Learning to strike a ball using a paddle and a volley foam ball will develop good hand-eye coordination.  Learning and practicing these skills has a cross-over effect on many sport activities.  Today, I will conclude the Striking Skill Lesson with the forehand, backhand, and will share some drills that include these skills.

Forehand (directions are for…

Nowadays, there aren't many things that are free, and even advice seems to ask for a handout fee. But, not in this case. Included in this topic are free things that have stood the test of time for many years, and if not, there are always alternatives and variations to make the skills and activities in line with the standards. Part of the tips, tricks and freebies is from my FREE, unpublished book (formatting on Word isn't perfect) that is…

The President’s Council came out with a recent announcement that they will team up with the Entertainment Software…

In my physical education classes over the past several years I have had my students design an activity calendar (Sunshine Activity Calender) that they can use during the summer months to stay active!  I print off a generic calendar for July and August for each of my students and on a rainy day that we cannot go…

Striking skills are so important to a child’s motor development and yet, many times, it is made difficult when the equipment is not appropriate for the developmental age of the student.  By using a paddle and a volley foam ball from the get-go, it makes it easier for the students to be successful.

This article is #1 in a two part series about…

It’s never too early to start lesson planning for the fall, so we here at NASPE Publishing thought we’d offer you two free lesson plans: one for badminton and one for orienteering.  Download them here:  Free lesson plans.

They’re targeted for middle school classes, but can be used for upper-elementary and lower-high school, as well.  They’re from NASPE’s new release,…

Hey Everyone,

Brittany DeLong, an Intern in NASPE's communications department recently wrote a great story highlighting how the ING grant has changed the lives of PE teacher Jessica Shawley and her students at Moscow Junior High School in Idaho. Thought you all might like to read it.…

There is always a good time to take part in some form of physical activity. It can be at school, home, or  even at work. Within a couple of months, most schools will at the end of June, and just in time for a well-deserved summer break. But, that doesn't mean that the activity has to stop right at the last day of school. There will be time for vacations or staying close to home to visit the parks system on the national and state levels.

This will be a great time to celebrate all forms…

Over 500 people celebrated physical activity Sunday morning May 6^th in Redding, Connecticut.  The first annual Redding Road Race was held and runners/walkers participated in one of the following races; ½ marathon, 10K, one mile walk/run and the ½ mile fun run.  Runners came from many different states. …

At the end of each class session, as the students were lined up to leave the gym, the expression that was left with them after activities was "if you had fun, you won." Usually, this was after participating in games and activities that involved competition. Small sided games gave the opportunity to not only keep score, but also and more important was to beat a previous performance. This took the onus of competition out of play and incorporated individual experiences, and fun. In many…

One of our goals as physical educators is to have our students enjoy movement. I am always looking for activities to include in my classes that meet the standards but also provide fun for students. Last week in my sixth grade classes my students were working on the skill of throwing and catching a Frisbee. I had the…

Ask any physical education teacher how difficult it is to round up support for their school’s physical education program and you’re bound to see a lot of heads nodding a big yes! Each year NASPE tries its best to develop exciting, innovative and fun activities to make up a successful National Physical Education and Sport Week (NPESW). The hope is to help physical education programs across this…

One of my favorite activities with students has always been hula hooping. Whether it was introduction to hoops with my pre-kindergarten, or running through the hoops with my second graders, it was always a great day. And, great exercise. Here are a few of my favorite activities.



Hula Hooping

I…

If we provide fitness activities that are innately interesting to students, they will participate enthusiastically and improve their physical fitness without realizing it.  When students enjoy their physical education activities, they are more likely to want to do it again.

I have two activities that that my students have enjoyed and the benefits gained can lead to have them asking for more.…

Hey Everyone,

I’m Andrew Mead, a former PE teacher and current Program Manager at NASPE. Me and a few colleagues share the responsibility of managing all the fantastic programs that NASPE has to offer. One specific program I’d like to talk about is the ING Run For Something Better Grant that NASPE and ING teamed up to create a few years back. It’s a great program that allows…

To take a new journey starts with the first step. And that first step needs the motivation necessary to stay on track, and that is help from the family, friends and neighborhood groups. The parents must be a role model for their children. There are some simple steps to ensure that the progress of the lifestyle…

Making healthy choices is becoming more and more a part of our daily lessons in physical education. Obesity trends are a good indicator of our nutrition habits. Often times, we need to teach our students good nutrition and they will share with their parents. Who says good eating habits start at home? Here are some…

Each day at my school all seventh and eighth grade teachers start their day with SMART Start.  SMART Start happens during the first fifteen minutes of each day and this time is devoted to teachers building positive relationships with kids. My favorite day of the week is Wednesday!  The reason for this is the entire SMART Start time is devoted to wellness!  I have shared healthy recipes, discussed different fitness topics but my students favorite activity is "Walking Wednesday"!…

It is time to get ready for All Children Exercising Simultaneously (ACES) Day! This day was created by Len Saunders, an award winning physical educator from New Jersey. Take one look at his list of accreditation and you will see one enthusiastic and dedicated professional.



ACES is held on the first Wednesday of…

Being GREEN has been a keyword when it comes to saving the Earth from a plethora of hazards that continue to destroy the planet. What better time to engage the students in Earth Day activities. Earth Day will commence on April 22, 2012, and it has certainly changed from past experiences. When we hear the words: Water, Air, Energy and Waste, it reminds us to do something and follow the new regulations, and make every day, Earth Day.

That can be a great time to explore activities in our…