Constructivist Learning in K5 Physical Education Matthew Cummiskey

Constructivist Learning in K-5 Physical Education Matthew Cummiskey Temple University Please provide email…

What is constructivist teaching ?

Constructivist Principles • Encourage students to arrive at answers in different ways • Invite students to describe how they generated solutions to the learning problems • Have students articulate, defend, refine and adjust their own strategies to solve problems • Establish classroom social norms for listening to other and sharing solutions • Build learning on students previous knowledge while integrating concepts into broad understanding (pathways)

Advantages for Students. Improves the following: • Positive self image & confidence – slanted rope • • • Critical thinking Movement vocabulary Creativity Self-responsibility Enjoyment of class Social interaction

Advantages for Teachers • • Get “inside” a child’s head Adjust teaching based on responses More interaction with students Involve multiple movement education concepts and skill themes Non-competitive or low competitive level Higher activity time Promotes leadership and success Higher interscholastic participation rates

Approaches: IS: • Guided Discovery • Problem Solving • Reciprocal • Convergent IS NOT: • Command • Practice

Constructivism at Its Best

The basics of • Movement Education (K-3) • Movement Education Schedule • Skill Themes (4 -5) • Skill Themes Schedule See material under “curriculum and teaching models” tab on homepage

Spiral Curriculum

Examples K – Self Space K 1 – Range 1 st – Force 2 nd – Pathways 3 rd – Rhythm 4 th – Movement and Position 4 th – Bounce Pass 5 th – Cooperative 5 th – Throwing Challenge

Develop your own constructivist lesson using the movement education or skill themes approach

Constructivism – Helps children become skillful movers and develop positive attitudes towards themselves and physical activity. Questions? ? Documents: – http: //astro. temple. edu/~mdc 49/ portfolio/conferences/presentati ons. htm Contact me: – mdc 49@temple. edu