Adapted PE
Category: Behavior/Emotional Disorders

I teach a physical education/health education program to emotionally impaired students. The students were placed in this school for: drug use, behavior problems, or they were taken away from their families due to domestic problems or neglect. The school has no gym, we do have a weight room, out-door track, out-door basketball court and track. The problem is the weather, we are located just outside of Detroit. I am looking for some phys ed ideas I can do this winter?

You've got a challenging situation w/o a gymnasium to use. I'm assuming you have middle or high school students or both? You could consider teaching nontraditional or functional core type fitness activities using the space in the weight room or a hallway if you have access to one. Or, outside, weather permitting. Hallways are a good alternative if possible.

Nontraditional fitness activities are those activities that do not include any calisthenics or doing traditional fitness activities as they are traditionally done (e.g., sit-ups for time, running a mile, etc.). Using reaction balls (yellow or multicolor balls that are not round - bumps all over it so it doesn't bounce like a regular ball) for agility, catching, covering another player, etc. is one idea.

Other activities include, but are not limited to dance (hip hop, social, have students teach each other, etc.), using sport stacks (cup stacking) but w/ lots of movement - not just relays for stacking, push up hockey - from push up position students play hockey using a bean bag - players face each other in push up position about 5-7 feet apart and try to push the bean bag between their partner's hands, small group crab soccer using a large ball, juggling, Dance, Dance Revolution (DDR) using a Play Station 2 and TV, etc. pI know teachers here who have used the Dance Dance Revolution (one teacher brought his own unit) combination of 3-4 classes of students with and without disabilities. Not everyone had a mat, but they projected the picture and the kids just did it in place and rotated to use about 4 mats. Worked well once everyone got the hang of it.

For an indoor/outdoor activity - orienteering where the kids are taught how to use a compass or other device to find various items or locations w/in a specified time around campus. They would participate in small groups.

Functional core activities are those that help students develop their trunk muscles - abs & back - primarily, though balance is a large part too. Using stability balls, medicine balls, foam semi circles, balance boards, ladders, and other materials can be used. Adventure activities that could be done in a hallway or other space may work too. Activities that help to develop and build trust. Project Adventure would be a good resource - they have curriculum books from elementary to high school.

Perhaps there is a fitness club (24 hr fitness, YMCA, Boys' & Girls' Club, or other) nearby? Any chance you might be able to use part of the facility - gym, pool? It would be good for transition type planning for high school students in learning how to access recreational facilities after high school.

Last modified date: 9/13/2010

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