Lab 5 - A Spectrum of Ball Handling Skills

1. Use the internet to search for information about turtles and how they live.

Some interesting facts about turtles and tortoises:

Turtles have been on the earth for more than 200 million years. They evolved before mammals, birds, crocodiles, snakes and even lizards. Several species of turtles can live to be over a hundred years of age including the American Box Turtle.Turtles live on every continent except Antarctica. Turtles will live in almost any climate warm enough to allow them to complete their breeding cycle. Turtles range in size from the 4-inch Bog Turtle to the 1500 pound Leathery Turtle. North America contains a large variety of turtle species but Europe contains only two species of turtles and three species of tortoises. The top domed part of a turtle's shell is called the carapace and the bottom underlying part is called the plastron. The shell of a turtle is made up of 60 different bones all connected together. The bony portion of the shell is covered with plates (scutes) that are derivatives of skin and offer additional strength and protection. Most land tortoises have high domed carapaces that offer protection from the snapping jaws of terrestrial predators. Aquatic turtles tend to have flatter more aerodynamically shaped shells. An exception to the dome-shaped tortoise shell is the pancake tortoise of East Africa that will wedge itself between narrow rocks when threatened and then inflates itself with air making extraction nearly impossible. Turtles have good eyesight and an excellent sense of smell. Hearing and sense of touch are both good and even the shell contains nerve endings. Turtles are one of the oldest and most primitive groups of reptiles and have outlived many other species. One can only wonder if their unique shell is responsible for their success.
Cited: (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=17+1797&aid=1492)


2. Identify the fitness components being addressed in squad square fitness. Where are these components located on the New York State Conceptual Framework for K-12 Physical Education?
Some of the fitness components that were addressed in the squad square fitness are, Cardiovascular Endurance(all stations), Muscle Strength and Endurance (Moving Push-Ups), Agility (Ski Jumps), Speed (Step Ups), and Balance (Step Ups & Ski Jumps). These components can be located in the Personal Fitness/Wellness block under the Elementary Skill Level. Also, the squad square activities can be located under the Motor/Movement Skill Development block. This is shown because students are working on jumping, push ups, step ups, and crunches. I achieved a good deal of physical activity after participating in this quick "warm up" activity! I will definitely use the squad square for my future teaching!

3. Prescribe a series of ball handling skills for a second grade boy or girl that is afraid of catching a ball. What kinds of objects might you prescribe for throwing and catching?
The skills that I would incorporate in my PE class for a boy or girl that is afraid of catching a ball would be to:

• first, have him/her sit down with a partner and roll a yarn ball back and forth, getting used to the "feel" of a ball coming at the student
• second, I would have the student toss a yard ball up into the air and then try to catch it. 
• third, actually have another student toss the yarn ball towards the afraid student. 

If a student is afraid of catching some type of object in PE class because it may hurt them, then I would switch to a more softer type of ball. For example, a yarn ball is very soft and also a foam ball. 

4. What are some of the guidelines you would follow in pairing students for throwing and catching?
When pairing students for throwing and catching, its always good to pair a student who is good at throwing with a student that is struggling. This way, the student that is a good thrower/catcher can help the student that is struggling. I've always been told that it is not good to pair the strong movers with other strong movers. Let the strong movers help the students that are struggling! This idea helps students to "teach" other students! WOW

5. How would you help a special needs student learn to catch that displays delayed motor control and lack of fine motor control dexterity?
First off, I would definitely keep the same cues as I would use for any other student in the class. Second, in order to help this special needs student to catch better I would start him off with catching a ballon. A balloon floats slowly to the ground which would allow the student to react in enough time to catch the balloon. A teacher that I observed at an elementary school a few years ago used this idea with one of her students!