Developing a positive outlook

Karage Poihipi takes aim with a rubber chicken and lobs it gently into a circle painted on the ground.

It lands half inside, half outside the target and the 8-year-old lets out a noise as if to say ‘‘so close’’.

Tossing the chicken, it seems, is now an accepted form of exercise at primary school.

It’s part of a new approach to health and physical education being piloted at Knighton Normal School in Hamilton.

At a recent lesson, a group of close to 20 pupils, aged 7 and 8, worked their way through a circuit designed to teach them about accuracy and hand-eye coordination.

In groups of four or five they completed activities, including juggling, quoits (throwing rings around a pole), throwing foxtails through vertical basketball hoops and, of course, lobbing rubber chickens on to targets.

All children seemed to be enjoying the exercises. They laughed, they concentrated, cheated on occasion and provided feedback to the teacher about how they could improve their skills.

Traditional sports were not part of the lesson. Competition was not brought into it. The pupils went through the stations at their own pace and at their own level.

Teacher Joel Devcich, who was part of the research team, said the new approach was more inclusive of all pupils, regardless of body type and athletic ability.

‘‘What I’ve noticed is that all the kids are engaged now, they can all articulate what they’re learning and they’re able to identify what their needs are and what activities they enjoy doing. What I would expect, and what I would hope is they would have a really positive outlook of themselves and that even if they don’t enjoy the traditional sports, there are lots of other activities they can participate in and enjoy.’’

Mr Devcich said he would recommend the programme to other primary teachers.