Adapted PE Equipment and Curriculum
Heidi Field, Brenda Huey, and Ryan Goetsch, Health and Fitness Teachers, 2023-2024 School Year
Description & Need:
We would like to purchase specialized equipment and have a day of professional development to create a curriculum for an adapted PE that any teacher can follow.
How project meets Instruction Goals and Mission Statement:
This project is going to help for many years in the creation of a curriculum and an equipment package that can properly equip the teacher and students for the curriculum. The types of equipment will be sensory balls, teaching jump ropes, "biggie" sports balls, Velcro throw-and-catch teaching tools, and more.
Major Objectives:
Our first objective is creating the curriculum as there is not one for Columbus High School adapted PE. This should include separate units on motor skills, social engagement in PE, and games, and incorporate different health topics.
To measure this objective, we will implement the different units rating students on specific skill growth utilizing checklists. We also see the opportunity to allow the childhood development classes or other classes on the educational track to help, observe, and work with students on skills. There is current work at the Nebraska Department of Education to create unified Physical Education classes for this purpose. There may also be incidences where an IEP specifies assessment for that student.
Teaching Methods:
This type of equipment would allow for individual demonstration of specific skills (i.e. throwing, catching, and kicking) as well as other fitness-related skills. The importance of teaching these locomotor skills to implement into daily life cannot go unspoken. The written curriculum should be the basis for teaching these skills for healthier, longer lives in our Curriculum Life Skills population.
Grade Level Impacted:
All grades 9-12 have students in the Curriculum Life Skills (Adapted PE) program. Any student who has the Special Education verification of intellectual disability or severe/profound physical disability would be able to benefit from the updated curriculum and equipment, or if his or her IEP dictates the need.
Additional Materials:
The only additional "material" needed is the professional development time to create the curriculum. There are resources through the Nebraska Department of Education to utilize the created adapted PE curriculum. They are available free of charge.
Project Evaluation:
We plan to keep data on specific locomotor skills development as well as the social skills per the new adapted PE curriculum.
