GRADE

TOPIC

UNIT

Kindergarten

Rocking on the three body surfaces

Gymnastics

Equipment Needed

Small Mats, Flags

Content Standard Benchmarks or Common Core Standards

Learning Goals, Objectives, Expected Outcomes

Psychomotor

1. Demonstrate at least 2 balances on four body parts.
2. Demonstrate rocking on all three body surfaces.
3. Demonstrate a routine using all three body surfaces to rock on.

Cognitive

1. Verbally describe the surfaces they rock on.
2. Create a routine using all three body surfaces to rock on.

Affective

1. Have Fun
2. Rock safely.
3. Play the games safely.

ACTIVITY

PROCEDURE AND TRANSITIONS WITH MODIFICATIONS AND OR ACCOMMODATIONS

SETUP DESCRIPTION OR DIAGRAM

Entrance Routine

Part 1

Warm-up/Review

10 minutes

Body Balance Tag.

The students must balance on four body parts when they are caught.  There are mats all around inside the space, as soon as the flag is pulled, the puller will safely put the flag on the nearest mat, where the person caught will do their 4-part balance.  The person pulling the flag will identify the 4 parts and then the balancer can put their flag back on and re-enter the game.  Everyone is it.

If time permits, play the game with 3 part and 2 part balances.

Transition

Part 2

New skill or concept

15 – 20 Minutes

The three body surfaces are front, back and sides. Your students should have worked on the concept of directions before doing this lesson. Rocking is like a rocking chair. You go back and forth over a series of body parts.

Start the sequence with the students rocking along the back surface.

• Begin with weight on feet,
• Safely and smoothly take weight to seat,
• Continue to the back
• then move to the shoulders,
• Reverse rocking by bringing weight from shoulders to the back, then to the seat and back to the feet.

After working on the back surface, then you can move on to the front surface.

• Quadriceps to hips
• to stomach
• to chest,
• reverse back to stomach,
• then hips
• and then quadriceps.

The last surfaces would be side.  This is more difficult, but it is possible.

• Side of quadriceps,
• to one hip,
• to oblique (or side),
• to shoulder
• Reverse to return to side,
• Continue to hip
• then side of quadriceps.

“THE ROCKER”

The rocker is lead up skill to the backward roll.  It’s a fun stunt to learn and can be done safely on the 2×2 mats either individually or linked together to make a 2×4 mat.Starting Position

• Assume a backward squatting position on the mat with the feet and knees together, arms lightly touching the outside of the legs, and the hands shoulder-width apart with the finger tips, fingers, or hands touching the mat. The chin is tucked to the chest and the back is rounded.

Performance

• Roll backward in a tuck position while placing the hands in an open, palms-up position with the fingers pointed backward above the shoulders. Roll onto the shoulders in a tuck position with the palms of the hands touching the mat. Complete the Backward Rocker by returning to the starting location. Roll back to the feet in a tuck position.

Finishing Position

• End in a backward squatting position on the mat with the feet and knees together, arms lightly touching the outside of the legs, and hands shoulder-width apart with the finger tips, fingers, or hands touching the mat. The chin is tucked to the chest and the back is rounded.

Once you are sure that your students have the concept of rocking, they can put together a series of rocks. Instruct the students to start rocking across their back surface; rock at least three times on this surface, and without stopping, switch to the side surface and continue rocking after 4 complete rocks.

You as the teacher can call the two different surfaces they will rock on until you have covered all the combinations.

Easier: Start with weight on seat, and then take it to the back, and then to the shoulders and then to back and finish on seat. Then move to feet

Important Teaching Suggestions for “The Rocker”

• Take time in the introductory lesson to discuss the mechanics of the Backward Rocker and follow up with a demonstration of the stunt by a skilled student. If possible, reinforce the discussion and demonstration with a Backward Rocker chart and/or a related audiovisual aid.
• Take time in the introductory lesson to individually assess the proper starting position for each student and make necessary changes.
• Emphasize the importance of tucking the chin to the chest and rounding the back throughout the Backward Rocker.
• Stress the necessity of staying in a tight; tuck position throughout the Backward Rocker.

Transition

Part 3

Practice

10 Minutes

1. Teacher chooses the surface that everyone will start on, the students choose the surface they will finish on.
2. The student chooses the surface to start on and the surface to switch to.
3. Student chooses the order, but must rock on all three surfaces of the body without breaking the rocking motion.

Transition

Part 4

Stretching

3 Minutes Review

2-3 Minutes

Closure/Taking it Home

Choose 3 stretches to do with the class.

Review

Find a mat that matches yours, bring your mat together and tell each other the routine you created with rocking.

Closure