Thoughts for educating kids

[L Sass]

Hi Cathe - If you see this I'd appreciate any help you might offer. I am very STUPID and have agreed to coach a junior drill team comprised of 50 girls in grades 1-8. I also have 5 "mascots" who are kindergarteners. They learn marching routines and perform in local parades and at fall football games, etc. I'm the new coach this year, and one of the things I want to do is to teach these girls about the muscles they have (and use) in their bodies. Nothing too detailed (keep in mind some are very young), but one week talk about the muscles in the arm and teach biceps, triceps, deltoids. You get the idea. I have a high school drill team that helps me teach the routines, and even those girls don't know what muscles they are warming up and why - so I'm hoping to be educational and fun all around.

My question is do you have any other ideas on an elementary level that I could incorporate for helping these young girls learn about and take care of their bodies? I know you're super busy, but if you have any thoughts I'd appreciate it. I can't believe I'm undertaking this, but the world hates a coward right? LOL

Lorrie

Pain is temporary - quitting lasts forever
Candace Grasso, CC-V-6

 

[carolynjane]

Not Cathe, but I just wanted to say What a great idea!!!!! I wish someone had done that for me when I was in school! I HATED gym class - all those silly games and no information on what physical fitness was all about. It's a wonder I ever started working out - thankfully I did in my early 20s and have continued for 20+ years.

Your ideas of helping young girls understand about their muscles - and potential for strength and fitness - is sure to help them appreciate their bodies and hopefully want to take care of them for the rest of their lives! Good luck!

 

[eminenz2]

Maybe talking to your child's PE teacher would be a good source of info too.

 

[Jennifer V]

Hi Lorrie!

Being a grade 1 teacher, may I suggest after teaching a few names of muscles, play a game of Simon Says with your little ones? Instead of "touching your nose", they can "flex their biceps" or "wiggle their gluteus maximus"!

Good luck!

Jennifer V

 

[L Sass]

What a GREAT idea Jennifer. Thanks!

Lorrie

Pain is temporary - quitting lasts forever
Candace Grasso, CC-V-6

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Coach Lorrie! Good for you. What a fun job you will have ahead of you. Being that your age group is a fairly wide range, you may benefit by going to a teacher/parent school supply store and look at books in the physical fitness area. It probably will have some basic books with creative fitness games to play with kids of all ages. Also, you may want to contact the Phys Ed teachers in your local grade schools and ask what they do with her students. You may even want to ask the biology teacher if they have a creative way of helping the students learn anatomy and combine that with a fitness activity.

Maybe you could create a game of Bingo Anatomy and once they learn the body parts work it into a fitness game. Just some thoughts to throw around. Have fun and keep us posted.