Moving with Words and Actions. Physical Literacy for Preschool and Primary Children

Description

The earlier that children develop a love for physical activity , the better able they are to acquire the healthy habits that will serve them well throughout their lives. Moving With Words & Actionsis designed to help them develop that critical physical literacy.

Moving With Words & Actions offers early childhood and physical education teachers more than 70 lesson plans that can be used immediately or can be used as models for creating additional lessons. The plans reinforce both physical literacy and language literacy; they use words related to children’s academic learning and understanding of their immediate environment to entice them to move. The lesson plans.

• Use an interdisciplinary approach, integrating academic concepts from language arts, math, science, health and nutrition, community awareness, and environmental awareness
• Are highly adaptable for various settings, including those working with individualized education programs and 504 accommodation plans as well as those teaching in limited spaces
• Offer great noncompetitive activities that are perfect for use by recess, lunchtime, and before- and after-school specialists
• Have been field tested according to best practices to ensure age appropriateness

Each lesson plan includes three learning tasks that help children apply a variety of action words and movement concepts to the moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activities prescribed in the tasks. Most tasks are easy to implement, requiring no equipment or specialized setting. What’s more, all lesson plans address SHAPE America’s National Standards and Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education, so preschool children will have a head start on their kindergarten learning.

This SHAPE America book, based on the authors’ classic Movement-Based Learning, has been completely revamped with new lessons and new material to reflect current research, address the new standards and outcomes, and emphasize physical literacy. Part I offers expert guidance in selecting age-appropriate content, creating and implementing lesson plans, making the most of every lesson, and assessing your students’ learning and progress. In part I, you’ll explore the importance of words in young children’s lives and learn what constitutes an appropriate learning task and how that understanding should inform your teaching. These chapters also highlight two primary instructional strategies for this age group, identify five teaching practices to help student teachers create preservice lessons, and outline three assessment techniques for teachers in early-childhood settings.

Part II supplies the lesson plans themselves, categorized by these units:

• Healthy Bodies (examining body parts and the ways they move, and increasing awareness of healthy nutrition)
• Our Community (enhancing children’s understanding of community helpers in familiar roles)
• Living Creatures (helping children appreciate animals by imitating their movements, behaviors, and characteristics)
• Science and Math (using action rhymes, riddles, and games to learn math and science concepts)
• Language Arts (expanding on children’s language arts and movement vocabularies with alphabet challenges, action poems, movement riddles, and more) 

Moving With Words & Actions will help you plan lessons with confidence, use sound instructional strategies, and assess your students effectively as they learn how their bodies function, move, and grow in healthy ways. Children will enjoy the movement activities, which are fun in and of themselves; but, more importantly, they will be taking a solid first step toward becoming physically literate learners who will gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to move with competence in multiple environments and lead active lives.

Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments

Part I: Setting the Standard With Age-Appropriate Content, Instruction, and Assessment

Chapter 1: Selecting Age-Appropriate Content
The Power of Words
Physical Literacy and National Standards
Guidelines and Frameworks
Movement Concepts as Age-Appropriate Content
The Young Child’s Physical Skills
Manipulative Skills
Considerations for Content
Summary

Chapter 2: Creating and Implementing Lessons Plans
Behavioral Objectives
Central Focus
Learning Tasks (Ages 3-8)
Making Smooth Transitions Between Learning Tasks
Creative Ways to Form Groups
Structuring the Learning Environment to Be Physically Safe
Knowledge of Students to Inform Teaching
Personal Community and Cultural Awareness
Instructional Strategies
Planned Supports for Children With Special Needs
Providing Differentiated Instruction
Academic Language
Summary

Chapter 3: Making the Most of Every Lesson
A Typical Lesson Plan
Making Lessons Plans More Purposeful
Instructional Materials/Props
Special Safety Considerations
Provisions for Special Needs
Students’ Prior Knowledge
Health-Enhancing Components of Physical Activity
Motivating Physically Literate Learners
Instructional Cues and Prompts
State Education Standards
Summary

Chapter 4: Assessing Children’s Ability to Move With Words & Actions
Evidence 1: The Child’s Perspective
Evidence 2: Responses to Higher-Order Questions
Evidence 3: Written Summaries and Progress Reports
Summary

Part II: Lesson Plans for Moving With Words & Actions

Chapter 5: Moving With Words & Actions to Create Healthy Bodies
Content Knowledge for Enhanced Physical Literacy
Strong Bones
Twisting Body Parts
My Special Body Parts
Muscle Actions
Body Expressions
Jumping Jills
Time, Force and Flow . . . On the Go
Body Outlines
Active Fruits and Vegetables
Fruit Salad Toss-Up
Sizzling Vegetables
Healthy Lunchtime Foods

Chapter 6: Moving With Words & Actions in Our Community
Community Helpers
Farm
Fire Station
Toy Store
Park
Schoolyard
Food Market
Pet Shop
Gas Station and Repair Shop
Train Station
Car Wash
Pizza Parlor
Construction Site
Laundromat
Library
Airport
Beach
Building Structures
Wintertime Holidays

Chapter 7: Moving With Words & Actions Like Living Creatures
Living Creatures Near and Far
Animal Actions
Under the Sea
Crustaceans
Feathered Friends
Penguins
Eagles and Chickens
Spider Web Formations
Insects and Bugs
Bumblebees
Life Cycle of the Butterfly
Horses
Learning About Nature

Chapter 8: Moving With Words & Actions in Science and Math
Science
Substances, Surfaces, and Textures
Power Sources
Wave Actions
Undersea Travel
Life Cycle of a Tree
Cave Structures
Wind Patterns
Vines Found in the Jungle
Rock Formations and Water
Math
Jumping With Words and Numbers That Rhyme
Hopping With Words and Numbers That Rhyme
Moving With Words and Numbers That Rhyme
Geometric Shapes
Puzzle Shapes
Body Triangles
Measuring Horses
First and Last
Creations

Chapter 9: Moving With Words & Actions in Language Arts
Alphabet
Alphabet Stretches A to Z
Alphabet Letters
Alphabet Treasures
Alphabet Rhythm
My Body Can Form Letters
Brain-and-Body Connection
Body Language
Twisting and Twirling Actions
Halloween Objects
Movement Narratives
Places in Our Community
Super Bodies
Fairy Tale Actions
So Very Small
The Letter S
Small to Tall
Objects in Our House
Amusement Park
Ice Rink
Sports Stadium
Hardware Store
Racetrack
Shoe Store
Magical Powers
Rainbow Magic
Machines
Space Travel
Science Museum
References
About the Authors
About SHAPE America