Meet the Team Michael McDonald Bachelor of Kinesiology from U of S Recess Guardians Executive Director Certified Personal Trainer Exercise Expert
Why is Recess Important? 23 ½ Hours Playworks
Problems with Recess Bullying Gossiping Physical Inactivity Boredom- Unbusy hands can lead to bad situations More harm done than good
Reasons Students grow up too quickly, forget how to play Unfamiliar with games to play No one will take responsibility for getting game started
The Act of Play Play is a lost art Students grow up too quickly Play is crucial in ones upbringing Recess is a time for kids to be just that... Kids! Prescription for Play
Facts Bullying occurs once every 7 minutes on the playground Obesity rates among children and youth aged 2 to 17 years are staggering Childhood Obesity Increasing amount of interactive, immobile games Source: Stop a Bully, www.stopabully.ca/bullying
Past Programs • Canadian Intramural Recreation Association of Ontario (CIRA) • P.A.L.S. (Playground Activity Leaders in Schools)
• PROPS (Peers Running Organized Play Stations) • Active Playgrounds Source: The City of Hamilton Public Health Services
Our Advantage Empowering students through peer leadership On-the-ground interaction Ownership and Accountability
A Safe Recess Should: Promote FUN and participation
Reduce bullying
Increase physical activity levels
Promote fair play
Teach movement and dexterity skills
Teach cooperation and respect
Promote creativity and problem solving
Provide equal opportunity for all
Mission Recess Guardians’ mission is to motivate children to bring positive attitudes to the playground, while teaching their peers how to play in an energetic, fun and constructive way.
What is Recess Guardians? How to play Leadership Skills Empowerment CTV Interview
Recess Guardians Musts A teacher who will take responsibility for the program A way to get equipment out on the playground
School must show excitement behind it, reward the students for taking a leadership role
How it All Began Started September, 2008
Started as drop in program In 11 Core Community Schools in Saskatoon Kids participated, but turnout varied greatly
Year One Analysis Pros
Cons
Kids had fun
Turnout was inconsistent
Learnt games to play in their own time
Sometimes wouldn’t play the games if they didn’t like them off the start
Received shirts Has positive grown-up role models
Inexperienced adult volunteers
Changes Have a group of 8-16 students assigned to the program, grades 4-8 Decrease the amount of schools
Have the same coaches at each school Students must participate or they won’t be welcome back
The RG Model: Option 1 8-16 Children Grades 4-8 Minimum of 12 sessions 1 day a week, 1 hour after school 1-2 Volunteers per school
Option 1 Positives
Negatives
Get different students working together
Not giving every student a chance to participate
Allowing only the students who want to attend, to attend
Inconsistent turnout, having to chase students after school
Extra physical activity during the day
Other activities can get in the way
The RG Model: Option 2 One entire class during Phys. Ed. Time Grades 4, 5, or 6 6 to 12 sessions 1 day a week Either volunteer(s) or teacher
Option 2 Positives
Negatives
Everyone has a chance to succeed and participate
Disruption from children who don’t want to play the games
Teacher is there to see how it is run Consistent attendance
Not having physical activity after school, cuts down on time they are active
The RG Model: Option 3 One entire class during Phys. Ed. Time Grades 4, 5, or 6 6 to 8 sessions 3 to 4 days a week for 2 consecutive weeks Either volunteer(s) or teacher
Option 3 Positives Everyone has a chance to participate Sessions are close together so they can remember the games better Teacher is present
Negatives Students who don’t want to play may distract others
Now What?
Volunteer Volunteer or teacher?
In a volunteer you want someone: Reliable Energetic
Positive Likes to play
Games Decide on a group of 1012 games Should require very little or no equipment Easy to organize Popular
Games cont’d. Teach most of the games in the first 3 to 4 sessions Have the students replay the games after that, but always add in a new game for each session Get a student to explain the rules to the other students, allows them to lead their peers For last session or two, bring care partners in for the class to teach them
Teacher’s Role Be EXCITED!
Organize students on the playground Get the students participating in the learning sessions
Teacher’s Role cont’d. Different organizational ideas: Assign 2 groups of students (3 in each group) to organize games at recess. Have them come up with one game idea, and to run it for a specific recess. Change up groups for each recess.
Teacher’s Role cont’d. More ideas: Have two students bring out equipment at recess and allow others to play with it. Have them work one on one, or in a group with younger children and teach them to throw/catch. Run indoor recesses with the games they were taught.
Physical Literacy Push Sport Manitoba’s “Games with a purpose” Teach the students these skills Have them work with younger students on the playground with these skills Students love teaching younger students
Physical Literacy Have the students set up circuits in the gym for the students to do for indoor recess Students love to be EMPOWERED
Obstacle courses and relays work great for this type of program
Questions
Thank You! Michael McDonald
[email protected] 306-280-7244
