Lately, Ana's been saying they watched a movie in gym.

[conuly]

We knew she didn't mean that, because, really, Ana will say anything (today she said it was rude for me to call her by her first middle and last, and her teacher told her that!), but she had to have gotten the idea from somewhere, right? (With the name thing, it turned out some kids had learned her teacher's first name, and her teacher has been correcting them on the matter for a while now, and that's all.)

Which reminded me of my promise to get some games for the school (not that I really care about movies during lunch, really, but I remember the one year I had recess, 5th grade, I *hated* having to watch a movie when I'd rather be doing something else! LOL, so it's always good to have options), but I wanted to make sure they'd be well-received, so I went down to the PTA with my sister to make my offer:

1. I'd get some games - and with that established, once they come in I'll ask the chair or whoever if they can solicit a bid for donated games.

2. I'd be willing to teach unfamiliar games (like Sleeping Queens) to interested staff members

3. The games could be used for indoor recess, indoor after-lunch, and PTA meetings if they get bored of showing movies for the kids, on the theory that more choices are better. (I also suggested that one of their monthly family fun nights could be a game night, but that may have been overlooked.)

4. I have just emailed a list of good games (listed by educational value!) to the assistant principal, so there we go.

They were pretty enthused, and - bubbling with success - I offered to get some jump ropes and whatnot, also for the aftercare, but also for gym. It's a new school, as I've said, and they're still low on supplies.

So, what sort of supplies would be good for active movement for indoor recess or gym? I'm thinking a lot of jump ropes, chinese jump ropes, things of that ilk, but what else? I don't want to get anything that could be disruptive to students doing quiet things, so no basketballs or anything like that.

Comments

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

Would hula-hoops be something useful? Gym mats? Building blocks?

[conuly]

Hula hoops, yes, though I want to get higher-quality ones and those will have to wait.

Gym mats... maybe? I know the aftercare does yoga once a week. (Parent volunteers. Small school. FULL OF ENTHUSIASTIC JOY. Gosh, I love this school!)

Building blocks? Those might be a good idea, but surely not for gym, right?

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

Building blocks could be part of alternative activities for those who can't do physical activity for whatever reason, and it's a great toy for when kids have to do some quiet but brain-and-physical-motor fun activity when going outside isn't an option.