Directions

30 min. lesson

A.E.E.C.

Equipment:   -  Softie balls, deck rings (or something you can play with in your

left hand,) hula hoops, some sort of dividing line, and bean bags (or something to play with in your right hand.)

Protocols:            -Line up time is quite time.

                        -When the teacher talks the students listen.

                        -When you hear the whistle you are to freeze.

                        -Stay in your own personal space.

                        -AEEC clap/chant and then silence.

Teacher Objectives:    -  To provide a guided discovery to directions.  To

establish the definition of direction. To help the children gain an idea of the meanings of up, down, left, right, backwards, and forwards. 

Student Objectives:    -  To work well by themselves and with others, to focus

on the meanings of directions (up, down, left, etc.)  To follow the protocols and to have fun.

Instant Activity:   -         Have students come in and introduce to them the focus,

(5-7 min.)                   directions.  What they are briefly and what we will be doing with them.  Then ask the students if they are ready to exercise?  Today we will do push ups and sit ups, maybe even jumping jacks.  Have them perform helping those who need assistance. 

Lesson Focus:            

Up & Down-                       Talk about the 6 directions we will talk about, There are 6

and the first two are up and down.  I know you know which way up is. Can you show me?  The second is down, the opposite of up.  Which way is down?  Let’s start by getting a ball and throwing it up and catching ourselves.  Now throw it down.  Let them practice several times changing the direction they throw the ball.  Remind them to keep their eye on the ball.  Add difficulty by having students try and throw up, clap hands, and then catch ball before it hits the ground.  Have the students put ball away and sit on tape line.

Backwards and Forwards-

    If my belly button goes first, which way am I moving?

If my eyes and nose goes first which way is it?  What about if my back goes first?  If my bottom goes first, I am going in which direction?  (forwards & backwards)

                                                -Can you put a large body part forward?

                                                -How about a small body part?

                                                -What direction do we go most of the time?  Why?

                                                -If we can’t go forward, which way can we go?

                                                -Why is it easier to move forward than backward?

                                                     (our eye are in front and our bodies are designed

                                                      that way.)

    Talk about how animals move backwards and forwards just like us.  Why do we and animals move backwards and forwards?  How might a horse move forward? (gallop)  How about a rabbit? (hopping)  Snake? (slithers)  Kangaroo? (jump)  Cheetah? (run fast)  Try each, ask if the students can move like the different animals.  Throw in backwards as well.

Left & Right-                 If I am facing the same way as the students, ask the

which ways are left if I am not going up, down, back, or forward?  (left & right, side to side)  Show them right and left.  Tell them we have left and right sides to our bodies, and show them.  Teach them a trick.  Looking at the back of your hands make the L with your pointer finger and your thumb.  Which one is makes the correct L?  That is your Left hand, because the word LEFT starts with an L. 

            -Can you raise your left hand, try your right hand?

-Line up on the tape line, boys move to the right, girls move to the left.  Switch.  Have them follow their left and right hands.

                        (Game)-Broken Arm

                                        -Line up on the tape line.  Girls put your left arm

                                        behind your back.  It is broken and you can not

                                         use it.  Boys do the same with your right arm.  The

                                        arm behind your back is broken and you cannot use

                                        it.  Girls go to one side and play with the bean bags

                                        and boys go to the other side and play with the deck

                                        rings.  You can’t use your broken arm.  Maybe you

                                        practice throwing and catching by yourself and with

                                        a partner.  See what you can do?

Conclusion: Q&A

            Have students put equipment away and sit on the tape line.

            Q & A them about up, down, left, and right, forward and backwards.

            Line up and dismiss.