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Teacher: Sean Conlin who teaches at Center Elementary School in Willington, CT. Sean Conlin can be contacted at sconlin@willingtonct.org.

Name of Best Practice: The PAL Reading, Writing, and Exercise Program (The Exercising Koosh Ball)

Rationale/Purpose of Event: The PAL Program encourages students to read, write and be physically active.

Suggested Grade Level: K-5

Materials Needed: Koosh balls and journals

The PAL Reading, Writing, and Exercise Program (The Exercising Koosh Ball)

PALl (physically active learner) is a koosh (ball) that I send home with my students. He (It) goes home with my students with his journal. My students are encouraged to do a variety of physical activities with him, read to him, and then write about their adventures with PAL in his journal. When he returns to school we share what he did with the class.

Physically Active Learners Program

Dear students,

My name is PAL. I am a koosh and a physically active learner. I, like everyone else, need to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Please help me get the physical activity I need by exercising with me. I enjoy playing catch but that isn’t the only thing I can do. Included in my journal is a list of activities that I can do. If you and your family have me do activities that are not on the list please add them to my list. I want everyone to know what I have done. I am also writing a journal of my adventures so if you could write a story of our adventures together I would appreciate your efforts. If you decide to include pictures or drawings in my journal I would be proud to include them in my journal. One of the nights that I stay at your house please read me the story Michael‘s Golden Rules. It‘s my favorite bedtime story.

PAL’s to do list
* Exercise 30 minutes a day
* Complete journal
* Read to PAL
* Return to school at next physical education class

PAL’s Physical Activity List
Pal’s list includes physical activities that promote physical fitness.
Please add to the list as Pal tries new activities. Feel free to copy into a Word document and handout.

Catch
Juggling
Running
Soccer
Baseball
Basketball
Hockey
Gymnastics
Frisbee Golf (at Thompson Dam)
Hiking
Biking
Skiing
Dancing
Tai Bo
Kayaking
Cheerleading
Push ups
Sit ups
Jumping Jacks


Pal’s Journal
(Please attach pages if this isn’t enough space)

Journal entry written by:________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________

Physical activities:______________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Books that were read to me ____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Adventures (What did I do? Where did I go? Who was I with? Be descriptive)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Variations:

Some teachers might use tennis balls for more inexpensive alternative to koosh. Students could draw Pal's face on the ball.

Teaching Suggestions/Tips:

Ask the classroom teacher if students that don't have books at home can borrow from the classroom library.

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Posted on PEC: 10/12/2008 and has received 93 votes.

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