Fundamental Movement Skills News
EOTC Activity Day at Buckland Primary School
Written by Michele Watson
5 March 2012
The children at Buckland School enjoyed a day of Education Outside the Classroom with the assistance of CMSport FMSA Linda Jackison and student Tessa Wilson.
The children were divided into 7 teams with the New Entrants children being supported by the older children. In each of the 3, 90 minute sessions, the children rotated around activities in 10 minute blocks.
First session of the day was based on Fundamental Movement Skill games which the children had previously learnt as part of the FMS programme. After morning tea, children participated in Adventure Based Learning games. These games aim at getting the children to work as a team to be able to complete the activities set.
For the last 90 minute session the children were involved in Problem Solving and Team Building games and activities. These encouraged children to work together and think strategically of different ways to complete the games they were playing.
Although the wind attempted to spoil the day, the rain held off and the children had a terrific time.
Equipment: Bean bags in the Spotlight
Written by Michele Watson
31 Janurary 2012
The Counties Manukau Sport Fundamental Movement Skill programme uses basic sports equipment, when the programme is being delivered by FMSA’s. Fundamental Movement Skill Advisors are always asked about the equipment they use to deliver the programme, so each month we thought we would highlight some of the equipment we use and what can be done with it.
Bean bags -Great for balance, catching and throwing games
FMSA’s use bean bags for individualised, paired and group activities. Bean bags can be purchased sport equipment suppliers. They are great particularly for throwing and catching activities because they are suitable for children to hold onto, they don’t bounce and are colourful.
Below are 3 of our favourite games that use bean bags:
Bean bag Balance: Each child has a bean bag. Move around with the bean bag on head, On signal ‘freeze’ children stand still. Try putting the bean bag on different body parts. E.g. elbow, shoulder, back, foot, etc
Overarm Throwing at a Target: Put a cone between 2 children and they overarm throw the bean bag to try and knock the come done.
Hopscotch: Children play the traditional game of hopscotch can use a bean bag to throw onto the square. Hopscotch games and rules can be found here: http://www.gameskidsplay.net/games/other_games/hopscotch.htm
Equipment: Balloons in the Spotlight
Written by Michele Watson
November 2011
The Counties Manukau Sport Fundamental Movement Skill programme uses basic sports equipment, when the programme is being delivered by FMSA’s. Fundamental Movement Skill Advisors are always asked about the equipment they use to deliver the programme, so each month we thought we would highlight some of the equipment we use and what can be done with it.
Balloons -Great for catching games, balance and jumping activities.
FMSA’s use balloons for individualised, paired and group activities. Balloons can be purchased from many different stores, including two dollar shops. They are great particularly for throwing and catching activities because they move slowly through the air in comparison to a ball.
Below are 3 of our favourite games that use balloons:
Balloon Hit: Tie balloons at different heights. Children have to jump and touch the balloons with different parts of their bodies. E.g. head, hand, elbow, etc
Balloon Balance: Each child has a balloon and copies the teacher/leaders and tries to balance the balloon on different parts of their bodies. This can also be done in pairs, where children have to put the balloon between them and walk around keeping it there. E.g. back to back, elbow to elbow, etc
Balloon Catch: A name game. Children stand in a circle. Teacher throws a balloon in the air and calls someone's name. That person must catch the balloon before it touches the ground. If the person succeeds he/she then tosses the balloon up and calls the next name.
Scarves in the Spotlight
Written by Michele Watson
20 September 2011
Equipment: Scarves in the Spotlight
The Counties Manukau Sport Fundamental Movement Skill programme uses basic sports equipment, when the programme is being delivered by FMSA’s. Fundamental Movement Skill Advisors are always asked about the equipment they use to deliver the programme, so each month we thought we would highlight some of the equipment we use and what can be done with it.
Dancing Scarves - Brightly coloured scarves that are slow moving in the air, great for catching games. Each scarf is 600mm x 600mm.
FMSA’s use the dancing scares for individualised activities, where each child has a scarf each. They are great with the bright colour to reinforce colour recognition with children They are available from HART Sport (called Dancing/Juggling Scarves) and any good Sport Equipment retailer.
Below are 3 of our favourite games that use scarves:
Jellyfish: Wrap/Scrunch a beanbag within a scarf. On the teachers call, children throw the beanbag scarf up into the air and try and catch the beanbag and then the scarf. The bean bag will come down more quickly than the scarf.
Scarf Colours: Each child has a scarf, they hide it somewhere within in their clothing. When the leader/teachers says the colour they are hiding they bring it out and wave it in the air. Ask children hide the scarves under their legs. Ask them to bring it out when their colour is called.
Tailz: All children tuck a scarf into the back of their pants. The adults can be the monkeys (or a team of children), the other team chases the monkeys and tries to grab their tails. Swap so everyone has a turn at bring a monkey.
Counties Manukau Sport Supports Teachers with Professional Development
Written by Linda Jackison
10 August 2011
Counties Manukau Sport has taken a step further to help support teachers in their area. With the changes in the role of their staff C M Sport thought it was important to keep supporting teachers and schools with their PE and Health curriculum. The education team developed a Fundamental Movement Skills programme with the aim that teachers would be able to easily integrate it into their school week.
Fundamental Movement is important to children allowing them develop fine motor skills, developing left and right sides of their body and spacial awareness. This can then transferred to other classroom learning.
The programme has been developed to cater for children in Years 0-4 so teachers work at the level of their class. Learning the skills appropriate for their children is helping teachers plan their PE programme so that children are ready and confident when they move in to school sports in the senior classes.
Children who have a positive attitude to sport develop skills for life.
The first schools to participate in the programme were pilot schools and the teachers worked closely with the advisors to ensure the activities were easy to use and relevant to the programme.
The programme is 10 weeks, the teachers work along side the advisor observing the lesson, learning the skill criteria and the games for the first session. The advisors work with the children teaching fundamental skills such as hop, jump, skip and balance. As the children master the skill they are also taught games which practice the skill. The teacher then takes the same lesson later in the week which consolidates both the teacher’s knowledge and the children’s skill.
The teachers also get up to four hours of instruction and coaching on the FMS Programme. This programme aims at allowing all children to become proficient in FMS. Then they have time during the week to run their own session and ask any questions to the advisor when she returns the following week. Each school has a 2 hour staff meeting and training on how the programme runs and why fundamental movement is so important to the growth of a child.
This in school and with the class is an excellent way for teachers to have their PD with the children and is a direct benefit to the children. The programme has been running for 6 months and it has proven to be a fantastic success.
With the success of the Fundamental Skills programme the Counties Manukau Sports Facilitators have now linked with the other Regional Sports Trust in the Greater Auckland Area and are providing some Professional developed through Oasis Education. The day provides relievers with ideas of what they can do in a class room using Fundamental Movement Skills and sports related games. The links to the curriculum are provided so the relievers can use the games to support their day in the class room.
Counties Manukau Sports is committed to supporting its teachers and providing continued Professional Development in Sport.
Spots in the Spotlight
Written by Michele Watson
25 July 2011
Equipment: Spots in the Spotlight
The Counties Manukau Sport Fundamental Movement Skill programme uses basic sports equipment, when the programme is being delivered by FMSA’s. Fundamental Movement Skill Advisors are always asked about the equipment they use to deliver the programme, so each month we thought we would highlight some of the equipment we use and what can be done with it.
Marker Spots - Made from a special rubber powder the markers are extremely durable and slip resistant making them perfect to use on any surface. They come in a number of colours.
FMSA’s use the spots for individualised activities, where each child is required to keep their own space, spots can be used instead of cones and hoops. For those that are safety conscience. Games such as musical chairs FMSA’s substitute chairs with spots, they are easily removable from the space and safe for children. Spots can also be used in place of softball mats. They are available from HART Sport (called Marking Disc’s) and any good Sport Equipment retailer.
Below are 2 of our favourite games that use spots:
Fruit Salad: Divide the children into 2 teams. Using spots make 2 circles, so that there are enough spots out for every child participating. Each coloured spot is named as a fruit. E.g. red = strawberries, yellow = banana, etc.
Children stand on any spot to begin the game. Teacher calls 1 of the fruit names, E.g. strawberries, children who are standing on the red spots side gallop in one direction round all the spots back to their original spot. When teacher calls fruit salad all children side gallop around the circle and choose a new spot for the next round of calls.
(Adapted from Rachael Jefferson - Buchanan (2009), Fundamental Fun, United Kingdom: STEPS Professional Development, Page 133)
Hopscotch: Using already line marked hopscotch templates or chalked hopscotch templates. Let children play hopscotch in pairs or small groups.
The first player stands behind the starting line to toss her or his marker in square 1. Hop over square 1 to square 2 and then continue hopping to square 8, turn around, and hop back again. Pause in square 2 to pick up the marker, hop in square 1, and out. Then continue by tossing the stone in square 2.
All hopping is done on one foot. A player is out if the marker fails to land in the proper square, the hopper steps on a line, the hopper looses balance when bending over to pick up the marker and puts a second hand or foot down, the hopper goes into a square where a marker is, or if a player puts two feet down in a single box.
(Sourced from Sport and Recreation New Zealand (2009). Developing Fundamental Movement Skills Manual. Wellington: SPARC, Page 93)
Fundamental Movement Skills in Otara and Papatoetoe
Written by Natalie Hooker
15 July 2011
FMS in Otara and Papatoetoe
“Natalie’s here, Natalie’s here!!!” yell the children as they swarm around Natalie. Paul hops up to and around Natalie showing her how well he can hop. Sean and Retoria join in.
This is a weekly occurrence and an indication of how much Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) is enjoyed by the children of Papatoetoe Central School, St John the Evangelist School and Wymondley Road School.
In terms one and two of this year, Natalie Hooker the Fundamental Movement Skills Advisor for Otara and Papatoetoe has delivered a 30 minute skill lesson once a week to all the Year 0, Year 1 and Year 2 classes at Papatoetoe Central School, St John the Evangelist School and Wymondley Road School.
Fundamental Movement Skills are the building blocks enabling students to learn and develop specific skills for sport, games and recreation that they will participate in later in life. Some examples of the 24 skills taught are skip, hop, overarm throw, 2 handed strike and foot dribble.
Feedback from the schools is overwhelmingly positive. Teachers saw an improvement in their children’s skills and confidence and the programme catered for all abilities. While it is only a 30 minute lesson the children are constantly moving and having fun. Teachers have indicated that would like FMS to form a part of their schools PE planning. They found the Counties Manukau Sport resource easy to follow and a teacher could easily pick it up and run with it.
So far in 2011 Counties Manukau Sport has been in schools and early childcare centres delivering FMS to children at 14 Early Childcare Centres and 9 schools across the Counties Manukau region.
Fundamental Movement Skills at Harrisville Primary School
Written by Linda Jackison
08 June 2011
FMS at Harrisville Primary School
From Term 01, 2011 Harrisville School has participated in the Counties Manukau Sports Fundamental Skills Programme.
This programme produced by CMSport Fundamental Movement Skill Advisors resulted from ideas taken from several resources. The STEPS Australia Fundamental Skills Teachers Kit, SPARC’s Kiwidex Manual and Developing Fundamental Movement Skills Manual.
The junior school classes each have two 30 minute sessions a week to learn and practice a fundamental skill and then apply it in simple game situations. The teacher observes the FMS Advisor Linda Jackison take a lesson teaching the skill and new games, then the teacher takes the same lesson again during the week.
The children enjoy the games so much, that they are often found playing them at play time and teaching them to the older children. All the teachers at the school have attended PD workshops around FMS and have embraced the idea. The senior teachers are using the resource to help develop skills in their area. They recognise the benefit of the programme and want to ensure their children also have an opportunity to improve their fundamental skill level.
The whole school approach allows families to share in the games at home and strengthen the community environment the school already has.
