This year in physical education has been full of energy, excitement, and so many opportunities
for our kindergarten and first grade students to learn and grow. Not only have they been focusing on developing strong gross motor skills, but they have also been building foundational social-emotional skills that help young learners thrive both in and out of the gym.
In PE, students are reminded that being active isn’t just about moving their bodies, it’s also about learning how to communicate, share space, practice kindness, and support one another. Social-emotional learning plays a major role in each activity we do. Whether cheering on a teammate, taking turns, or problem-solving during a challenge, our students are learning how to be great teammates and friends.
Along with fitness and movement, Mr. Mueller also introduced age-appropriate health concepts such as how important it is to take care of our bodies through good hygiene and understanding how the heart works while exercising. Students are learning that when they move, their hearts get stronger, and staying healthy helps us feel our best! Throughout the past few weeks, they have been working hard on our locomotor movements such as running, hopping, galloping, and skipping. Students have also been practicing proper throwing form — stepping with the opposite foot, pointing at the target, and following through! They’ve applied these skills in fun and engaging activities like our Penguin Waddle Races, where students balanced a ball like a penguin egg while waddling to the finish line, and Snowstorm Cleanup, a teamwork-based game where students had to throw and collect soft “snowballs” while communicating with one another to clean their side of the gym. They even had a very special visitor join them this month, a silly Elf on the Shelf named Carl! He has been watching over the classes each day, making sure students are working hard, being kind, and showing great sportsmanship. The excitement on students’ faces when they spot where Carl is hiding each day has added an extra layer of holiday joy to our PE time!
Every student has been showing improvements in their physical skills, having stronger throws,
quicker reactions, better balance, and growing confidence. Mr. Mueller has seen so many great examples of teamwork during relay races and group challenges, and the way students communicate with each other, encouraging friends, offering help, and celebrating success really has been amazing to see.
“This year has already been such a joy for me, and I cannot wait to continue watching each
student grow, learn, move, and shine throughout the rest of the school year,” Mr. Mueller said, adding his wish for all students and families to have a wonderful and active holiday season.