We've been visiting Washington DC on our imaginary trip this week in PE. Students learned about the Japanese cherry blossom trees given to the United States by Japan in 1912. The story behind this gift is really quite interesting. We did a Japanese Fan Dance to the song "Cherry Trees", also called "Sakura." The cherry blossom festival will soon be taking place in Washington DC. Be sure to ask your child about the "secret" tree called the "Indicator Tree."
Posing for a class picture.
Students move their fans to the words "Come and see, come and see, lovely cherry trees."
Our Japanese fans had beautiful birds, flowers, butterflies, trees, and fish.
Students learned about several different monuments and statues throughout the city and did an activity called "Statues." Students had to shape their bodies into a specific sport or activity that was pictured on a card. The class had to guess what the student was doing.
Swimming Statue
Volleyball Statue
Yoga Statue
Students learned about famous structures on the Washington Mall, including the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Reflection Pool. We also talked about the Jefferson Memorial and the White House. We did an activity called "Levels and Pathways." Students did ball skills while moving in various pathways like straight, curved, zig zag, spiral, etc. When the music stopped, they had to freeze at the level which represented the monument that I called out.
Posing at a low level as a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial.
Posing at a medium level as the rounded Jefferson Memorial.
Posing at a high level as the Washington Monument.
Posing at a medium level as the White House.
Moving in a zig zag pathway while dribbling the ball.
