Page 4 - SN February - Grade 4
P. 4

PE

MS. MARIJA DIMITROV

Dear Parents,
Fourth and fifth graders started their Gymnastics unit by watching videos of gymnastics routines
to become familiar them with the particular features of sports gymnastics. Students were intro-
duced to the disciplines (events) in men’s and women’s gymnastics, as well as to the basic scor-
ing system. One part of the score covers the elements itself (difficulty and connection value)
while the other part covers the aesthetics of the sequence (execution, composition and artistry).
With this in mind, students were encouraged not only to learn to perform the elements, but to
work on finesse through increased control of the body and its movements.
We began by reviewing basic skills and elements we learned in previous years, such as simple
rolls, balances and stances. Then, according to individual abilities, we continued with more ad-
vanced elements such as; handstand, cartwheel, round-off, front scale, straddle and dive rolls.
In addition, students began to explore possibilities for combining the elements and linking them
with different steps, jumps and turns in order to make their own gymnastics floor-sequence.
I was very glad to see students practicing with great effort and enthusiasm throughout the unit,
showing very good skills and body control. Although a few students displayed a little anxiety in
trying some of the elements, they overcame it and became more confident with each attempt.
Gymnastics is a great unit for students to challenge themselves and be risk-takers in practicing
new elements. Additionally, gymnastics teaches students about commitment to serious and sus-
tained effort as a way to refine movement and improve performance.
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