Date: April 28, 2003

Grade Level: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Subject(s):

• Physical Education/Games
• Language Arts/Spelling

Duration: 45-60 minutes

Description: This lesson is designed to incorporate language arts and gymnastics in a physical education unit. The activity consists of students spelling words and using them in sentences while doing a forward roll. This is appropriate for students up to the 5th grade.

Goals: TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills) :

• Chapter 116.4. Physical Education, Grade 2
  (5) Physical activity and health. The student knows and applies safety practices associated with physical activities. The student is expected to:
  (A) Use equipment and space properly.
  
  
• Chapter 110.4. English Language Arts and Reading, Grade 2
  (8) Reading/vocabulary development. The student develops an extensive vocabulary. The student is expected to:
  (A) discuss meanings of words and develop vocabulary through meaningful and concrete experiences.

  (9) Reading/comprehension. The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend selections read aloud. The student is expected to:
  (A) use prior knowledge to anticipate meaning and make sense of text.

1. Students will improve locomotor skills (walk while swinging arms, roll) and non locomotor skills (bending and stretching).
2. Students will be able to perform a correct forward roll.
3. Students will be able to spell the week's spelling words and use the words in sentences.

• floor mats
• spelling list for the week (to be determined by the teacher)
• masking tape
• index cards (5x7) with words and sentences on them
• bean bags

With the class, review the spelling words for the given week. Explain the game to the class, and then have a student demonstrate a proper forward roll. Ask students to stand in a line. Then toss the bean bag to the first student in line asking him/her to spell the first word on the spelling list (ex. "before"). The student attempts to spell the word. If the student is correct, he/she walks over to the mat and does a forward roll to the word. The student then uses the word in a sentence of his own choosing or he can read the sentence off the back of the card. If the student misses the word, then he can ask for a partner to help him spell the word and together they can try the word. If they spell the word correctly, they can do the roll to the next word together. If they miss the word, the bean bag is then passed on to another student who then attempts to spell the word correctly. The next student attempts to spell the missed word correctly or the new word; this continues until the whole class has correctly spelled a word and used it in a sentence. Every student starts on the mat where the word they just spelled lies.

Assessment: Teachers may choose to track students' progress (spelling improvement and sentence usage). Informally assess students' abilities to perform a correct forward roll.

Useful Internet Resources:
* Chapter 110. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading Subchapter A. Elementary
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter110/ch110a.html