MOVEMENT THEMES FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION

SPACE-self, general

LEVELS-high, medium, low

DIRECTIONS-forward, backward, sideways (right and left), up, down

PATHWAYS-straight, curved, zigzag

RANGES-near, far

TIME-rhythm, pulse beats, accents

TIME-speeds-fast, slow

TRANSFER OF WEIGHT-stepping, rolling, flying, rocking

BALANCE-on balance, off balance, dynamic, static, base of support

BODY SHAPES-curling, twisting, stretching

FORCE-light, medium, strong

FORCE-creating, absorbing, controlling (relaxation/tension)

MOVEMENT RELATIONSHIPS-meeting, parting, matching, contrasting, mirroring, shadowing

FLOW-bound, free

BODY AWARENESS-body parts, relationships of one body art to another (for example-opposition of arm and leg during  throwing movement), body focus, body leads, kinesthetic awareness

MOVEMENT SEQUENCING-movement phrases, repeatable movements with a definite beginning, middle and end, a series of actions in which preparation, action and recovery are linked smoothly

All themes are taught in a spiral fashion increasing in depth and complexity from first through third grades. Each theme can be used as a major content focus and as variables during the learning and acquisition of future movement concepts. For example, we can focus on the learning of LEVELS-moving with high level, medium level and low level movements. We can then use levels as a variable when learning about FORCE. How many different ways can you move at a low level with lots of force? Can you move with a light force at the high level? As you can anticipate, the larger the pool of knowledge about movement, the larger the vocabulary and the more opportunity to create more complex movements.

ADDITIONAL LESSON THEMES

In addition to movement themes we also work extensively of FITNESS concepts, perceptual motor activities, formalized DANCE in the form of folk dances from around the world, GYMNASTIC lessons based on our movement concepts and low organizational GAMES which reflect our movement themes as well as COOPERATIVE GAMES .BIKE SAFETY, PLAYGROUND SAFETY and BUS SAFETY are also discussed.