Gymnastics & Muscle Fitness in the Elementary School is very helpful for PE teachers to fully comprehend the benefits of the educational approach to gymnastics. Allen Sander explains the purpose of educational gymnastics in the elementary schools as improving children’s muscular control of their bodies to enable later success in a variety of physical activities and sports. The book shows how PE teachers can help children better control their bodies. Additionally, Sander provides concrete learning ideas for teaching muscle fitness so children will understand how to improve muscle strength and endurance.

The 179 page book also integrates muscle fitness content within well-planned gymnastics skill themes. The material is introduced in a progressive and practical manner using the skill theme topics – space awareness, weight transfer, rolling, balancing and muscle fitness concepts. The skill task sequence is very comprehensive, including skill task variety, cues, equipment, use of space, and practical teaching styles. Pictures of many of the skill tasks are included to help organization. Furthermore health related muscle fitness is interwoven into lessons.

The lesson ideas are aligned with NASPE standards. Chapter 1 introduces teaching gymnastics to children, and provides an overview of the sequence of class sessions, skill progression, efficient teaching styles, and curricula. Chapter 2 is in-depth coverage of weight transfer, the initial skill theme for gymnastics, covering traveling (locomotor skills), weight transfer among body parts and some jumping and landing. Chapter 3 emphasizes rolling, and entails many progressive tasks for varied forms of rolling that can assist children’s success in a variety of activities. Chapter 4 on balancing challenges kids to move in and out of balances based on previous accomplishments with weight transfer and rolling skills. Chapter 5 focuses on teaching muscle fitness concepts to children.

Currently there are very few K-5 gymnastics texts that integrate teaching muscle fitness concept while instructing the skill themes of weight transfer, rolling and balance. Therefore I would strongly recommend the book for elementary specialist and classroom teachers who would like to incorporate educational gymnastics into their curriculum.

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