Fat vs Fuel

Hey there, Wildcats!

          These week in PE we've been learning some things about nutrition. We played a game called Fat vs. Fuel. This is a fast-paced tag game to get students thinking about the foods that they put into their body.  This activity leads to some really good conversations about good fats and bad fats, lean meats, whole grain foods, food preparation techniques, etc.
           Every year, it is so interesting to see what foods students identify as a Fat or Fuel. A few of the debated items were chicken, cheese, and hot dogs. What we put into our bodies is almost as important as how much we move our bodies, so these are important conversations to be having with our Wildcats while they are young.

Check out this link for some interactive games that your Wildcat can play to learn more about nutrition -

https://www.choosemyplate.gov/games

Thanks for checking in :)
Miss Stone

PACER - what's that!

Another week in the books, Wildcats!

         Last week, the intermediate grades completed the initial PACER test. The Fitnessgram assessment tool is the most widely used youth physical fitness assessment. The PACER test evaluates aerobic capacity which is essentially how efficiently our hearts transport blood to the rest of our body. 

         According to the Cooper Institute, "Aerobic capacity is perhaps the most important component of any fitness program. Research indicates that acceptable levels of aerobic capacity are associated with a reduced risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and other health problems in adults." 

        So when your Wildcat asks why they have to do the PACER test in PE, please assure them of the importance of cardiovascular health :) The 20 meter PACER test progressively gets more difficult as it continues - the running speed starts slowly, but gets faster each minute. They run as long as possible - the second time they are unable to complete a lap before the sound, their test is over. 

        Students fall into one of three categories - 1) Healthy Fitness Zone 2) Needs Improvement 3) Needs Improvement - Health Risk. If you would like more information on how these ranges are determined, check out this link - http://www.cooperinstitute.org/healthyfitnesszone

         Even though the PACER test is a nationally recognized test, it is important to remember that many factors could impact the results (ie amount of sleep the night before, a good healthy breakfast, activity level outside of school, maturation, motivation, etc). 

        That being said, I have some homework for you :) If these Wildcats are going to improve their cardiovascular system, they need to be getting at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK! Take a walk in the evening, play at the park, go on a scavenger hunt out on the trails - just move! Keep up the hard work! 

Thanks for checking in! 

Miss Stone 

Toss, Chuck, Launch - THROW!

Wildcats!

          We are in our throwing and catching unit, and I've seen huge improvement already :) The primary grades are focusing mainly on the mechanics of throwing this week, while the intermediate grades are now refining their throwing skills to achieve better accuracy. 

Check out one of the first graders showing us the steps - 

Hope you had a good weekend :) 

Miss Stone