Using the cards to perform DPA has been great. They are both easy for the teacher to administer and for the children to follow. Since doing DPA, I have noticed that my classroom has taken on a new feel. The children seem to be more alert in class and seem to have a better demeanor towards learning and each other. I am enjoying DPA and hope more initiatives and strategies are developed soon.
I have used virtually all the intermediate activities and they were awesome. One of the kid’s favourites was Flying Chicken Baseball. I have combined them with circuit training and other activities which makes for a great DPA session. Keep them coming!
I am very excited about incorporating the Ophea DPA activities into my program. The activities are vigorous and fun and nicely incorporate learning skills throughout.
The Ophea Cards are great. I have particularly enjoyed the "Sleuth for the Truth". I tied it into our stereotype language unit and had the kids come up with fairytale roles that the kids had to guess. They loved it. I have also used it for other units when practising word vocabulary, such as Human Patterns in geography. Each child received a word that they had to figure out. Great activity! The other activity we really enjoyed was "A NOtion for MOtion". Instead of doing The Hockey Try-out we changed it to the "Water Cycle". The kids went through the process of the water cycle and at each step they had to do the different action. I changed the action a little bit so it tied in with the actual water cycle. With the "Switch" game they not only had to make up the activity or movement they also had to come up with a science question that each student had to answer on a separate sheet and then do the action. We used this QDF activity to help review for a science test.
Communication is the key that helps unlock a teacher’s accessibility to information. With the many DPA initiatives available, getting the resources to teachers when they need it is vital. In Halton we have an internal CHATT system which allows us to connect with every teacher in our Board. Most subject areas have their own icon and for us Q.D.F. (Quality Daily Fitness) is no exception. Teachers in the Board are encouraged to let their peers know about ideas they have tried that delighted them, speakers that have been great at lighting a spark with their students, given suggestions on how to use some new piece of equipment for fitness, have given feedback on workshops they have attended, shared a presentation format for a School Council meeting, found out about a bargain on resources, and felt connected with others who share their same interests and desire to do the best for students. Any teacher can post a program that has proven effective so that others can benefit. It provides quick access to workshop materials because the presenters place their material electronically on our site. We have ready connections to teacher friendly physical activity organizations and resources such as Ophea and CAHPERD Teachers contribute interesting websites to our conference so that others can benefit. It’s a great format to give a colleague a pat on the back for a job well done which helps to build our positive community. CHATT is there whenever a teacher needs the support. It’s a very effective interactive electronic resource.
I use the DPA cards everyday and the students begin to learn the various games and fitness activities. Each day the students are beginning to request particular activities because of how much they enjoy them. As a teacher, it is great seeing the students in a different light: hearts beating, big smiles and lots of laughs it makes the rest of the day smoother because of that important release of energy.