End of the School Day: Let's Play! (Andrea Pask)

I’m exhausted, my throat hurts from yelling, and as I reach into my pockets, I find a granola bar wrapper, a pen, a whistle, and “Silly-Band” that a little girl insisted I have. It’s 5:17pm. I’m worn out, but I’m still smiling after the 3 hugs that I got before I left.

This was my afternoon:

2:45pm - School bell rings, and scores of primary students race from their classrooms to see who can be first to the gym. I hold my hand high in the air for a jump-required-high-five from the grade 3 boy who wins the “challenge” for the third week in a row.

2:46pm – Discuss today’s “game plan” with Bre (the other leader from PISE, the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence) while students race through the doors, drop their jackets and bags, and begin chasing each other around the gym in an energetic frenzy.

2:47-2:54pm – Play tag with a group of 8 kids, trying not to stumble on others over who are dragging each other across the floor. After sprinting around for three minutes, I catch my breath by crawling on the floor with a few other kids who are pretending to be puppies, and I ask myself if barking really is necessary to be part of this game. Given the noises coming from the kids, apparently the answer is yes, so I follow the children’s lead, making soft whimpering sounds and hanging out my tongue.

This would be a typical Tuesday at Tillicum Elementary School, one of the three Greater-Victoria schools involved with the provincially funded After School Sports Initiative (ASSI) that was launched in January 2011. Along with many other BC schools, this initiative aims to increase sport participation for marginalized children and youth. Many of the 40 students in the Tillicum program may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in sport and gain the skills that build confidence for life.

We play games that teach them physical literacy - the fundamental movement skills and sports skills that they can then apply to other sports later on. If we teach sport skills that children may not be learning in their PE class or practicing at home, then maybe, just maybe, these kids can go on to play high school sports, or perhaps even compete for Canada one day. We hope to provide the foundation so they can play Frisbee on the beach without feeling awkward, or have the confidence to try out for their middle school basketball team because they have learned how to jump properly and catch a ball.

On Tuesdays at Tillicum, we have approximately 20 grade 2 and 3 students from 2:45-4:45pm; on Thursdays, about 20 grade 4 and 5 students have a similar opportunity. With the grade 4 and 5 students, the program focuses more on fundamental sports skills.

The program is delivered by our leaders from Victoria’s Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) who have training in Run Jump Throw, NCCP’s Fundamental Movement Skills course, and HIGH Five. Last year we had 2 leaders for 20 students; however, this year we have additional support from a college volunteer and an educational aid that specializes in working with children with behavioral challenges. 

Activities differ each week, but we keep the structure consistent. After 15 minutes of free time to burn off some energy, we gather the kids in the centre of the gym, have a snack, check-in, and take attendance. We do a warm-up game, then games focusing on a non-locomotor movement skill (such as balancing or stretching), a locomotive movement skill (such as running, jumping, hopping, etc.) and a manipulative movement skill (such as throwing, catching, kicking, dribbling, etc). 

I’m always thinking about targeting the ABCs of movement – agility, balance, coordination, and speed – in a fun and creative way.

One of the locomotor games we did today to target balance and coordination was “Red Light, Green Light” with a beanbag on their head. It’s interesting to watch those who move prudently, being ever-so-careful as to not drop the beanbag, versus those who just race as fast as they can, not caring what happens to the beanbag!

“Red Light, Green Light” is a game that can be manipulated to target many fundamental movement skills. We’ve played it “Animal Style” where kids have to stop-and-go like different animals (crab walk, bear crawl, frog jumps, etc.) We have used it for jumping, hopping, leaping – basically any locomotor movement can be incorporated.

We don’t have any formal evaluation for the fundamental movement skills that are being developed in the sessions. Most of the evaluations are qualitative in nature, and we work towards progressing them naturally through the stages of movement with play. We are very aware of an ongoing balance between teaching and improving movement skills, and keeping the afternoon fun and playful. We want the children to feel they are successfully improving their skills; at the same time, we want them to develop a love for physical activity and have a positive social experience.

Are you a leader working with children’s physical literacy? Have any stories to share? We'd love to hear from you!

Andrea Pask

Andrea Pask is the Physical Literacy Coordinator at the Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence in Victoria. She has a Physical Education degree from the University of Alberta and is certified as a CSCS, a Run Jump Throw Instructor and a NCCP Fundamental Movement Skills Coach.