PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Physical movement is essential to foster young children’s growth and development. During second grade, students will continue to refine gross motor skills and fine motor skills introduced in kindergarten and first grade. Second grade students will be able to fluently and legibly write upper and lower case manuscript letters and begin to write the cursive alphabet. Your child will be introduced to cursive writing through instruction during the second semester.
Time is set aside each week to develop gross motor skills with the help of the physical education specialist and the classroom teacher. During this time, students will participate in group games and individual activities designed to further develop large and small muscle groups. Children are expected to follow the rules of the game, put forth effort, display good sportsmanship and work well with teammates.
Students will work toward:
• acquiring gross motor skills
• displaying good sportsmanship
• forming healthy habits: exercising, eating nutritious snacks
Activities and experiences to aid development of fine motor skills are integrated into each day. Children write, color, trace, cut, paint and manipulate objects to enhance control of small muscles.
Students will work toward:
• cutting out a simple form smoothly
• grasping a pencil and other utensils effectively
• forming letters and numerals legibly
Acquiring gross motor skills
EXTEND
Moves with assurance while skipping, galloping, hopping, jumping, balancing, throwing, catching and kicking
ACHIEVE
Demonstrates the ability to skip, gallop, hop, jump, balance, throw and catch with consistency
DEVEOLP
Inconsistently demonstrates skipping, galloping, hopping, jumping, throwing and catching
NOT YET
Has difficulty skipping, galloping, hopping, jumping, throwing and catching
Demonstrates Body Control
EXTEND
Demonstrates body control in space while moving at various speeds, changing directions, climbing or balancing
ACHIEVE
Demonstrates an understanding of the concept of space (own, other, room)
DEVELOP
Inconsistent in judging space; collides with others or objects
NOT YET
Slides, falls, trips or bumps into others or objects
Shows Cooperative Behavior
EXTEND
Exceeds expectations in following directions and working with others, displays good sportsmanship and uses equipment appropriately
ACHIEVE
Follows directions and works well with others, displays good sportsmanship and uses equipment appropriately
DEVELOP
Inconsistent in following directions and working with others, displays good sportsmanship and uses equipment appropriately
NOT YET
Has difficulty following directions and working with others, displays poor sportsmanship and misuses equipment
Participates
EXTEND
Participates with enthusiasm
ACHIEVE
Consistently involved in appropriate activities
DEVELOP
Inconsistently involved in appropriate activities
NOT YET
Refuses to join in physical activities or shows little or no effort
