Why Knot Adventure PE ??

During my adventure PE class we had the opportunity to go to a climbing gym to do some rock climbing.  We went to a gym in Madison called Boulder's Climbing Gym.  We had a blast and the staff there was top notch.  I would highly recommend checking them out for a class trip.  

 

In prepping for that trip, I wanted the class to have a clue as to the knots that were keeping them from plummeting to the ground.  I have seen some card games that showed pictures of how knots were tied, I

looked online to find some websites to print out some sheets, and I went back to my younger days when I learned knot tying but nothing was really clicking as to a quick efficient process to learn some knots. 

While I was searching YouTube to refresh myself on the knots I wanted the kids to learn, it dawned on me to not reinvent the wheel and use those videos to teach.  So, I decided on the knots I wanted the kids to know (I tried to use more useful and common knots) and I settled on:

•    Overhand/Double Overhand

•    Square/Reef

•    Figure 8

•    Utility

•    Clove Hitch

•    Taut Line

•    Sheet Bend

•    Bowline

Once I figured out the knots I wanted kids to know, I went on YouTube and cruised through some videos until I found some that I liked.  I looked for videos that were short (under 2 mins), easy steps to remember and an easy rope to see.  Once I found the videos I wanted to use I simply added them to a playlist I created on YouTube to save/organize them.

Next I created a simple word document for the handout.  I listed the 8 knots and a brief description of where the knot might be used.  I also created a QR code for each knot video and pasted the QR code below each knot description I created.  (Click to read more on how to create QR Codes).  

I also put a picture of the knot next to the QR code so the kids can see what the finished product should look like and be able to check themselves as they practice.  So now the kids can simply scan the QR code, watch the video (pause and rewind) and practice tying the knot.  I let the kids just go in whatever order they want to for practice and I simply circulated helping out with different groups of kids.

The next day, I quiz them on the knots like a game.  I simply yell out a knot and the first to tie it right wins.  It is a fun competition and the kids seem to like it.  You could also do it in teams too.

As far as rope, I was also fortunate enough to find a spool of yacht rope at my school to use.  I cut the

rope into about 3 ft lengths.  I used electrical tape to bind the ends to keep them from fraying.  (To do the sheet bend knot you will need a few lengths of different rope).  

The rope I have is fairly large but it was free :-).  You could get a smaller size but I would make sure it  fairly durable and easy to work with.  I also stole an idea from a video I saw and taped each end of the rope a different color which simply makes it a little easier to keep track of which end the student is working with.

Overall the kids seemed to have fun learning to tie these knots.  Most are only familiar with the granny knot, square knot and a simple overhand slip knot.  When they started seeing themselves correctly tying other knots and seeing where & how they could be used, the students really started to get into learning more knots. 

So if your thinking of teaching some rope skills in class ... I'd say why knot?

All FIRED up!

This may be a little different blog than my usual health content but my new classes have me excited about some activities I am trying for the first time.  The last 2 weeks we have been in our wilderness unit.  We have been learning about life in the wilderness (camping skills).  One of the most important part of camping or wilderness activities is the ability to make fire.  Now a lot of us who have spent time out in the woods appreciate what it takes to get a fire going.  We have our matches or lighter, paper and cardboard and maybe a little lighter fluid (or gasoline for those of us living on the edge).  But what happens if those things are not available to get a fire started for cooking, purifying water or heat??  Uh oh ……

It is not too hard to get a fire started when you have a stable/plentiful ignition source like a lighter but what if you don’t have that available?  You are lost in the woods on that hiking trip or got turned around tracking that deer during hunting season and you are stuck in the woods for a night??  Nothing can give you a sense of security like being able to get a fire going for heat, cooking, light and protection.  Our goal in the fire building lessons was to do just that.  Be able to effectively build a fire with a reliable resource.

First we went to the computer lab to watch a short video on how to build a fire.  I found a great series on youtube by Reggie Bennett of Mountain Shepherd Survival School on different wilderness tips and trainings.  

(How to make fire)

I also created a simple note sheet that follows along with the video for the students to fill out. (scroll to page 2 if you go to the link)

The next class period I brought in a bunch of timber, branches & sticks I collected and I also purchased a couple sparkie firestarters from Walmart (same one used in the video) for about $7.00 and I got some petroleum jelly and cottonballs.  I paired the kids up in groups of two and had them build a small fire using just the sparkie tool and the “jellied” cottonballs. 

Kids had fire in a matter of seconds when they used the handle & platform technique from the video.  It was incredibly easy and empowering for these kids to start a fire with no traditional ignition source.  Once they had their fire going, they could make a s’more as a reward.  The kids loved that little incentive!!   I did have some kids who really didn’t take the video seriously and didn’t pay a lot of attention to the steps of building a fire.  They really struggled to get a fire going and didn’t have a lot of time to get their “reward” because the deal was they could make their s’more on THEIR fire. 

It was a little humorous that most all the girls in class had fires going very quickly and were cooking up their s’mores while a handful of mostly boys were struggling getting a fire going “their” way.  Most finally did get a fire going but it took quite a bit of time, energy and effort.

Overall, this was a great activity and the kids really got some enjoyment out of seeing it done by “experts” and then replicating that success in real life. 

** Safety wise, I would definitely have a fire extinguisher or a water source available in case a fire gets a little out of hand. I would also suggest a garden rake as well to rake out any coals.  I planned to do our fires on the baseball gravel but it was all mud so we used some old 2 x 12’s to protect the grass.  In the future I am going to get a sheet of tin roofing and cut it into 2-3 ft squares for the kids to build their fires on.  It is re-useable and easier to clean up (dumping ashes) when it is all done.

Orienteering ... Finding your way

With some changes in teaching assignments this year I am getting back to my PE roots.  This year I am teaching more PE and have welcomed the change in scenery.  PE has changed for the better since I last was a full time teacher in Kinesiological management.  Two of my classes are Adventure PE.  Being a bit of an outdoorsman I have been loving this new class.  One of the units we have done has been basic orienteering.  It has been a while since I have used a compass so I needed a little refresher not to mention how to teach a class on this. 

I went on YouTube to get some refreshers on how to use a compass or come up with some activities to do.  I stumbled across a great tutorial that was quick and easy to learning the basics of the compass.  

I decided instead of me trying to teach the same info why not have the kids come into the computer lab and get all the “bookwork” out of the way all at once.  Plus, anyone who has ever tried to have kids sit in a gym or in the bleachers to “teach” will know it is hard to maintain their attention.  The computer lab is a familiar environment for them to do some sit work.

 

I use www.Edmodo.com with my PE students to be able to contact and provide information to them that they may need for class.  (It works great because I can share docs and videos so I am not picking up papers in the locker room after each hour.)  I put the video link right on edmodo for them to pull from.  I also created a note sheet where they can label the compass and write down the steps to using it.

Note sheet click HERE

Day 1:

I handed out the note sheets and had the kids pull up the video and watch it and fill the note sheets out.  It took all of 20 mins from start to finish.  (I had them pull up some info on www.Geocaching.com as the orienteering unit leads into the geocaching unit).

Day2:

I created a simple orienteering course for the kids to follow.  I had my morning class do it in the field house (it was wet & dewy) and my afternoon class went outside so as long as you have an open space it should work.  I created 3 different courses just to offer a variety.  Once the kids finished one course they just grabbed a new card.  I color coded each course to make it easier.  The courses are not any harder than the others … just different.

Course Coordinates HERE

Each student got a compass, a course card and a hula hoop.  I had them spread out and stand in their hula hoop.  I then just had them start their course.  If they do their coordinates correct, they should end up right back in their hula hoop or within a few steps of it.  It makes it very easy to see if the kids orienteered correctly.

I was amazed at how well these city kids did on their first try.  The YouTube video made it simple and easy so the activity was a huge success.  The kids enjoyed it and thought it was neat they could use a compass which most never had. 

Day 3:

The kids will create their own 8 step course to plot.  I then have them give their course to a partner and have them orienteer the course to see if it works.

Overall this was a great activity.  The kids loved it and it was a great way to combine some new technology with the old …