P.E. Recap: A Fun-Filled First Month at Playa Vista Elementary!
Introduction: A Look Back at the Action, Learning, and Growth in Our First Month
Wow, what an incredible first month of PE with Champ Camp at Playa Vista Elementary School! We’ve been having a blast, and it’s clear that the students are, too. Each session has been packed with energy, teamwork, and lots of learning—both physically and socially. From transitional kindergarteners to fifth graders, we’ve tailored every activity to suit different skill levels and attention spans. Here’s a look at how we kicked off the school year, Champ Camp-style!
Week 1: Warming Up to Fun and Friendship
We started things off by focusing on one of the most important parts of any physical activity—warming up! Not only does warming up get your body ready for action, but it also helps prevent injuries. We made it fun by mixing in yoga moves and full-body stretches, keeping everyone engaged and excited.
Along with stretching, the kids got their hearts pumping with running games and collaborative play. Tag was a huge hit! The goal for week one was simple: help everyone feel comfortable, get to know the Champ Camp crew, and start building friendships through play. By the end of the week, the kids were not only moving with confidence but were also beginning to strengthen bonds with their classmates and coaches.
Week 2: Mastering Personal Space
In week two, we zoomed in on something essential—personal space! This is a biggie when it comes to group activities, and we wanted the kids to really understand how to move without bumping into each other. We started with fun mini-lessons on the importance of keeping a “bubble” around yourself during playtime.
Once warm-ups were done (and by now, they were becoming a daily ritual), we brought the personal space lessons to life with more tag games, but this time, everyone was practicing keeping their bubble intact. The kids had a blast, and they learned a valuable lesson in awareness that’ll help them not just in PE but in all their daily interactions!
Week 3: Jumping Into Action!
Week three was all about jumping! We started with a mix of warm-up stretches and small jumps to get everyone prepped and ready. After some quick demos and tips, the kids were eager to take their jumping skills to the next level.
Enter the obstacle courses! These were specially designed to mix running, jumping, and agility challenges, giving everyone the chance to practice their new skills. Each session wrapped up with a group game, reinforcing the importance of warming up, maintaining personal space, and, of course, jumping! It was particularly rewarding to see the kids mastering their jumps and cheering each other on along the way.
Week 4: Learning to Throw Like Champs
For our final week of the month, we focused on one of the most classic sports skills—throwing! Whether it was overhand or underhand, every student had a chance to practice their throw and improve their aim. Coaches had balls, bean bags, and scarves on hand to accommodate various levels and simulate different types of tosses, too!
We played a fun game called moneyball, where the kids practiced throwing at targets while also working together to retrieve and pass the balls. It was a great opportunity for everyone to build their throwing skills while learning about teamwork, hustling, and encouraging one another. To top it off, we handed out prizes like stickers for things like leadership, excellent listening, and exceptional teamwork! We even wrapped up with a safer version of dodgeball to reinforce all the throwing and teamwork lessons.
Conclusion
What a month it’s been! Our first month of Phys Ed at Playa Vista Elementary has been all about play, positivity, and building strong foundations for teamwork and physical activity. From warming up and learning about personal space to mastering jumping and throwing, the kids have not only grown stronger but also gained valuable social skills and new friendships. We can’t wait bring the community the coming months of Champ Camp phys ed—there’s so much more fun, learning, and excitement ahead!
Stay tuned and keep moving, Playa Vista!