INTRODUCTION
The West Coast offers spectacular coastal beauty, recreational opportunities, and many points of interest. The beaches, mountains, and deserts provide the perfect getaway! Charter a fishing boat, surf the waves, or stroll amongst movie stars. The West Coast has something for everyone!
ELEMENTARY: Surfin’ USA
NASPE Standards:
Standard 1 – Motor skills and movement patterns
These beach activities can be done either in relay form or as a continuous activity (depending on the number of scooters you have).
- Sailing: Students sit on the scooter and push (or pull) with their legs.
- Swimming: Students lie down on the scooter and use arms and legs in a swimming motion to move forwards.
- Shark: Same as the swimming position, but bend one knee (foot in air) to make a fin.
- Surf 1: Students kneel on the scooter and paddle with their hands to “catch a wave.”
- Surf 2: Students hold on to the scooter board as they push it across the floor. At half court the students jump onto the scooter board (kneeling, of course, not standing) and see how far they can glide (surf).
- Scooter: Students put one knee on the scooter and use the other leg to push.
MIDDLE SCHOOL: Hollywood Yoga with the Stars
NASPE Standards:
Standard 1 – Motor skills and movement patterns
Yoga is an activity that can help students combat the stresses of everyday life. Poses are challenging, yet most students can be successful. Students will feel the calming effects of yoga and experience a renewed energy. Try these yoga poses with your students as an alternative to regular stretching.
For photos of these poses go to the following link: www.yogaminded.com/teens/twelveposes
- Warrior I
- Warrior III
- Tree
- Downward Facing Dog
- Locust
- Upward Facing Dog
- Supported Child
- Half Bridge
- Reclined Cobbler
- Relaxed Backbend
- Savasana
HIGH SCHOOL: Frisbee Golf
NASPE Standards:
Standard 1 – Motor skills and movement patterns
Standard 5 – Responsible personal and social behavior in physical activitySettings
A Frisbee golf course is easy to set up even if you don’t have official disc goals, etc. Cut out construction paper flags, write the hole number on each one, and laminate. Punch a hole in each flag and attach binder rings. These rings make it easy to hang the flags from fences, toys, etc.
Each “hole” could be named after a West Coast golf course. Here are some choices:
- Myrtle Beach
- Pebble Beach
- Cypress Ridge
- Emerald Hills
- Hunter Ranch
- Del Mar
- Sandpines
- Forest Hills
- Semiahmoo
- Alderbrook
- Fircrest
- Newcastle
- Holmes Harbor
- Riviera
- Agate Beach
- Hawk Creek
- Sierra Meadows
- Morro Bay
Assign pairs of students different “holes” to start at. Each player tosses the Frisbee disc towards the next “hole.” The next toss is thrown from where the disc lands. Repeat this, counting the throws, until the disc hits the target. Record scores for each “hole.”
Active in America Frisbee Golf ScorecardPoints of Interest:
Aerospace (Boeing)
High Technology and E-commerce (Microsoft, Amazon.com)
Fishing (crab and salmon)
Lumber (Weyerhauser)
Shoes and Apparel (Nike, Columbia)
ntertainment industry (film and television)Have your students check out:
Physical activity cards are available for a variety of sports and activities. Take a look at the activities that are favorites of the West Coast: Baseball, bicycling, canoeing/kayaking, diving, fishing, Frisbee, golf, hiking, inline skating, skateboarding, snorkeling, surfing, swimming, water skiing, and yoga!RESOURCES
http://www.nubodfitness.com/yoga.html
http://diet.ivillage.com/workouts/wpilates/0,,mk08-5,00.html
http://diet.ivillage.com/workouts/wyoga/0,,84f4m0mw,00.html
www.yogaminded.com/teens/twelveposes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_golf
