Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.6A Grade 4 CPI 2

 

Standard: 2.6 - Fitness

 

Strand: A -   Fitness and Physical Activity

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 2 -  The student will explain each component of health-related and skill-related fitness and explain how specific activities develop each component.

 

Grade: 4

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        CHART THE HEART - Review how to take and record a radial or carotid pulse. Students take their pulse several times during the school day and at home and graph the results on a chart. (Provide students with graph paper or a simple chart.) Brainstorm a list of times to check the pulse (e.g., upon rising in the morning, while waiting for the bus, after a test, recess, before and after lunch, when watching TV). Students perform this activity for three days, complete the graph, and summarize the results. Discuss the process, the changes in pulse rates, and why the changes occurred.

 

·     KEEP GOING - Show students the TV ad for the “Energizer Bunny.” Students describe the ad and the message (the bunny keeps going and going). Explain that students will become Energizer Bunnies — that is, they will develop endurance. Ask students to describe someone who is strong. Write their ideas on the board. Explain that it is important to have both strength and endurance. On one end of the board, write the word “Short” and on the other end of the board write the word “Long.” Connect the two words with a line. Next to the word “Short”, write the word strength and next to “Long” write endurance. Discuss the differences in activities that support each. Demonstrate several different exercises that work specific muscle groups (upper body, legs, abdominals). Students report to stations to perform exercises that work the various muscle groups. At each station, post signs that describe the activity and the muscles involved. After students have completed the circuit, reconvene the class and show pictures of various activities. Students indicate if the activity is one that requires strength or endurance (e.g., use a picture of marathon runners, an iron cross on rings, a bike race).
 

·     MUSCLE OF THE MONTH - Each month, select one major muscle or muscle group (e.g., quadriceps, biceps, abdominals). Describe the location and function of the muscle(s). Relate its function to specific activities, and draw attention to it during those activities. Students should be able to spell it, locate it on a diagram of the human body, and describe how it works.

 

      Variation: Divide the class into small groups, and assign each group a major muscle. Each group reports to the class, describing the muscle’s location and its functions, and demonstrates an activity using the muscle.