Local Time:

GMT:

Feedback welcomed:
Help-Desk

Opt-in to stay posted.

Server delivered pages
since April 7, 2002.

Reverse Angle

South Side Slopes: Hosting the Step Trek

Consider the play in a steep walk up the steps on the South Side Slopes. This organizational play date puts fitness and community at its core. Click the image and go to their site.

Sports are games of space, time and relationship. The Step Trek is a great example of an activity, but not a game, where space, time and relationships are merged.

Extra Insight Directories

Regatta | Start a School Band | Video Games | Exploration | Play at Earth Day, 2003 | Field Day Games | Peace and Play | Index

Camps

Defy Drugs | Computer camp mentions are in the Summit-CLOH-Noise archives.

Physical Education

Parks

Optimist Heritage Cycle Ride

Kids and adults enjoy bikes along the Heritage river trails downtown Sunday, October 19th in a 15-mile ride along the rivers. Mostly flat and with rest stops, registration for adults is $20 and children under 18 cost $0. This will be a fun event and since it's not a race, you can start anytime from 12:00 till 1:00 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Riverfront and the Optimist Club.

Pending

Due to heavy work and volunteer situations, this site is pending.

Playgrounds Matter

Research and reflections from Lynn Decker, parent and activist organizer, of Green Tree is to be hosted at Play.CLOH.Org.

Interactions

Send email to: LynDecker@CLOH.Org

Recreational Sports Units

The Winnequah Middle School (Monona, WI) offers 8th graders a class geared to non sport enthusiast. Students pay $25, and get out in the community to do a bunch of stuff.

• curling
• heart rate unit
• visiting local fitness facilit(ies)
• rock climbing
• camping/hiking
• school wide triathlon
• archery (nixed by the administration)

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

LA Times reported an elementary school in Santa Monica, Calif., banned the game of tag during recess. The school newsletter explains: "The running part of this activity is healthy and encouraged; however, in this game, there is a 'victim' or 'It,' which creates a self-esteem issue. The oldest or biggest child usually dominates."

History

Years ago, there wasn't a known body of knowledge in Physical Education. Then PE's focus was a range of activities to teach. Games, exploration activities, some physical fitness, and smatterings of various sports won the day in gym classes.

In present times, National Standards exist. Skills guidelines have been crafted. A full-blown curriculum isn't popular in all districts, but a true guide with benchmarks that teachers may use is well along the way in many districts and with many teachers.

In Alaska, a teacher may be using snowshoes to teach how to stay fit and keep up the heart rate. In Florida, perhaps underwater swimming.

Standards, one pathway

Standards could help the entire country come under one umbrella.

A PE program in Texas, directed by a coordinator, Diane Farr, used the "National Standards," Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, and the Graham, Hote/Hale, and Parker text to align a curriculum. The entire city was under one common body of skills. However, there was still room so that individual teachers taught the skill in his or her own way. "Striking with a long-handled implement" could have been taught using a bat, hockey stick, golf club, and so on.

It's amazing how slowly standards and moves across the country.