Warm-Up Poster

Continuing from my previous post... here's my 2nd resource I finished over Winter Break.  I've been using this resource since the beginning of the year to help create a predictable warm-up structure for my students in the gym.  I wanted to have a way to quickly warm-up and stretch with a few exercises as well... and be EASY for students to follow.  Therefore I needed a poster with pictures!   I looked online for resources already available, and there wasn't much out there.  I'm noticing that happens A LOT with resources for the gym. 

There's just NOT much out there.  And if there is, the font and pictures aren't what I'm looking for in my gym.  Just like in the classroom... that means I have to MAKE SOMETHING MYSELF! 

Mission accepted. Ha ha! 

First off I started by drawing out the different stretches and exercises so I could have a realistic picture for students to use when following along.  Of course I stretch and exercise along side them, but sometimes I monitor effort by walking around and this allows students to still have a visual to follow along.  It also helps my students to see what's expected and minimizes the number of questions about what we're doing. 

So, what's the resource? 

PE Warm-UP Poster with Stretches & Exercise Cards

This resource includes pieces to create your own warm-up poster.  I like to use large chart paper on my easel that sits at the front of my gym.  I arrange the pieces and switch them out as often as I need to. I love how simple the pieces are to use.  I've also included some ready-to-print posters in case you need to just get started with something! 

Realistic pictures help students to see what the stretch and exercise looks like.  Personally I don't like all the cartoon-like clip-art choices that are out there. But that's just me.  I figure they see enough 'cartoon-ish' characters in their books and on TV, so in the gym I'd like it to be realistic.  Plus it'll help when we need to talk about topics like the skeletal or muscular systems.  I plan to use these pictures to help make connections.  (Of course I haven't worked on those resources yet, but they're to come!)

As of now, these are the stretches & exercises included for the warm-up poster:

I'm hoping to add more as I continue to see what we need, and of course I'll update the resource as I do!  But for now, that's it!  I hope you find it as useful as I have and enjoyable for your students.  

I love to see their excitement when I switch out an exercise to something new.  Who knew Tricep Dips could be so much fun?  That's one of the most recent ones I switched after coming back from our Winter Break.  Students were so excited to get into the crab position and learn this exercise.  Of course I squeezed in a little information about our tricep muscle which they were EVEN MORE excited about when I had them feel their own arm, bicep first.  They were so amazed to feel their own muscle moving as they made a fist and did a bicep curl!  They're such little sponges!  Soaking up ALL this learning about their body. I LOVE IT!  

It's moments like these that I know I'm in the right spot!  I enjoyed teaching in the classroom... but this is like 100 times more enjoyable for me!  Getting to demonstrate exercises and share my love of movement with students makes my heart happy.  It's like getting paid to play!  Ha  ha!  

I'm going to wrap it up here, and hope you find success with this warm-up poster resource in your own gym!   It helps to cut down on behaviors and gives students an opportunity for independence.  Did I mention it's SUPER HELPFUL when you have a guest teacher as well?  Easy to follow along or use student leaders to go through the already learned process of warm-ups! 

Let's continue to ignite that spark for movement and enjoying being able to move!  

Don't forget to check it out here:

 Warm-up Poster with Stretches & Exercise Cards

As always, continue to Find Your Balance friends!

Shelby

Roll & Exercise Activity

Thanks to our recent Winter Break I had some extra time to work on finalizing 2 new resources for TpT!  I've been using them in the gym since the beginning of the school year, but I finally finished putting them together to post on TpT.

So what are they?

Glad you asked...

First up, Roll & Exercise Activity! 

Click Here for link to resource:  Roll & Exercise Activity

This is such a SIMPLE way to get my students moving, and having some fun too! Who knew doing simple exercises could be so engaging?

I use this activity a couple ways.  It can be an easy relay activity using just a few pieces of equipment, or it works great at a station too! Start by creating the Roll & Exercise poster using the TpT resource posted above.

Relay Race Instructions:

Equipment:  Roll & Exercise Poster, cones, hula hoops, & dice

Instructions:  Arrange cones on one end of the gym to create the starting line for your relay teams.  On the opposite end of the gym place a hula hoop with one dice inside.  Hang the Roll & Exercise poster on this end so everyone can see.  I like to color coordinate the cones and hula hoops to help students see the different teams. 

Playing the activity:  One at a time students run down to the hula hoop and roll the dice.  Use the Roll & Exercise poster to see which exercise to complete.  Students complete a certain amount of the exercise they rolled.  For example, in the poster above #4 is Jumping Jacks.  If I rolled a #4 then I would complete five Jumping Jacks before running back to my team and the next student takes a turn.  Continue playing until you call time.  

GREAT activity to increase muscular strength and endurance too!  Kids think they're just playing a fun game, while you know they're getting great exercise as well.  WIN, WIN! 

It's also a quick and easy activity to use when you're short on time or need a lesson last minute for a guest teacher!  As teachers, there's going to be days when we need an activity that we know is simple and easy to use at a moment's notice, so this is PERFECT for that!  

Here's another way I use this Roll & Exercise activity.

Roll & Exercise Stations 

Equipment:  Roll & Exercise Poster (large or small), dice, & a cone (if using the Small Roll & Exercise Poster in a clear sleeve)

Instructions:  Set up various stations in your gym, with one area for Roll & Exercise.  Hang the Large Roll & Exercise poster somewhere in this area or use the Small Roll & Exercise Poster(s) included in this resource that can easily hang on a small cone.  Set out some dice next to the cone.  That's it!

Playing the activity:  Run stations as you do in your gym, when students arrive at the Roll & Exercise station they simply take turns rolling the dice and completing the exercise.  Decide on a certain number of reps for students to complete.  Continue rolling the dice and completing exercises until it's time to rotate to the next station.  **I like to add step boxes at this station to give them a little break between each Roll & Exercise.  Students complete 10 step box steps before rolling the dice again.  Talk about getting your steps in during class!

Super simple right?  My students have a blast with such an easy, minimal equipment needed or teaching beforehand.  Stations always work great with a guest teacher too!  

These are the different exercises included in this resource:

Simple exercises that can be modified if needed to meet your students' needs!  Here's what one of the ready-to-print Small Roll & Exercise posters includes:

Are you ready to include this resource in your gym?  Check it out and let me know how it works! 

Click here:

Roll & Exercise Activity

Need a resource to help structure your warm-ups in the gym?  That's up next!  Check out my next post on creating a fun and predictable warm-up that will help get your students get ready for any activity you have planned.  This warm-up works a bit on their cardio, flexibility, muscular strength, AND muscular endurance!  All components of fitness at once. WIN, WIN! 

Find your balance,

Shelby