Assignment 4
EC360 Movement and Music
Locomotor Skills
Crawl (First skill)
Ask them to pretend to be worms. The crawling mode would form a significant foundation for the next step towards the child attaining a stable and faster movement as he or she graduates from childhood to adulthood. Crawling will prepare the child both physically and psychologically to accept new challenges in terms of movement.
Creep
Place a desirable object out of reach for them to creep to it. As the child creeps to the object, the forelimb and hind limb muscles become even much stronger. This stage, like the previous one, provides the growing child with an opportunity to improve his or her movement.
Walking
Let them use smooth and straight steps with the arms swinging in a manner that they oppose the movement pattern of the feet. May also practice walks of different kinds with the legs placed in a position such that they seem to be bending; the variety of walks include walking low with bent legs, and high on the tippy toes.
Galloping
Here, one foot takes the lead while the other follows behind. It is important to do for both sides.
Jumping
Having the children push off with feet (the two feet) and landing on them, the two should be close together. However, landing should be somehow quiet with the jumping height being another matter of concern.
Hopping
Ask them to push with toes while keeping one foot firmly on the ground; the hopping speed being significant factor. A considerable repeat of the exercise would help determine the side that is harder than the other one.
Side sliding
It is arguably a sideways gallop; ask the children move sideways whereby one foot leads the other one.
Leaping
Letting the child go over an object with one of his or her foot on the lead and eventually landing on the other
Skipping
Every time one knee is in the air, the child hops on the other- some kind of step/hop, step/hop, step/hop
Running
Put some desirable object a few meters away and let the children rush to that place to pick it. The fastest child would definitely carry the day.
Non-locomotors Skills
A non-locomotor skill does not involve movement of part or whole body; it is necessary to demonstrate to the growing children particularly those beyond five years these non-locomotor skills using a array of body positions and joints.
Stretching (First Skill)
Have the child (mainly preschoolers) stand about two feet apart and stretch their arms to the best of their ability. He or she may also stretch forward, backwards, and side to side.
Bending
While holding his or her waist firmly with both arms, let the child assume a curved shape by bending forwards or backwards.
Twisting
Have the child attempt to change the body appearance by looking backward while keeping both feet firmly on the ground; is part of waist or neck exercise.
Balancing activities
Have the children (preschoolers) stand on one foot, trying to find out which preschooler can stand for the longest time without other foot touching the ground. Ask them to get on all fours and try to balance on one foot and one hand. May also let the children sit on the floor one or two feet in the air and arms reinforcing from behind.
Head and Mouth activities
Ask the children to blink their eyes, wrinkle the nose, thrust the tongue in and out, turn the head left and right, smack the lips, and facial expressions.
Manipulative skills
Manipulative skills would see the child effectively handle an object with the feet, hand or any other body parts.
Throwing (First Skill)
Ask the children to throw stones or any other object in designated area.
Kicking
Ask the children to kick the ball during excises on the pitch
Catching
For instance, playing hide and seek game attempting to ctach one another in turns
Pushing
Pushing a heavy object (heavy object) as individuals or a group
Pulling
Have them pull an object such as a log of tree as either individuals or group.
Lifting
Ask them to lift objects such as stones or a pile of books.
References
Thomas, K. T., Lee, A. M., & Thomas, J. R. (2008). Physical education methods for elementary teachers. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics
