SPARK Physical Education Curriculum

The SPARK Wednesday Webinar Series

The 3rd Wednesday (the 3rd day of the week) at 3pm pst (SPARK Principle of 3's!) SPARK hosts a FREE webinar!

Whether you are a seasoned SPARK Star, just learning about the program, or have an interest in the month's timely topic, this webinar series is for you!

August 2010:

Does One Size Really Fit All?

Modifying Activities to Include All Students

In physical education students come to us with different backgrounds, experiences and skill levels.  If we want all students to be engaged and successful, we can’t use the same instruction on everyone.  It is important to modify the activities that we teach and create an environment where all students can learn and improve their health.  But how?

We can improve opportunities for students to practice and develop their unique skills, use different teaching strategies so students can learn and participate at a level they feel comfortable with, and improve fitness by allowing more time for movement in daily lessons.

Join us for the next SPARK Webinar to learn how to implement these strategies and walk away with tools and resources to create a physical education class where everyone is able to learn and move!

Attendees will learn:

• What inclusionary strategies get all students involved
• How to differentiate learning to meet student’s needs
• How to modify lessons to provide more MVPA

In addition, all attendees will leave with the presentation with access to sample lesson plans that incorporate these new strategies.

When: Wednesday, August 18th at 3pm Pacific, 6pm Eastern

Who: Grades PreK-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school and early childhood teachers and staff

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Registration: Click Here to register

July 2010:

Early Childhood Physical Activity

“Scaling New Heights with Tiny Tots"

Do you face an uphill climb trying to provide movement opportunities for children at your preschool?  Are you seeing an ever widening crevasse wedged between the questions, “What to teach?” and “How to teach it?”

Choosing the right physical activity curriculum can be a challenging task for both new and experienced climbers.  Participate in the next SPARK Webinar and let Early Childhood content experts safely escort you to the summit!  You’ll receive a map to guide you down the path of discovering developmentally appropriate activities (sample lesson plans) and teaching strategies that really work on children ages 3-5.

Whether you have already conquered the highest peak or taking the first step on your journey, this webinar will provide useful information you’ll want to keep in your backpack.  So, grab your gear and register today!

Attendees will learn:

• Why physical activity is important for young children and how much is recommended – physical activity guidelines
• Physical activity’s relationship to learning and school readiness skills
• Strategies for choosing PA content and examples of quality activities and lesson plans
• Tools and resources that foster more structured and unstructured physical activity minutes in Preschool settings

When: Wednesday, July 21st at 3pm Pacific, 6pm Eastern

Who: All teachers of children ages 3-5 – School districts, Head Starts, WIC Agencies, public and private daycare.

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

June 2010:

“SPARK & Recreation”

(Not Amy’s sitcom but we’re hoping she’ll join us)

Do you work for a Parks & Recreation Department, a Boys and Girls Club, a YMCA, or any other public or private after school agency/organization?  Do your programs engage youth in physical activity?  Then this FREE webinar is for YOU!

We know your barriers:  Different age students all there at the same time, equipment challenges, limited space, high attrition rates among staff, etc., and we want to help!  The SPARK team of educators and researchers have been studying after school programs since 1995 when they did the “Power Play” project with the University of Tennessee, Memphis.  This webinar will share lessons learned from 15 years of “real-world” field-testing, and participants will:

• Receive FREE lesson plans and content ideas specifically for after school programs
• Learn teaching strategies that increase activity time and increase appropriate social behavior
• Understand how to increase MVPA and fitness levels of youth
• Overcome barriers many after school programs face

So drive over to our SPARKing lot, step out of your fossil fuel guzzler, and we’ll see you at this SPARK & Recreation class on:

When: Wednesday, June 16th at 3pm Pacific, 6pm Eastern

Who: After School Program Directors, Coordinators and Educators

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

May 2010 Webinar:

Accountability In Physical Education -- How Do YOU Measure Success?

How do YOU determine success in physical education?  Is it when your students demonstrate competency in motor skills – or improvements in their fitness scores?  Or perhaps when your content offerings include more “lifetime” activities?

Today more than ever, teachers are being held accountable to prove their students are learning. The demand on teachers, administrators, and schools to deliver data driven results is a challenge that faces us all. How relevant is this in physical education?  If you only see your students one day per week, what type of student outcomes can be assessed -- and achieved?

Attend our next FREE SPARK Webinar and learn:

• How accountability in physical education can benefit teachers, schools, and districts
• How to use authentic assessment to evaluate student performance
• Strategies to empower your students to be in charge of their own learning

And leave with FREE sample assessment tools and a 10-day free trial to the new SPARKfamily website!

When: Wednesday, May 19th at 3pm Pacific, 6pm Eastern

Who: Grades PreK-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school and early childhood teachers and staff

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

April 2010 Webinar:

Teach Students a “Lifestyle Budget”

(Balancing Nutrition and Physical Education)

Are your students currently mired in a physical activity “recession”?  Do they go “over budget” by eating too many calories from unhealthy foods?  Let’s teach our students the importance of maintaining energy balance through healthy eating (energy in) and participation in daily physical activity (energy out).  This webinar will introduce you to our SPARK “health accountant,” who has prepared a diverse menu of delicious activity ideas and tasty teaching strategies.

Attendees will:

• Understand the benefits of healthy eating and daily physical activity
• Receive relevant resources:
  • Sample lessons – nutrition and physical activity
  • Websites -- to support student learning
  • Learn strategies for teaching both sides of the energy “scale”

We all want a balanced budget!  Now’s the time to balance YOUR students’ “lifestyle budget” and prepare them for a happy, healthy retirement!

When: April 21st, 2010 at 12:30pm Pacific, 3:30pm Eastern. Note the new time!

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

March 2010 Webinar:

Aristotle said,

“I CAN Philosophize While I Exercise!”

OK, you got us – Aristotle probably never said that, but we do know the ancient Greeks were classic multi-taskers – always promoting the mind/body connection. What about you? Is your physical education class reinforcing learning objectives from other academic subjects? Is your classroom integrating physical activity for the high percentage of your students who are kinesthetic learners? If you are a Pre-School through grade 12 teacher or university methods instructor, don’t miss this webinar!

Attendees will leave with:

• Sample activities that integrate academics and movement in the classroom
• Effective strategies that bring learning to your PE and PA environment
• Password access to the new SPARKfamily.org website (the envy of Athens) and its FREE resource library!

Even if this topic is “Greek” to you, join us for a pita full of information and fun.

When: March 17, 2010 at at 3:30pm Pacific, 6:30pm Eastern. Note- the time has been pushed back to 3:30pm (Pacific) for this month!

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

February 2010 Webinar:

Physical Education Grants: Strategies to "Show You the Money!"

If you had more money to spend on your students and physical education program, how would you use it?  Would you buy curriculum, attend professional development opportunities, purchase exergaming equipment?  Would you create an Exercise Science lab or buy 45 bikes and start a spin class?  Participate in this SPARK Webinar and learn:

• Where the grants are – how to find them
• Helpful resources and tips for writing, submitting, and winning
• Success stories from schools and districts that “Got the money!”

When: Wednesday, February 17th at 3pm Pacific, 6pm Eastern

Who: Grades PreK-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school and early childhood teachers and staff

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

January 2010 Webinar:

Physical Education and Academics-  A Match Made in Heaven?

Some schools have reduced physical education (PE) and/or physical activity (PA) minutes (e.g., recess) to devote more time to academics. How does this strategy affect academic performance?  Have there been any scientific studies that support the role of PE and PA? What do the data show?

Participate in our January webinar and find out the answers! And, we'll be providing rationale on the new role of health-promoting PE and PA in our schools, as well as practical tips for advocacy, and strategies to help YOU keep PE and PA an integral component of your school's program.

Attendees will learn:

• Benefits of physical activity and its effect on academics
• How PE may not necessarily be providing enough PA to achieve health outcomes
• Strategies for integrating academics into PE and PA into the classroom
• Ideas on how you can increase the importance and relevance of PE in schools

When: Wednesday, January 20th at 3pm Pacific, 6pm Eastern

Who: Grades PreK-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school and early childhood teachers and staff

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

Click Here to download the PowerPoint slides for this presentation

December 2009 Webinar:

"I'd Rather Chew Aluminum Foil Than Teach Dance!"

Do you have a little less rhythm and a lot more blues when it comes to dance?  Attend this webinar and we’ll have you (with the 2 left feet) dancing with your students in no time! You'll learn how to “Break the Touch Barrier” with active dance lead-up games, then learn strategies for teaching dance that moves instruction from command style (and teacher demonstrative) to student directed learning and teacher facilitated.  See videos of some of our favorite SPARK dances!  Participants will be able to download sample lesson plans, assessment tools, and jigsaw teaching cards.  Join us and get excited to teach your dance unit this year!

Attendees will learn:

• Strategies to help  students feel more comfortable learning to dance
• Alternative styles of teaching dance to make it easier to teach
• Several dances from the SPARK curriculum that can be taught right away!

When: Wednesday, December 16th at 3pm Pacific, 6pm Eastern (Note -- the SPARK Webinars are now the 3rd Wed. of every month -- Principle of 3's!)

Who: Grades PreK-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school and early childhood teachers and staff

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

November 2009 Webinar:

"More Activity, Fewer Distractions"

Is it true what they say about that "one bad apple in the bunch?" We all know there are many different kinds of apples in our classes, and none of them are rotten to the core! Some may be a little sweeter than others, but all contribute to a healthy bushel!

This webinar will present strategies that increase appropriate behavior while minimizing distractions that disrupt the learning process. You'll leave with easy to implement ideas designed to make your busy life easier, AND ensure your activity lessons are fun and engaging for ALL your little pippins!

Attendees will learn techniques designed to:

• Increase desired behaviors while keeping students on task
• Decrease inappropriate behaviors and maximize activity time
• Hold students accountable throughout the process

And leave the webinar with access to FREE lesson plans you can use with your students the next day!

When: Wednesday, November 18th at 3:00 pm Pacific Time (Note -- the SPARK Webinars are now the 3rd Wed. of every month -- Principle of 3's!)

Who: Grades PreK-8 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school and early childhood teachers and staff

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

Note - Audio will begin immediately, video may not begin until 1:30 on some computers

October 2009 Webinar:

“Count Me In!” Strategies That Engage ALL Students

Do you face the challenge each year of motivating some students to participate in your physical education class?  You know who they are, the members of the "I don't care" club; the "Why do we have to run?" gang; the "My mom said I don't have to do PE today" crew?

Then join our next SPARK webinar and learn strategies that get ALL students off the bench and into the game.  There are no right fielders in this program, it's inclusive, active, and fun! Attendees will learn how to:

• Create an environment that students feel comfortable participating in
• Modify activities so all students can be active and engage at their own level
• Utilize differentiated instruction to address individual learning styles

And leave the webinar with access to FREE lesson plans you can use with your students the next day!

When: Wednesday, October 21st at 3:00 pm Pacific Time (Note -- the SPARK Webinars are now the 3rd Wed. of every month -- Principle of 3's!)

Who: K-12 physical education specialists, K-6 classroom teachers, after school youth leaders, early childhood educators, parents and school and recreation administrators.

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

September 2009 Webinar:

Back to BASICS: "Igniting YOUR program"

The beginning of the school year is an important time for all teachers -- especially physical educators. The protocols established and the tone set in the first two weeks, lay the foundation for the rest of the school year.

This webinar will help you prepare by providing valuable, "real-world" strategies that foster cooperation and trust, teach social skills, and establish a positive learning environment. It all "starts with a SPARK" and the learning spreads like wildfire!

Attendees will learn:

• Organizational tips to help you prepare for a new school year
• Activities that establish protocols with movement and purpose
• Teaching strategies that foster personal and social skills
• Assessment techniques to ensure your super start continues throughout the year

When: Wednesday, September 16 at 3:00 pm Pacific Time

Who: All Physical Education, Physical Activity and Classroom Teachers

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

August 2009 Webinar:

Coordinated School Health: "The environment made me do it."

The test scores don't lie: academic achievement and health go hand in hand. Data has shown on numerous occasions that healthier students are better prepared to learn and are more successful in school. Schools need to provide programs and resources to ensure students can be successful, and a quality Coordinated School Health program does just that.

A coordinated approach to school health improves students' health and their capacity to learn through the support of families, schools, and communities working together. Coordinated school health is a school-wide approach and commitment that supports and integrates the following eight components:

• family and community involvement
• health education
• physical education
• school health services
• counseling, psychological, and social services
• school nutrition services
• healthy school environment
• health promotion for staff

What can YOUR school or district do to create a healthy learning environment in school and support the success of every students and educator? Join this FREE webinar and get the tools you need to move forward. Attendees will learn:

• The impact that a coordinated school health program can have your students and staff
• Strategies for getting your coordinated school health program started
• Resources that can be used to address coordinated school health components

When: Wednesday, August 5th at 3:00 pm Pacific Time Who: Superintendents, Principals, Wellness Coordinators, Teachers, and Parents Duration: 45 minutes Cost: Free!

Click Here to view a recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

Note - Audio will begin immediately, video may not begin until 1:45 on some computer

July 2009 Webinar:

Is Your After School Program "Moving" in the Right Direction?

Most school environments provide 6 opportunities for children to accumulate at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily (NASPE National Recommendation):

1. Before school
2. Recess
3. Lunch break
4. Physical education class
5. Integration of activity into core subject instruction
6. After school programs

Of the six, after school programs (ASP) usually keep children for the longest period of time and they often enjoy a less rigid schedule. For these reasons and others, ASP offer much potential for both health and academic supplementation.

While most ASP offer opportunities for children to move, a study from the National After School Association found less than half (49%) the children participating reported engaging in outdoor play or physical activity. If children are not active during after school hours, their alternatives are usually sedentary ones (e.g., video games, watching TV, etc.). This is especially critical for those children already suffering from higher rates of overweight and obesity (i.e., children of color and at the poverty line).

What can YOUR program /school do to increase the quantity and quality of physical activity during after school programs?

Attendees will learn:

• Benefits of structured physical activity programs
• Strategies for integrating structured activity throughout after school time
• Activity ideas and lessons that are inclusive, active, and fun for K-8 students

When: Wednesday, July 1st at 3:00 pm Pacific Time Who: After School Program Directors, Coordinators and Educators Duration: 45 minutes Cost: Free!

Click Here To View a Recording of This Webinar - Windows Media

Note - Audio will begin immediately, video may not begin until 1:30 on some computers

June 2009 Webinar:

Organized Day or Free Play? Providing Structured Activity for Children ages 3-5

Young children play all day- they don't need structured physical activity to keep active, right? Recent research studies say WRONG. The truth is that preschoolers are mostly inactive during play, even when outdoors. An article in the Los Angeles Times entitled "U.S. preschoolers are not busy little bees" discusses this surprising data. This month's webinar topic discusses the importance of structured physical activity for young children and how we can provide it for them.

In this webinar, participants will learn:

• The benefits of structured activity on young children
• Strategies for providing age-appropriate structured activities
• Curriculum and lesson ideas for preschools and early childhood settings

When: Wednesday, June 3rd at 3:00 pm Pacific Time Who: All early childhood educators, administrators and parents Duration: 45 minutes Cost: Free!

Click Here To View a Recording of This Webinar- Windows Media

Click Here To View a Recording of This Webinar- Quicktime

May’s Webinar:

"It's OK to Eat and Run - Integrating Nutrition & Health into Physical Education/Activity"

Description: You’ve seen all the research and you’ve heard all the success stories- healthy children are better learners. But do you have the tools you need to incorporate important health and nutrition concepts into your class? Is it even possible? Join this webinar and learn about age-appropriate lessons & strategies for teaching these critical concepts to your students. In this webinar participants will learn:

• The impact that health and nutrition concepts can have when combined with quality PE
• Strategies for integrating these concepts into your PE class
• Curriculum and lesson ideas that are quick and easy to implement

When: Wednesday, May 6th at 3:00 pm PST Who: K-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school coordinators, early childhood educators, and coordinated school health staff. Duration: 45 minutes Cost: Free!

Click Here To View a Recording of This Webinar- Windows Media

April 2009 Webinar:

"April Fools and Limited Tools- Coping with Fewer Equipment $’s"

Description: Tough finding funds to help enhance your physical education program? Don’t worry- this webinar will leave you with ideas to get your kids moving without all the bells and whistles. Learn new strategies to help stretch your equipment dollars farther than you thought possible. Participants will learn:

• How to ensure all students can participate with limited resources
• New activities that use little or no equipment
• Ideas for maximizing your physical education funds

When: Wednesday, April 1st @ 3:00 pm PST Who: K-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school coordinators, early childhood educators, and coordinated school health staff. Duration: 45 minutes Cost: Free!

Click Here To View a Recording of This Webinar- Windows Media

March 2009 Webinar:

"SPARK Excitement In YOUR Class: How To Engage Every Student"

When: Wednesday, Mar 4th @ 3:00 pm PST Who: K-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school coordinators, early childhood educators, and coordinated school health staff. Duration: 45 minutes Cost: Free!

Click Here To View a Recording of This Webinar *

* May require an additional codec in order to play videos

February’s Webinar:

"Simple Ways to increase MVPA"

When: Wednesday, Feb 4th at 3:00 pm PST Who: K-12 teachers and administrators, PE specialists, after school coordinators, early childhood educators, and coordinated school health staff. Duration: 30 minutes Cost: Free!