SIGNS
Before children can read, they begin to recognize and respond to physical signs and cues in their environment. We can foster the connection between symbols and what they represent by giving children opportunities to experience and interact with signs, symbols, warnings and other visual messaging – and by talking with them about their meanings and purpose.
This theme will introduce new signs and cues to our Sweet Peas and will reinforce some familiar ones as well. Children see many visual cues int heir environment every day such as unlock and lock symbols on the buttons on car windows and doors, elevator buttons and the flag raised on the mailbox. They see sidewalk lines painted on the street, “Do not feed the birds” signs at the lake and lightning bolts on the tag of the blowdryer.
We are going to have a great time learning about signs and visual cues! We will have fun moving around our gymnastics classroom, following traffic signs, arrows and other symbols that represent directional cues. We will follow the bases around the baseball diamond and hop over speed bumps along our bumpy path. We will stop at stop signs, crawl under tunnels, make bridges, demonstrate bear crossings and pause for a minute to (properly) feed the ducks. We have lots of important and fun things to learn from the signs and cues all around us!
Lesson Plan PDFs
Lesson Plan Video Links
Warm Up Song
The song for this week is S.T.O.P. by Patty Shukla. This week, we will be following along to the directions given and utilizing the stop/go paddle at the iPad bookshelf.
With the STOP sign, we are fostering the connection between symbols and what they represent – seeing the sign and doing the action “STOP”!
Skill of the Week
The skill of the week is the Ta-Da position! This is a position in which you start or finish a skill or routine. Students stand up very tall and raise their hands up to the sky in a straight or “pencil” position and say “Ta-Da!”
You can practice the Ta-Da at the following stations:
Beam: Have the do a safety landing after the beams and stand in a Ta-Da
Bar: Set up a side station
Vault: The students can practice a Ta-Da on each squeaky circle at the speed bumps
Floor: Have students jump up and stand after the snake tunnel
Warm Up Stations
- Bridge Ahead: modified bridge for 3&4 year olds, bridge for 5&6 year olds.
- Two-way traffic: chasse back and forth, cross country ski jumps
- Demolition: Handstand. Students will perform a lever and knock the foam blocks down, stack them back up, and repeat. Make sure we are working on perfecting our form for the older kids and encourage the little ones to work on their balance!
- One Way: crab walks, inchworms
- Slippery When Wet: jumping jacks, mountain climbers
- Steep Incline: rolling ab rocker up and down the hill