Physical Education, (Swim)  grade 6                      Swim Course Syllabus Outline 2014-2015

Mr. Kudla

*Course title: Physical Education Swim Class, Grade 6

*Course Description:

            The Physical Education curriculum, instruction and assessment is based the Physical Education Standards set by New York State. These standards include motor/movement, personal fitness/wellness and personal living skills. 

            In addition to the New York State Standards for Physical Education, MYP is concerned with more than sports and games.  Its clear goal is to contribute to the development of the student’s physical, intellectual, emotional and social maturity.

            The swim program will follow the American Red Cross swimming and water safety standards. Red Cross course completion certificates will be awarded to students completing specific standards. 

*Course Objectives:

            Motor/ movement: Through a developmental appropriate progression of activities, based on a strong foundation of psychomotor skills. All students regardless of ability can engage in swim activity with competence and confidence.  Students perform voluntary motor skills changes with experience. In order to participate in a variety of swim activities through life, a student needs to master a number of motor/movement skills at a young age.

            Personal/fitness/wellness: Students gain an understanding of the importance of developing and maintaining optimum fitness in areas of cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance and body composition.

            Personal living skills: These skills serve as the foundation for becoming a productive and concerned citizen.  Personal living skills include self-reliance, social interaction and personal management. 

            Physical Education in the MYP aims to cultivate a healthy lifestyle for students and therefore advocates activities that are enjoyable and also contribute to healthy living. 

            All of these objectives can be achieved through the Red Cross Learn-to-Swim and Water Safety programs.

*Student learning expectations:

*Major Units Taught:

Basic Swim Skills: water orientation and adjustment, breath control, treading water, floating and gliding, changing direction and positions, entering the water, underwater skills, surface diving.

Stroke Development: front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke.

Water Safety

American Red Cross CPR for Professional Rescuers

            Diving: body alignment, diving from deck, springboard diving.

            Each unit will tackle basic skills that the student will develop and use in other areas of their life.      

*Essential Questions:

            -Approaches to learning: How does learning swim skills and techniques necessary to lead health lifestyle.

            -Community and service: What are some health issues that you can get involved in promoting health and fitness in your community?

            -Human ingenuity: How can you develop and evaluate new strategies for swim team play, warm-ups and drills?

            -Environment: Do you recognize the importance of safety within the environment and what can you do to help improve this environment?

            -Health and social education: How does this activity have an effect on the body and mind?

            -What are some of the differences and/or similarities internationally regarding rules, skills, popularity, etc. of sport and Physical Education?

            -How can the skills learned in the activity relate to other aspects in your daily routines?

*Text/materials Used:

            American Red Cross water safety and swim materials.     

*Teaching and Assessment:

            Grading Practice: All students begin each marking period with an “A+”. Class participation, preparedness, cooperation, effort and positive attitude will keep the A+.

            A 5 point rubric will be used for daily evaluation. Students earn 5 points each class for full effort in all activities, respecting all, being fully prepared for class and ready to participate on time. Students earn 4 points when late or not working fully to potential. Students earn 3 points if unprepared, but cooperative and complete the written assignment. Students earn 2 points when very little effort is displayed, disruptive, or disrespectful. Students earn 1 point if prepared, but refuse to participate, lack cooperation, or display a poor attitude. Students earn 0 points if unprepared and made no effort to complete written assignment or disruptive or disrespectful. Skipping (cutting) class results in the student losing and 10 points for each class skipped.

            Students unable to participate may be assigned written work. Quizzes, student skill observation, and self-assessments will also be utilized. Rubrics will be used occasionally for skill and social development assessment.

            The students must come prepared with appropriate Physical Education swimwear in order to participate in class. Appropriate swimwear consists of one-piece bathing suit for the girls and swim trunks or jammers with a tie string for the boys.  All the girls and all the boys with long hair will be required to wear a swim cap.  This will help to keep the pool clean and the filter system working properly.

Students must change clothes in the locker room, put valuables/jewelry in a locker and secure it with their own lock.

            Grades 9: There will be a Red Cross CPR course skills and written test in the fourth quarter marking period worth 20% of the student’s fourth quarter grade.

            Class procedures:  Students check in with the teacher for attendance and then sit in the bleachers until instruction begins. No student will sit by the pool edge or enter the water until given permission by the instructor.         

*Methods of Communication with Parents and Students:

            Communication with parents: Parents will be informed by e-mail, phone or a form letter mailed if the child is in jeopardy of a low grade or needs improvement to achieve the class standards. Letter must be signed by the parent and returned to us by the student. Parents may also contact their child’s teacher by e-mail.  Mr. Kudla: jkudla@buffaloschools.org

            Communication with a student usually occurs on an individual basis, private and at an appropriate time.  Administration is involved if necessary.

*Extra Help Opportunities :

            Students are encouraged to participate in the after school activities offered through the Physical Education Department.

*Other Specifics Particular to Course:

            Department Philosophy:

            The mission of the City Honors School Physical Education Program is to foster excellence by creating an educational experience within an atmosphere of competence, character, civility and citizenship.  By providing an enriching experience these standards will help develop a competitive spirit, good sportsmanship, and supervised group competition.

Rev. 9/11