PolarGoFit used to Individualize Fitness in P.E.

Verizon's Digital Promise storyteller's visited King Art's 7th grade P.E. class last week to run a story on what Polar GoFit has done to transform physical education class.  Student's are able to see live results of their heart rate on the ipad instantly during class.  This has helps self-motivate students to improve their fitness and health.  Below is the video that shows how this technology tool has helped innovate and educate student's on their heart rate and how it effects their body.

Storyteller school: leveraging the iPad to personalize fitness for students from DigitalPromiseStories on Vimeo.

Back to MLK & Physical Education

We are off to a great start this school year at MLK.  Middle school has been learning rugby skills and game strategies, as well as participating in Fitnessgram testing.  Elementary students have been learning and practicing locomotor movements, spacial awareness, new exercises, and underhand throwing.  Be on the look out for more posts, which will include pictures and videos of the MLK student's in action!

Field Day was the BEST!

Last Thursday, MLK student's participated in a fun field day last week. The weather was absolutely perfect! Elementary student's enjoyed the inflatable obstacle course, the hurdles, water relay, three-legged race, steal the bacon, hula hoops, jump ropes, and DANCING! A special thanks to all the 7th grade helpers who worked all afternoon setting up and running the stations. Below are some pictures of the student's in action.

Professional Men's Volleyball Player's visit MLK

Yesterday, King Arts student's attended an assembly in the gym featuring some professional men's volleyball player's! They showed students drills they do to practice and showed off their spiking and serving skills. Some of the middle school volleyball players participated in the drills and attempted to dig the professional's spikes and serves. A big THANK YOU to the players for coming to visit. The student's and teacher's really enjoyed it! Below are some pictures from the event.

Jump Rope for Heart Week

This month, King Arts student's have been raising money for the American Heart Association through the Jump Rope for Heart program.  Throughout the past week, student's participated in various jump rope and jump exercises.  So far, King Arts student's have raised over $7,000 to help kids with special hearts, like those featured on the American Heart Association website: Kids We've Helped.  

We've met and exceeded our fundraising goal, however, there is still time to donate.  The deadline is March 31st.  You can donate online at http://heart.org/jump.  

Thank you to everyone who has helped raise money for this great organization and cause.  We really appreciate your support and generosity.  

Below is a video of some student's and teacher's in action, check it out!

Jump Rope for Heart-King Arts 2015 from Kristin Hendricks on Vimeo.

Pennies for Patients Celebration Day

Today, the 4th and 6th graders celebrated raising the most money for the Pennies for Patients fundraiser to support the Lukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Last month, King Arts student's participated in a friendly PBIS competition to raise money for kids with cancer.  The winning elementary and middle school grades received salad, pasta, and breadsticks that was donated to us by Olive Garden through their "Pasta for Pennies" initiative.  The 4th graders raised over $300 and the 6th graders raised over $500!  Collectively as a school, we raised over $1800!  The money went to a great cause and the students enjoyed a delicious lunch treat.  Thank you to all the parents who supported us in our efforts to raise money for an influential organization.

Jump Rope for Heart Month

During the entire month of March, MLK students will be focusing on donating and participating in Jump Rope for Heart month to raise money for the American Heart Association.  Yesterday, all the elementary students watched a video about to young girl with a heart condition.  The students who donate will receive various rubber ducks based on how much money they raise.  The more ducks they earn, the more lives they save!  All students were given a packet with information to go home.  You can also donate online by clicking on the following link:  Jump Rope for Heart Website

Event Information:
Place: King Arts P.E. class (during school)
When: March 23rd-27th
How to: Fill out flyer with cash and/or check or donate online at the above website
Deadline: March 31st

Below is a picture from last year's Jump Rope for Heart week

P.E. February News Update

It has been a busy February at King Arts!  The elementary students have been tumbling.  Middle school students have been focusing on fitness and participating in skate week.

Two weeks ago, the middle school students participated in skate week.  Once a year, we rent skates for 5th-8th grade.  The students really enjoy it and even come after school to skate.  Each day has a different theme.  Our favorite day is 80s music day! Below is a video of some students in action.

The elementary students have been learning and practicing different balances, rolls, and creating their own tumbling routines in P.E.  They also worked together with peers doing partner balances. 

UNO Fitness with Polar GoFit Heart Rate Monitors

Today middle school participated in a fun UNO fitness game.  They worked together in groups by picking UNO cards from the bucket, telling their group the color and number, and then completing the correct exercise and repetitions.  The goal is for the students to stay in their target heart rate zone throughout the activity.  At the end, the students work in teams to count their card total points.  The students really enjoy it because it is a fun and interactive way for them to exercise, work as a team, and it incorporates math as well.  Below is a video of the activity.

Middle School Unit Days & Elementary Climbing & Fitness

For the next three months, all middle school students will be doing a three unit rotation between the rock climbing wall, badminton, and the fitness center.  Each student will be doing a 7 day rotation with each activity.  

With Coach Springer, students work on team building and then learn how to belay and climb in 7th & 8th grade.  The students work together in teams to help each other climb and belay using the harnesses and ropes.  5th and 6th grade get to traverse across the wall.  

With Coach Metovic, students set fitness goals and work to improve their health-related fitness components.  They do this by lifting weights and doing fitness circuits using proper technique with the weights and machines in the fitness center. 

With Ms. Hendricks, students learn badminton skills and rules.  At the end of the unit, the students participate in the doubles badminton tournament against their peers. 

Below is a video of the students in action during all three units.

All elementary students have been staying active by doing fitness and the climbing wall.  It is a great way for them to stay active throughout class.  Many of them are sweaty and red by the time class is over.  Below is a video of the students in action.

Pennies for Popcorn Fundraiser

King Arts participated in a fundraiser called Pennies for Popcorn last month.  There was a popcorn sale during all lunches where student's purchased popcorn for a dollar.  The fundraiser was a big success, raising over $100 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  This month, we will be starting a fundraiser called Pennies for Pasta.  Each classroom will be collecting coins, dollars, and checks to help raise money for kids with blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.  The classroom who raises the most money will receive a "hospitaliano" pasta lunch party provided by Olive Garden.

Below is a picture of the Pennies for Popcorn fundraiser. 

The Tiffin Women's basketball team visits King Arts

Before break, the University of Tiffin Women’s basketball team came to work with the middle school girl’s basketball players.  They taught the girls how to play man-to-man defense, worked on lay-ups, and had a question and answer session with them.  The girls learned so much from the players and it was great having them here to work one on one with each player.  They were great mentors and coaches about basketball and  college life.  A special thank you goes out to the Tiffin players, coaches, athletic trainer and our very own nurse, Ms. Smith for coordinating everything.  The University of Tiffin is located in Ohio.  They stopped in Evanston on their way to Puerto Rico.