Horseshoes Pits and Bowling a Strike!

With the weather cooling down we took to the outdoors for a great pastime: Horseshoes. Kinder through third grade learned the game of horseshoes by reviewing underhand throwing skills and working on their depth perception. We used plastic stakes and hoops to make a horseshoe pit to which they worked on throwing accuracy and distance with plastic horseshoes (see pictures below). 

When we finished, we connected these pieces to the game of bowling. Over the last two weeks we have learned strategies for bowling and used our math skills to score the games. We used plastic bowling pins set up in an arrangement of 6 to knock down and score the big strike! In the end, we were able to play competitive games keeping track of everyone's score.

When we return to school next week we will begin our final unit before Winter break. We will be reviewing our Team Handball skills to apply to Basketball! We are looking forward to a classic sport and an opportunity to teach the fundamentals and basic strategies of the game. Our goal is to demonstrate proper dribbling, passing, shooting and optimize the triple threat!

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Skyhawks Inaugural Tournament

Our Archway student-athletes who participate in Skyhawks, our after-school athletic program, had their first tournament on November 7th. The athletes have been training in basketball and soccer since the beginning of the year and have learned many new skills! Last Saturday was a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills with other student-athletes from Archway Trivium. See below for some action shots from the weekend.

Skyhawks will have day camps every Wednesday through December 16th. Your student-athlete can join us for flag football, basketball, baseball, and soccer!

The new Winter session will begin on January 13th. It will be 8 weeks of flag football and volleyball on Wednesdays. Register for both the day camps and Winter sessions on the Skyhawks website.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back from Fall Break! We hope that everyone had a restful break from school and the students enjoyed the great weather. We are very excited to get back to school and teach some new sports in P.E.!

Before the break we were learning to play volleyball. We wanted the students to understand the basics of the game: rotating positions, bumping, passing, serving and returning. Each new skill was taught on a different day, but each skill built on the previous one to create an orderly game. By the end of the two weeks the students were able to play against each other by rallying through a series of serves, volleys and returned passes. It was really impressive to see them learn so much so quickly and play organized volleyball games! 

Now we will move onto Team Handball. This is a wonderful game to introduce to young athletes as it is very similar to basketball and incorporates some hockey elements. It will prepare them to handle a basketball by dribbling, passing and defending as well as making them move to get open and find unoccupied space. We will begin with the basics of dribbling and passing and move into defending against those skills. The goal is to play 5-on-5 games in which each team is trying to score a goal on their opponent. More details (and hopefully pictures) are to come!

Football and Volleyball

We have come to the end of our football unit and a lot of hard work has been accomplished. The students learned many football skills and techniques but it took a lot of patience and diligence on their part. They learned how to hold the ball properly and change direction when necessary as well as the positions on a football field and the job they have every time the ball is snapped (see pictures below). The students made great improvements with all the fundamentals and it was a pleasure to see them in action during our flag football games. Job well done!

Running the Ball Relays

Flag Football Games

Now it is time for volleyball. The students are getting a feel for this new ball that many have not played with. They are learning how to control the ball and make slight adjustments to hit the ball just right. Under-hand serving and bump-passing are skills that we will incorporate into short rallies so they begin to understand the game of volleyball.

As for fitness in P.E., we are making their simple plank holds a little more difficult. The students are doing plank stars, scorpion holds, and shoulder touches. Everyone has excelled at these skills as they continue to strengthen their core. Be sure to ask them to share their exercises and how it is helping their bodies!

Fall is (almost) In the Air!

I hope that everyone had an amazing Labor Day weekend! Dodgeball was a huge success in K-3 P.E. last week! We used the fundamentals of throwing and catching in a challenging game that students were quick to understand and enjoy. The students were reminded to focus on safety, use proper throwing techniques and stay alert and responsive. The classes were sad to hear that we will be moving on from such a popular and exciting game.

As we approach the Fall season, school sports have officially begun. At Lincoln Prep, students are participating in cross-country, volleyball, and flag football and we want the Archway students to experience these sports in P.E. Our hope is that they can understand the awesome games their older brother or sister may be playing. With that in mind, we have begun with football in K-3 P.E. We will start by discussing important positions and their roles during a game. We will also break down hand-off exchanges, throwing a football, running to avoid others and anticipation. Drills and games will be incorporated to learn these skills and our aim is to play flag football games by the end of next week.

As the weather cools down, be sure to send your kids outside to practice all the exercises and games we are learning in P.E.! This week the students will be doing bicycles (laying flat on their back) for abdominal work and a variation of push-ups (called "go-go push-ups") that they will excel at. Be sure to ask them to show you all their fitness exercises!

Throwing and Catching leads to a P.E. Classic!

Last week we learned how to throw using the correct mechanics. We began with under hand tossing to focus on stepping with our opposite foot and judging distances. Next, we were ready for overhand throws and using the basic form to promote accuracy. Students also learned hand-eye coordination for catching focusing mostly on two-handed catches. For under hand toss we used bean bags, but for overhand throws we used color coated foam balls. Little do they know they were preparing for a PE classic: Dodgeball!

The variations of dodgeball that we will play this week in K-3 P.E. promote safety, awareness and responsiveness. We have encouraged these initiatives in game play over the last three weeks. The rules of the game will be catered to the age-level and appropriate standards will be set for each grade level. I have experienced nothing but success in the past and I anticipate this to be one of your student's favorite games! Check back for more updates!

Curriculum Night

Parents, please join us for Archway Lincoln's Curriculum Nights!

K-2 Curriculum Night- Thursday, August 27th 6:30-8pm


3-5 Curriculum Night- Wednesday, September 2nd 6:30-8pm

This will be a great opportunity for you to learn all the wonderful things your students will be learning this school year. We hope to see you there!

Starting with the Basics in P.E.

To begin the year in P.E. class, we have introduced the basic movements for physical activity that promote efficiency and effectiveness. Most games and sports we play in P.E. will require agility and finesse in order to be successful. That being said, the first Unit we are covering is the Foundation of Locomotor Skills. Our focus is making sure students are pumping their arms correctly while running, changing speed to rapidly change direction and making students aware of their surroundings. Last week we began with simple games like relays races in which they had to use all of their limbs: running, skipping, bear crawl, crap walk, etc. This week we have moved into every child's favorite game: tag! Many versions such as tunnel tag, line tag and flag tag have got them using all the basic locomotor functions we demonstrate and discuss.

In addition, we begin each class with warm-up exercises and stretching. We name the muscles we are stretching and discuss how each one works. As for exercises, we have introduced planks and lunges but modified each for their ability level. Hopefully they remember these skills and are showing everyone at home!

Proper Dress for P.E. Class

As we begin our second week of school, many of you know that Archway students will have P.E. at least twice per week. The uniform and dress code was created to accommodate students for physical activity at recess and P.E. We would like to remind parents that proper footwear is required to protect the children and the gym floor (please see the Archway Lincoln Shoe Policy for examples). Dress shoes or flats will not protect their ankles and feet during high impact running and they will scratch the floor or leave scuff marks that will cause long-term damage. In addition, girls are required to wear dark colored spandex under their jumpers and skirts to accommodate activities in the gym or at recess (please see page 48 in the Family Handbook for more details). I have had a few friendly conversations with students about proper dress. In the future, we will ask students without proper attire to sit out of P.E. Thank you for your support! Please email me if you have any questions: dcook@archwaylincoln.org.

Welcome to Archway P.E. and Athletics!

Greetings Archway Lincoln Parents!

It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself as the Physical Education teacher for the kindergarten, first, second and third grade levels in the inaugural year of Archway Lincoln. I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. I have spent the last 9 years working with children ages 3 to 13 to develop their knowledge and awareness of their motor skills and physical abilities in the forms of exercise, sports and education. I am excited to work with our students here at Lincoln and begin building their foundation of exercise and physical fitness.

Physical activity is a crucial part of a child’s development and it is important that they understand the benefits of fitness. Our goal as Physical Educators is to create excitement for fitness and physical activity. We create lesson plans that keep students active and promote enjoyment. We teach the benefits of exercise, staying active and eating healthy. We do these things by modeling enthusiasm for physical education and creating a safe and positive learning environment.

For all of the exciting things your student will be learning this year please follow our Archway Lincoln Athletics blog by submitting your email for new post notifications. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please reach out to me by phone or email. I look forward to working with you and promoting a healthy way of life for your children.

In fitness,

Coach Cook

P: (480) 424-1798
E: dcook@archwaylincoln.org