Looking for ways to challenge participants, promote teamwork and initiate problem-solving? This text offers 15 activities to help primary students build self-confidence and improve interpersonal relationships. The activities encourage participants to interact verbally and physically, struggle, deal with failure, persevere and work together to master problems. In the process the student should learn valuable teamwork and appreciate individual differences, practice leadership skills and improve listening skillls. Chapters 1 and 2 describe team building and tell how to praise and encourage children and teach them to carry out specific roles on a team. The book explains to teachers the importance of incorporating problem solving activities into physical education; how to organize the challenges in a curriculum; how to assign specific roles; and how to adapt games for special children and situations. The remaining chapters introduce challenges at three different levels - introductory, intermediate and advanced. Diagrams show exactly how equipment should be set up and photos illustrate how other participants have worked each challenge. Cards are also included that explain the challenges and may be copied and laminated for use.
Dan Midura, MEd, has taught physical education since 1970. He's the elementary physical education coordinator for the Roseville Minnesota Area School District. Dan is also an adjunct faculty member at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota and at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.
Dan received his master's degree in physical education from the University of Minnesota. He received Minnesota's 1994 Teacher of the Year Award for elementary physical education, and the President's Award for Service to the Minnesota Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD).
Dan has published articles on elementary education and held clinics at numerous state and national workshops and conventions. He is a member of the United States Physical Education Association (USPE), MAHPERD, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), the Council on Physical Education for Children (COPEC), and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE).
Don Glover, MS, has taught physical education (including adapted physical education) since 1967 at the preschool, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels. He is the developmental adapted physical education coordinator in the White Bear Lake School District.
Don received his master's degree in physical education from Winona State University. He has received awards as the 1981 Minnesota Teacher of the Year and the 1989 Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year.
Don has published numerous magazine and journal articles on physical education and sport and has been a clinician at more than 100 workshops and clinics. He is a member of USPE, MAHPERD, AAHPERD, COPEC, NASPE, and the Minnesota Education Association.
Don and Dan are the co-authors of Team Building Through Physical Challenges.
