SEVENTH GRADERS TAKE ON TEACHING ROLE IN DMS / HARTWOOD COLLABORATION
Dorseyville Middle School students talked to Hartwood students about exercises that would strengthen the abdominal muscles. ox Chapel Area FOX CHAPEL AREA SCHOOL NEWS
SEVENTH GRADERS TAKE ON TEACHING ROLE IN DMS / HARTWOOD COLLABORATION
This day was going to be different than other days for a group of seventh graders – they had prepared for and were going to teach a class of younger students when they arrived at school. The 13 Dorseyville students researched and prepared lesson plans in advance and actually taught a physical education class to Hartwood Elementary School third and fourth graders.
A DMS student explained how students could use the scooters to work their hamstrings.
14 Fox Chapel Area
According to DMS physical education teacher Michelle Bailey, seventh graders were divided into four groups of three or four students to begin working on the project in December. Each student team focused on a different muscle group: biceps, hamstrings, abdominals, and triceps as they researched in-depth and coordinated activities to work those muscles. Seventh grader Bridget Kilner said the groups spent about a month and a half working on the project, and the students spent a lot of class time, as well as their own time, in preparation. She also pointed out that research went beyond just learning about the muscle they were assigned.“ We also had to learn about the safety rules and come up with activities that would work those muscles,” she said.
The presentations included a short sit-down class-like lesson and various physical activities. The Hartwood students moved to four stations to complete the lessons.
“ Do you feel it working yet?” one seventh grader asked the younger students.“ No? Then you might be doing it wrong,” she pointed out.
According to Hartwood Elementary physical education teacher Jodi Travaglia, this is the third year for the collaboration. Dorseyville Middle School also works with Hartwood in other academic areas to give the older students a chance to interact with and help the younger