Physical Education & Music

As a student teaching requirement, I am to observe my students in their Physical Education and Music classes. Today was the day I finally got this task complete! I had been planning to go on Wednesday for the last two weeks but each time we had a snow day! 

But, back to the point of this post, PE and Music observations! There were 32 kindergarteners in the music room. Each student is assigned a spot on the floor that they are responsible for “sticking” to for the duration of class. For the most part, the students handled this well! There were only a few wigglers and movers.

Music class started with three warm up songs (played from an iPod) that the students sang along with as they danced and moved their bodies. Between the three songs, the students were clapping, moving, and dancing from head to toe (perfect for kindergartners)! 

I love that the activities students do in music incorporates the star words each kindergarten room is working on for the week! One of the words is over so the students learned the words and movements to “Going Over the Sea.” 

PE class also surprised me by exposing students to and incorporating star words into different games that are played! (I did not see the words in use today but they are posted on the walls. Students also told me they play games with their words.) The Health curriculum is taught to students during gym class; today happened to be a Health day. I was disappointed I didn’t get to see how different the students are in a PE class with freedom to run and get their energy out but it was still interesting to observe a Health lesson.     

Safety was the topic for Health today. The lesson focused on making safe choices and how to be safe. How to cross the street safely, crosswalks, sidewalks, and not going for walks outside alone were some of the key concepts. Students had to sit on the gym floor as they listened to and participated in the lesson. This was difficult for most of the students as they were in a gym so all they wanted to do was run, jump, skip, or move!   

I would like to observe this class again on a day when the students are doing PE instead of Health to compare the students in these two difference types of classes!