The Program for Young Children physical education experience focuses on the development of both fine and gross motor skills by exploring body movement through a variety of learning styles. Kindergarten students are introduced to locomotor, non-locomotor, manipulative concepts, and muscular strength and fitness activities in both individual and cooperative learning environments. Basic life skills are also introduced and practiced throughout the program. The use of imagination and creativity are woven within each unit in the curriculum to make concepts age appropriate and fun. Swimming is the longest unit during the year where the girls have the opportunity to explore their comfort level in the water, are introduced to water safety, and learn basic swim strokes. The 4/5 class and the 5/6 class attend physical education classes twice out of the six-day rotation for forty minutes throughout the entire school year.
The 5/6 experiences and concepts within physical education begin as a review at the beginning of the school year. They will then start to apply these skills, concepts, and strategies within game-like situations. The 5/6 girls will work on multiple skill combinations within a lesson, beginning to understand how certain concepts are related. They will continue to make connections to lifetime activities and sports while they increase their understanding of sportsmanship, cooperation, team work, and listening to and following directions. The terms endurance and stamina are used throughout their warm-ups to continue to enhance their understanding of pacing themselves during prolonged periods of locomotor skills such as fast walking, jogging, running, galloping, skipping, sliding, marching, hopping, and jumping. The majority of the year is spent in the gymnasium where the students experience and practice many different concepts such as:
- underhand and overhand throwing, catching with and without implements
- movement patterns and dance, basic yoga skills
- bounce and catch tasks, dribbling exploration (hands and feet), kicking skills
- striking skills with implements
- roping skills
- scooter exploration
- introduction to personal fitness and wellness
- cooperation, team work, listening to and following directions
- Game play strategies and techniques
Towards the end of the school year the girls will participate in a swimming unit. They will review many of the concepts and experiences in the pool and locker room such as dressing and undressing oneself, pool rules, water readiness, entering and exiting water, use of personal floatation devises, water safety, and basic swim strokes. The 5/6 girls will begin to refine some of their basic swim strokes as well as continuing to build their comfort level and confidence in the water.