch, gator ball throw/roll/bounce and catch, perform
specific exercises: balance on one foot, hold a plank, complete 10 jumping
jacks, complete 10 air punches, run on the spot with fast feet for the count of
10, stretch your arms over your head and then reach down to your toes) –
receive a sheet, gator ball and reaction ball when entering the gymnasium
3.
Once everyone has arrived and students/parents
have had a chance to complete some of the home base challenges have students
return the equipment
4.
Set the Expectations for the Class: Go over
Gymnasium Expectations:
a.
Safety
b.
Listen
c.
Respect
d.
Play Fair
e.
Do Your Best
f.
3,2,1 Freeze
5.
Perimeter run/walk around the gymnasium to warm
up the large muscle groups
6.
Warm up Activity Game: Last Student Standing
Game (Guessing Game): have 4 pieces of paper with each piece of paper having
one of the 4 words (written in large letters): Sit, Stand, Kneel or Lay Down – have
everyone practice your celebration move/victory dance move for when you guess
correctly – Everyone will begin with a movement activity on the spot (ex.
Jumping jacks, running on the spot, air punches, lunges, squats,…), teacher
calls out “Freeze” and everyone stops and then has 5 seconds to pick one of the
4 positions in the game (sitting, standing, kneeling or laying down), 5 seconds
is given to get into the position of your guess (sit, stand, kneel, or lay
down), everyone holds their position and the teacher picks one of the 4 pieces
of paper and reveals the card, if your guess matches the card then you complete
your celebration move/victory dance move, if your guess does not match the card
they you run one time around the gym and get ready for the next guess – play
for a total of 6 guesses - How many guesses will you guess correctly out of the
6 guesses?
7.
Additional Warm up Activity Game: Reaction Game:
everyone with a gator ball – The Reaction Word is “Go”, the Reaction position
is pick up the ball from the floor, stay standing and hold the ball over your
head – earn a point if you react faster than the teacher or tie the teacher –
no point if you are slower than the teacher – play a few rounds against the
teacher – play against your parent – progress from starting in freeze position
while waiting to react to the Reaction Word, to running on the spot, to jumping
jacks, to running around the ball, to fast feet, to sitting, to laying down
8.
Movement Skill Practice: Rolling practice – review
rolling technique and everyone rolls a gator ball into open space and moves
into open space to find your ball and roll again
9.
Application of Rolling skill: Jailhouse Rocks –
Spread gator balls on the ground, pick up one ball at a time, roll the ball
into open space to try to tag someone else’s foot or leg, if a ball touches
your legs or feet, go to jail and wait until you hear the words “Jailhouse
Rocks” to return to the game – complete a wall sit activity while in waiting in
the jail
10.
Depending on time: choose Family Bowling or
Family Blue Bucket Challenges – if time allows – both activities can be done
11.
Application of Rolling with accuracy: Family
Bowling: Set up 3 bowling pins for your family, a poly spot as a bowling spot,
and a gator ball to roll/bowl – (place the pins by a wall to ensure the roll is
going towards the wall), slowly move away from the pins to increase distance
between target and rolling spot, practice rolling the ball and see how many
pins you knock down each time – retrieve your ball after you bowl and set up
the pins for your next family member
12.
Extension of Rolling and experimentation with
Throwing: Family Blue Bucket Challenges: need gator ball, blue bucket and poly
spot – follow through the blue bucket challenges:
a.
Roll the ball from the spot into the blue bucket
(bucket needs to be laying horizontally on it’s side)
b.
Bounce the ball on the ground from the spot into
the blue bucket (bucket needs to be standing up vertically)
c.
Rebound the ball off the wall and into the blue
bucket
d.
1 minute challenges – in a 1 minute time frame –
how many times can you and your parent get the ball in the blue bucket – after a 1 minute challenge – time again and
try to beat your number from the first round – 3rd and 4th
round – move the poly spot further away – 5th and 6th
round – have parent or student hold the blue bucket to help with the catch
13.
Optional Game: Battle of the Pins: divide
the gym into 2 sides and set up approximately 12-15 bowling pins up at the back
of each side – protect the bowling pins and try to knock down the pins on the
other side of the gym – remember to play fair and move only on your side of the
gym – don’t cross the middle line – for safety – focus on rolling the ball for
application of skill and keeping the game safe for all participants
14.
Equipment away and thank everyone for coming and
invite parents to come and ask any question they might have about the physical
education program
Bring
Your Parents to PE Entry Task Card:
1.
Complete the following active challenges in a home base with your parents
·
Balance on 1 foot for 10 seconds
·
Balance on the other foot for 10 seconds
·
Complete 10 Jumping Jacks
·
Complete 10 Air Punches
·
Run on the Spot for 10 seconds
with fast feet
·
Stretch your arms over your head and then down to your toes
2.
Bounce the reaction ball and try to catch the ball after 1 bounce, 2
bounces or 3 bounces – be ready to move as the bounces can go in any direction
3.
Roll, throw or bounce the gator ball from student to parent 10 times
4.
Create a trick throw with the gator ball to your parent
