Keeping Kids in Motion
Building a community where fitness and play are the foundation for all families.
February’s HOP, SKIP, and a JUMP into LEAP YEAR!
The year 2020 is a LEAP YEAR! Let’s celebrate by hopping, skipping, and jumping our way through the month. You’ll need to tune-up your fine motor skills in order to cut out 15 different exercises geared to enhance muscle strength and endurance. The majority of the exercises focus on hopping, skipping, and jumping. These exercises are intended to strengthen both upper and lower body muscles along with aerobic endurance. I’ve also included 5 core exercises. “Core exercises train the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips, and abdomen to work in harmony. This leads to better balance and stability, whether on the playing field or in daily activities. In fact, most sports and other physical activities depend on stable core muscles.” Therefore, the stronger your core, the stronger you’ll be at hopping, skipping, and jumping.
The instructions are simple:
- Cut out each of the 15 activity cards.
- Spread them out face down on any flat surface.
- Randomly select 5-10 Increase the challenge throughout the month by picking 1-2 extra cards to begin each new week.
- Complete the exercise on each selected card.
- Write your initials on the calendar each day you exercise.
- At the end of the month, fill out the information on the bottom of the calendar, then return it to your physical education teacher.
FYI – I’ve also laminated these activity cards and used them as an instant activity for my PE classes. I spread out several sets around the gym. Students pick up a card and complete the exercise. They continue this process for three minutes.
Click Hooping, Skipping, Jumping for Fun for a downloadable copy of the challenge
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Why Your Core Muscles Matter.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2 Aug. 2017, http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/core-exercises/art-20044751.
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