Heart Rate Unit

So I feel like I keep stealing Alex's ideas, but they're really great. He had the idea on how to do our heart rate unit and still keep the kids' attention. Its really working out really well. We walk/jog for 5 minutes, then record our heart rate. Then, we go and do an activity we've already done in the past. We take our heart rate in the middle of the activity, record it, and then again at the end of the period/activity. So, we have a resting heart rate and 3 heart rates throughout the period. Its really going well and we keep the students interested throughout the entire period. Oh, and if you want to hear the beautiful sound of absolute silence. . .tell students to take their heart rate. Its amazing how quickly they get quiet and stay quiet.

On the first day, we introduced how to find and take their heart rate and introduce why cardiovascular fitness is important. On the second day we teach how to figure out the target heart rate zone, low target, high target, and why its important to stay in the zone.

Again. . .its great to see students doing well.

Oh, I also figured out during the 5 minute walk/jog. . .that happy people skip. Some students asked if they could skip and I said why not, they're moving, they're staying active, and it brings a smile to their face during fitness. But, did you ever notice. . .grumpy people don't skip, only happy people! :)

Garage Band is My Hero!

Ok, so because of this 'podcast' adventure I finally was able to figure out what this GarageBand program was on my Mac. Needless to say it is the best invention. . .EVER! Its amazing! Not only can you record podcasts and such and make your own music, but you can edit songs! For instance, I just moved Pink's song 'So What' over and edited out the one swear word in the entire song. Why do I care about one swear word? Well. . .it was the only word preventing me from playing the song in my classroom. Now, however, with a little editing help from my new best friend GarageBand, I edited out the one and only swear word and POOF!, its a good song to play in my classroom!!!

It truly is the little things in life. Oh my gosh, I'm so pumped!!!

PS - I realize there are edited versions, but now-a-days the edited versions still have profanity in them. So, I'm excited that I found a way around the unedited "edited" versions of the songs. Thanks, though Mike! I appreciate it!

Tests

So I finally gave my kids the football test on Thursday. Some did fantastic, while others completely dropped the ball. Its funny watching the freshmen, who have never had one of my tests, take theirs. They look at it like. . .whaaaaat?. . .she was serious when she said there would be labeling, true/false, matching, fill in the blank, etc. . .how do you guys set up your written tests?