5 Motivating Fitness Ideas for PE – Part 1

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Throughout my 20 years of teaching, I’ve steadily grown as a PE teacher through trial and error.  I remember my earlier days when each class was kicked off with a warm-up lap and a stretching routine followed by 3-7 more minutes of jogging around the playground. Day in and day out, it was much of the same.  Eventually, my students would lose motivation with this mundane routine.  Their once steady pace would inevitably slow down before ending up as a slow walk.  Frustration would ensue!  It didn’t take long to realize that the students were just bored –  unmotivated and unchallenged.  As mentioned in an earlier blog post titled,  Keeping Fitness Fresh in PE Class, diversity is what today’s students crave in regard to fitness.  When exercise is viewed by students as challenging, varied, and ultimately FUN, the more positive their experience will be.

Here are my Top 5 Motivating Exercise Routines for elementary school students.  They incorporate a range of exercises that drive the students while incorporating the three elements of fitness:  endurance, flexibility, and strength.  Please feel free to share what works for you, I’d love to add to my repertoire. (BTW – Check out my follow-up post called 6 More Fitness Ideas for PE for more motivating fitness routines).