Thursday 14 December 2017

Sports Days 2017


This week ES students participated in a couple of Sports Days.





EY, Kindergarten, and G1 learners had theirs yesterday. It was great to see many parents on the field coming to cheer on their child. Students wore their house shirts and the field became a sea of colors that moved in different directions and participated in a variety of events and activities.





Today was G2-5's turn. Students participated in track and field events and did a wonderful job cheering each other up and pushing themselves to improve their scores.
We finished the event with a popular and always favorite game, tag of war.


Well done Kouprey, Lotus, Bayon, and Mekong!

Thanks parents for coming and supporting your child and the students at ISPP. It was a hot and humid day and students had a blast.

Pictures of both days can be found here




Tuesday 12 December 2017

Grade 5 Individual Pursuits, Athletics


This week we wrapped up the athletics unit in grade 5.
At the beginning of the unit, students received an email with the overview of the unit and how it will unfold week after week. A copy can be found here


They were asked to try different track and field events on their own first, then work with a partner.
Partners will be the same for the entire unit. Learners knew that they had to work together and be knowledgeable so they could coach each other.
During the unit, they were exposed to different events and had to step out of their confidence zone while performing some of those events. They realized that they were being risk-takers.

Apart from practicing different techniques and reflecting on their own learning through the unit, learners filmed each other as they performed a couple of chosen events they wanted to improve. In order to make learning meaningful and visible, we used an app called Hudl Technique that provides video review and performance analysis tools for athletes at different levels.
After recording each other, students analyzed the videos by watching them in slow mode and giving constructive feedback to help their partners improve their individual techniques.


 
During the whole unit, students reflected on own improvement, sharing small wins with partners or the whole group, or just having a minute to think independently about own practice and effort.
They were given a single point rubric at the beginning of the unit and they got the very same one at the end. Students could see how they improved throughout the unit or not and think why was that.
At the end of the unit, students wrote a thoughtful reflection and posted it on their individual learning blogs. In addition, they embedded into the blog their athletics videos with the coaching points from their partners.

This unit was student-centered. Since the beginning of the unit, students were in charge of their own learning, challenging themselves and their partners and becoming more knowledgeable and reflective about their practice and use of their time.

This unit also helped students to get ready for the YAPP ( Young Athletes of Phnom Penh) Athletics Sports Day as well as for the G2-5 Sports Day.

Monday 11 December 2017

YAPP Sports Day

On Wednesday we hosted 600 students from various schools to participate in a morning of athletics.
Photos and videos of the morning can be found by clicking on this link.

Monday 4 December 2017

Cycling and Running in Angkor Wat


This weekend there was the International Half Marathon held in Angkor Wat.

As part of our Individual Pursuits Unit, Athletics, we took 64 students in grades 4 and 5 to Angkor Wat. They were very excited and had a blast.

On Saturday, they participated in a 17km bike race. Our journey started early, waking up at 4:30 am and getting into Angkor Wat when it was still dark.

Students had a sense of adventure and new experiences that hopefully will remember all their lives.
During the bike race, we got to see many parents who came to support and cheer for their child and friends.

The route was beautiful, biking on small roads and off-road close to the rice fields and small lakes as well as into the woods and back on the road. Students did great and had a sense of accomplishment.

In the afternoon, after having a nice and recovering breakfast and lunch, we went back to Angkor Wat and wandered around the temples.

Sunday our day started early again. After a quick breakfast, we got ourselves ready for the 3km run.
We placed ourselves close to the start of the race, so students could see and cheer on the half marathon and 10km runners who started their races before ours.

Then, it was time for the 3km fun run. Students did a great job and they were proud of themselves as some of them did not stop running and really pushed themselves to run as fast as they could. Well done students!

Thank you, parents, for your support.

Pictures of the Angkor Wat trip can be found here

Angkor Wat Trip 2017

Well done to all the students who participated the Angkor Wat Bike Race and Run.



Lots more photos from the trip can be found in this Google Album

Elementary Sports Days coming up

Over the next few weeks we will be hosting several sports days on the school field, which are our culminating activities for the athletics unit presently being taught in PE. Parents are welcome to attend these days to support all the students. Details of the sports days are as follows:

Wednesday 6 December - YAPP Sports Day
All Grade 3-5, plus students from other international schools in Phnom Penh
Start - 8.30am
ALL students wear ISPP PE kit and cap

Wednesday 13 December - EY2, KG  & Grade 1 Sports Day
Students in their class groups rotate through a variety of activities.
Start - 8am
Students wear their ISPP coloured house shirt and cap
Thursday 14 December - Grade 2-5 House Sports Day
Students in their class groups rotate through a variety of activities.
Start - 8am
Students wear their ISPP coloured house shirt and cap


Saturday 2 December 2017

Angkor Wat Trip - Saturday

The students were up early this morning and enjoyed the the bike ride, before returning to the hotel for a swim.
Thank you to parents, friends and guards who were up on the bike ride course and who helped out.


Photos from the trip will be placed in this google album, and you are welcome to download copies of your child in action.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/uV46PgJ43fCbldPI2

Friday 24 November 2017

KG-G5 Athletics

Students from KG to G5 are participating in athletic units at present. While they are all focused on running, jumping and throwing, activities undertaken vary, based on the age level.







When we have been inquiring into how to throw and jump further and run faster, we have used technology to help us in different ways. Video performances on the iPads allow the students to watch themselves perform, which is especially useful in slow motion. We have used apps such as Huddle Technique to watch in slow motion and highlight what we are doing - just like on the TV sports programmes. Recording and providing peer feedback is a undertaken with the older grades. 


Grade 4 to demonstrate their knowledge, had great fun this week using Flipgrid to record video responses to the questions "How can you jump further?" or "What techniques do you use to  throw further?", .  They managed to create 37 instructional videos this week, so it looks like we have many future youtube stars in the making!

As part of the focus on big numbers in Book Week, students in G2 have been using pedometers to record the number of steps taken during PE class. KG have looked at different ways to measure











Friday 17 November 2017

G3 Individual Pursuits. What is a Good Running Technique?


Grade 3 learners have started a unit of inquiry called Individual Pursuits, Athletics.
They have begun to inquire in different skills, such as running, throwing, and jumping.

During this lesson, athletes partnered up with a peer to observe each other's runner technique and give feedback.

I created a small "running lab" for learners to understand the importance of using a good running technique.

First, learners started to run with their shoulders up to their ears, and they understood the importance of running with relaxed shoulders.

Then, they ran, using the whole sole of their feet and they felt like if they were penguins. They understood the importance of running on the balls of their feet.

Finally, little athletes ran holding on their pants, so they couldn't really move their arms. Right away they realized that swinging their arms was essential in the running form.

Athletes did a little sprinting game, where 4 students would run at the time while their partners would look at their running form.

Below you can see the form learners used to give feedback to each other and some photos of learners in action.











Friday 27 October 2017

Teamwork at its Best!


Grade 1 learners started their day thinking about why is important to play cooperation games and together we created the success criteria for the lesson.
Below you can see what they came up with.


They did a fabulous job working as a team, cheering on their friends, and supporting each other.
Creating success criteria with students makes a big difference in your lesson as learners are aware of what they are expected to be doing and try harder.

They felt so good about working well with their teams that they ended up doing a little "chant" at the end of the lesson.





Click on the link below to see your child in action

Ms Amy's Class
Ms Brittney's Class
Ms Kelly's Class


Thursday 26 October 2017

Kindergarten Imagination Yoga Stories in PE

During this unit  in PE we have been integrating with the homeroom ‘How We Express Ourselves’ unit on imagination and the arts. Students have be participating in a variety of dance and yoga activities that require them to use their imagination.

Over the last few weeks of this  integrated unit,  students have used their imagination to develop a yoga story on a storyboard and then add yoga poses to illustrate it, based on the cosmic kids yoga stories that we have participated in. We finished the unit by filming the students performing their story in front of the green screen. We could then add a background to the story to help transport them to where their imagination story was based.



These type of activities can help children to:
  • develop large muscles, strength and balance
  • develop flexibility and coordination
  • develop their ideas in their own ways
  • learn to solve problems, plan and remember
  • express feelings through their body
  • be creative by making up their own stories
  • gain confidence
  • practice problem solving



Tuesday 24 October 2017

Photos of students in Action


Throughout the year we place photographs of the students performing in PE classes in a class specific google album. The links to the albums can be found on the PE Photo page on this blog. These photos make great starting points with your child to help get them explain what has been happening in PE.



Monday 23 October 2017

Grade 3 Teaching Games for Understanding

Grade 3 is about to wrap up their "Invasion Games" unit.

Learners played a variety of small sided games to develop an understanding of teamwork by moving into space, sending and receiving the ball, and figuring out different strategies to keep or regain the possession of the ball.

While playing these games, learners were able to practice their ball skills and think of strategies to support their team to be successful.

Some of the small games we have played were benchball, matball, and hoopball. These games helped learners to be aware of the importance of running into an open space and to make quick decisions to pass the ball to their team members and eventually score by receiving the ball on the bench, matt, or hoop.

In addition to those activities, we played modified basketball games.

By doing this kind of activities players learn the difference between attacking, moving forward, maintaining the possession of the ball and eventually scoring, and defending by regaining the possession of the ball. They had to talk to their teams and figure out the best strategies in attack and defence.

This week we will be playing some small sided football games on the field.