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Teacher: Tom Winiecki who teaches at Mott Road Elementary School in Fayetteville, NY. Tom Winiecki can be contacted at twiniecki@fmschools.org.
Name of Best Practice: Community Resource Banners
Rationale/Purpose of Event: To re-emphasize all that is available to our students to continue physical activity outside of class and to use the skills thay learn outside of class. Also, to generate conversations among students on various places within our community to stay physically active.
Suggested Grade Level: 3-8
Materials Needed: T-shirts from various community/youth fitness/sport organizations.
Community Resource Banners
I am always looking for better ways to tie together what we learn about in class and what is available to our students in the community. I want to show our kids how they can take skills that they learn in my physical education class and find places outside of school to apply those skills. I went to as many youth activity/fitness/sport organizations that I could come up with. I asked each one of them to donate a t-shirt with their name, or logo on it. I cut the front of these t-shirts out and asked my daughter to hem the edges for me. I ended up with banners about 14" square that I hang from the ceiling in and around our gym. I was able to create banners from dance studios, bowling alleys, youth sports organizations, local parks, ski centers, our local YMCA, recreation departments, tae kwon do studios, a local fun run we participate in each year and much more. These are all things that some our kids and their families partake in each year. They are also places that relate directly to something that we cover in our curriculum. Now whenever we cover something in class, I can refer to a banner, or banners that show a place to go to continue this type of activity. Another neat thing that happens is someone will raise their hand and say thet they go to a particular place noted on a banner. Another student will almost always ask about it. This conversation between students (on going to a fun place to stay active) is priceless! It is exactly what I am working for. It makes my curriculum more "real world" for my students.
Teaching Suggestions/Tips:
Once the banners are up and your students see them, ask them what else should be represented with a banner (what's missing?). Have them think about what else is available to them to stay active outside of school.
Adaptations for Students with Disabilities:
Most of the locations on the banners have accomodations for students with disabilities. During our class conversations, these accomodations are pointed out to the students.
(Any Practice receiving 5 Votes earns Blue Ribbon Status on PEC)
Posted on PEC: 10/22/2007 and has received 68 votes.

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