Integrating Literature Ideas & Best Practices - Physical Education

Johann

Wyss

Do a dance inspired by a poem. 

Chant rhymes during an exercise or jump rope game.

Roald Dahl’s poetry book, Revolting Rhymes, is an excellent choice for compare and contrast activities. The familiar, original stories are known by children around the world. Dahl’s tales have a very different spin on them. However, I would bring Dahl’s version of Cinderella into a physical education/drama lesson. The poetry element for Cinderella is the slow rhythm style, with longer lines and each line rhyming. A slow rhythm style evokes feelings while easy to read.

The Arts and Humanities Program Review implementation is at the forefront of my school discussions these days (how and when to address them). The students could compare and contrast, then read the story of Cinderella with the mindset of performing it. Students would be given parts, or roles, to act out. Emphasis should be on action, voice and speaking presence. As a culminating activity, show the original Cinderella as a movie.

As a vocabulary review for this novel, students could act out each word. Charades is a great game to incorporate movement into memory. By moving their bodies to remember the words, students will remember words quicker.

Another physical game for vocabulary review is called, “Gotcha!” The teacher puts the vocabulary words on the board (between 5-8 words at a time) and calls two students to compete against each other. The teacher will describe the word or give the definition and students will try to be the first to hit the word on the board. They will each hold a flyswatter to hit the correct word.  This is great for practicing vocabulary words, along with moving around the room.

The Food Pyramid is an excellent resource to supplement instruction during a unit on making healthy eating choices.  Taylor-Butler explains each food group in detail, giving the reader a deep understanding of the foods in each group.  In addition to discussing food groups, healthy eating around the world is explored, as well as some diseases caused by unhealthy eating.  An excerpt on exercise and balancing a healthy diet is also included in the book.  When using this book in the classroom, encourage students to work collaboratively to present one of the food groups using Microsoft PowerPoint.  In addition, have students visit http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/food/fgp_interactive.html to explore the food pyramid through an interactive model.    

Dancing with the Indians is a children’s picture book written in poetic form having realistic paintings printed with page bleed and text verses overlaid.  It is an autobiographical reflection of the author’s early experiences of going twice a year with her family to Native American powwows.  It authentically represents some of what takes place at these events.  The author is the great granddaughter of an African American slave who escaped around 1862.  He traveled west where he was accepted as part of the Seminole tribe that had been moved there from their native Florida.  The author states that the text for the book was inspired by her ancestors’ experience.

Although the Native dances must not be trivialized, students can research online, invite dancers to visit the school, and/or go to a powwow to observe the dances, the singers, and the drummers.  Non natives are allowed to participate in some of the dances, respectfully following protocol.  Students can practice doing the traditional dances.  Students can invent new dances including rhythms and symbolism related to people, things, or events of significance in their lives. 

Giraffe and a Half, A

Shel Silverstein

Read A Giraffe and a Half aloud to the class.  After reading, discuss the rhyming and patterns seen in the book.  Have students make up movements for each of the events in the story.  This could be done by assigning a pair of students to a movement or as a whole class where everyone learns each movement.  The teacher will write up line on the SMART Board and draw the movement so that students can refer to this on the big screen as they are learning the movements to the poem.  As the poem builds up, they will have to add each movement to the next.  If it is done by assigning a movement to a pair, as the poem starts to go in reverse, they students will exit the carpet as their line and movement is phased out.  This would be a great activity for kinesthetic learners.  They can have a visual and use physical activity to see how the poem builds up and then goes in reverse. 

K-3

Cara Esarey 

Burger and the Hot Dog, The

Jim Aylesworth

 I would read The Burger and the Hot Dog to the students in A Health and Wellness class. I would find a way to integrate these poems into the classroom, especially to liven up the lessons on nutrition and the food pyramid. I would have the students list the characters by name and have them put them in the food guide pyramid by their levels.

k-3

James Bridges

This story is about a boy who didn't know who he could become. In his fitness exam at the beginning of the year, Felton learns he grew several inches, gained muscles and became as he says "stupid fast." Felton joins the track team and also the football team. He is hesitant because these jocks are the same people who made fun of him before. Felton uses the track and football team to excape the problems at home with his mother. Felton finds himself faced with the challenge of overcoming everyones' doubts and becoming a good athelete and also face the challenges at home to save his little brother. This book would be a good for text-to-self connections for students in middle to high school, it discusses abuse, neglect, sports and real life. P.E. isn't an area where reading is really incorporated but this book could be used to help those who don't really like to read become interested in reading.

http://www.pecentral.org/websites/websitesmenu.html is a website for ideas to use in P.E. This website doesn't necessarily go with this book but ideas can come from this site.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

 Shel Silverstei

Students will be asked to select a poem from Where the Sidewalk Ends and then act as the choreographer. Students will create a dance, that clearly uses the three elements of dance (space, time and force)http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/fa11/apg1.htm. Students should choose groups from two to four members. Each member will serve as choreographer for their poem as well as decide on the music, sound or spoken accompaniment. Everyone in the group can be the dancers who perform. Students will also be keeping a log, recording their work and plans.  You want to make sure students use the elements of dance (space, time, force) to make the poem "come to life".  When I taught this lesson to my class, some of the favorite poems from the book were: "Backward Bill", "Where the Sidewalk Ends", "Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me Too", "Needles and Pins", and "Jumping Rope".  This activity was modified from Noe Middle School.  You can even work on the production from different poems in the book and have a poetry night where parents come to see poetry interpreted through dance.  The link to Noe's website is: http://tli.jefferson.k12.ky.us/EDTD675Projects/Bannister/eportfolio/QuestFolder/Elements_Quest.html

 6th - 8th Grade

 Joan-Michael Leadingham

Foot Book , The

Dr. Suess 

Allow students to create a tracing of their own feet.  Then create an obstacle course throughout the room.  Tape the "feet" to use as guides for the course.  The next day, allow students to complete the obstacle course during class.

This activity was inspired by the following website:

http://www.brighthubeducation.com/preschool-crafts-activities/44133-reading-dr-suess/ 

Kindergarten 

Heather Conley 

Casey at the Bat 

 Ernest Lawrence Thayer, illustrated by Christopher Bing 

By using this book as an opener to the unit of baseball, the teacher can discuss the history of baseball but also use the story to teach a lesson that is important in sports: be confident but not too confident, Casey had a case of what I call, "Big headed-ness".  This is a great opportunity to discuss sportsmanship and how to be a team player.  After the read aloud, students can be put into small groups to make a list of what they believe are good rules and suggestions for being a team player and a good sport.  Each group can make their list on chart paper, present to the class, and after presentations are made the lists can be posted on the walls of the gym for the teacher and students to refer back to. 

 6th-8th grade

 Courtney Hertsenberg 

Something Big Has Been Here 

 Jack Prelutsky

Teacher reads a poem called "My Snake" from the book. Throughout the poem the snake is twisting himself to make different letters. The teacher holds up large flashcards of what the snake looks like making each letter. The students try to make the same letter as the snake using their own bodies. This helps to teach letter recognition and body awareness.
http://www.pecentral.com/lessonideas/ViewLesson.asp?ID=318

 K

 Trish Roederer