Physical Education
The overall objective of the Physical Education program is to provide students with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to make active living a way of life. Cooperation, fair play, sportsmanship, communication, and respect are emphasized in all forms of our activities and sports.
Approach
Every year, we begin with Cooperative Games and Problem Solving Activities. In these activities, the group confronts a specific scenario or problem to solve (a sinking ship to escape, a poisonous or toxic swamp to cross, an electric fence to get over, or a minefield to get a blindfolded partner through safely). The focus of these activities is fostering cooperation, encouraging strategic and supportive dialogue, listening to a different opinion than your own, and having fun at the same time. Some groups spend just a few classes on cooperative activities, while others spend a lot more time and do a wider variety of them. This depends on what each group needs and how well they are working together. The activities also develop collaboration, communication, cooperation, respect, teamwork, and problem solving skills — all skills necessary for the success of any physical activity, game, or sport that involves more than one person.
Come join us for Spring Open House on Wednesday, May 6 from 9-11 AM!
Chat with our Head of School, teachers, and current families while you explore campus from the creek to the classroom. You`ll learn more about how our Progressive program celebrates childhood as a time of wonder, inquiry, resilience, and joy.
RSVP at the link in our bio. We hope to see you there!
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #independentschool #progressiveschool #progressiveeducation #phillyindependentschools #learningoutdoors #learningoutside #phillyfamilies #openhouse
Last week, Meadow Nursery transformed into a lively restaurant experience. This was the grand finale to their months-long study of food.
With guidance, the children took ownership of planning and executing the entire experience. They generated ideas for their restaurant`s name and decided on a delicious menu by voting on favorite entrees and desserts to be served.
They brought their menu to life through hands-on cooking experiences. They helped make mac and cheese, prepared vanilla ice cream, and practiced their cutting skills by slicing strawberries.
In addition, each child choose how they wanted to participate in the restaurant. They selected roles such as chefs, hosts, seaters, servers, washers, and customers, exploring different responsibilities while building confidence and cooperation.
It was a wonderful week filled with imagination, collaboration, and hands-on learning. We are so proud of how the children worked together to create their very own restaurant from start to finish. (And thanks to our awesome Meadow Nursery teachers for giving the children this experience!)
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Is it a frog or a toad? When a question arises, sometimes finding a book to help us research the answer is the way to go.
And if interest really ignites, teachers and our librarian will gather more books to share, bring in experts, and help excited learners go deeper.
#themiquonschool #progressiveeducation #independentschools #phillyfamilies
Spring is here, and we are excited!
Now that the weather has turned a bit warmer, students and teachers have moved outside when possible whether for writing, surveying in math, reading independently, participating in book clubs, or playing music.
Learning happens beyond the classroom walls at Miquon and this is the best time of year for that!
What`s your favorite thing to sit on while you are outside reading, writing, or just contemplating life?
At Miquon, we believe children learn by doing.
Our youngest learners recently began a ramps unit with a question: How can we make a ball move across a flat surface without using our hands?
Through discussion and experimentation, they discovered that tilting a surface creates motion. Working in pairs, they designed and tested their own ramps using blocks, balls, and lots of creative thinking.
We also read Roll, Slope, and Slide by Michael Dahl to deepen our understanding.
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #progressiveeducation #independentschool #phillyfamilies
Wood chips were spread. Thorny plants were conquered. Logs were chainsawed. The chicken coop was refreshed.
But most importantly? We came together!
Thank you to our amazing families for pitching in and making Sunday`s Spring Work Party such a meaningful day. Miquon is what it is because of this community.
(And thanks, @fabio_erdos, for snapping some last minute shots for us to capture the day!)
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #independentschool #progressiveeducation
Spring mini-courses start this week! Which would you choose?
Options included Singing, Juggling, Origami and Building, Bird Watching and Plant Identification, Knitting and Crafting, Running, Dungeons & Dragons, “That’s Bananas,” and more.
On Friday afternoon, teachers and 5/6 students presented their mini-courses to 1st–6th graders. Afterwards, students submitted their requests.
We think “That’s Bananas” with Mia sounds like a ton of fun: baking with bananas, playing Bananagrams, experimenting with bananas, and more.
We love these mixed-age learning opportunities!
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #progressiveeducation #independentschool #phillyfamily
At Miquon, we believe that working with others enhances children’s growth in every domain.
Recently, our Kindergarten and 1st grade students practiced collaboration through a building challenge. Each member of the group contributed to a shared structure, requiring them to plan together, adapt their ideas, solve problems, and truly listen to one another.
These are skills that will carry across subjects and continue to grow with them for years to come.
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #progressiveeducation #independentschools #phillyfamilies
Come join us for Spring Open House on Wednesday, May 6 from 9-11 AM for an up-close view of what makes Miquon so unique.
Chat with our Head of School, teachers, and current families, and explore campus from the creek to the classroom. You will learn more about how our Progressive program celebrates childhood as a time of wonder, inquiry, resilience, and joy.
RSVP at the link in our bio. We hope to see you there!
#themiquonschool #foreveramiquonkid #independentschool #progressiveschool #progressiveeducation #phillyindependentschools #learningoutdoors #learningoutside #phillyfamilies #openhouse
After the initial Cooperation and Problem Solving unit, we move onto eye-hand coordination skills and activities that combine the eye-hand coordination skills with cooperation. From there, activities that are in line with the Society of Health and Physical Educators National Standards Scope and Sequence are introduced to students as part of a larger lesson plan. For example, if the students are working on throwing at targets, we usually teach the skill cues first (e.g., jumping jack, muscle man, point, step, throw, follow through). Next, the children practice individually, throwing at targets (paper plates on walls or various objects to throw at). Then, we play a partnered game (“p-i-g” or “t-i-g-e-r” or whatever they decide) which is followed by a larger or whole group game.
PE Blog
Want to learn more about the latest happenings in Miquon’s Physical Education program? Check out pictures and teacher commentary posted to the PE Blog.
Curriculum Report
The curriculum report is the teachers’ review of the entire year, looking back and making observations after their plans, projects, problems, and revelations are long over. One of the distinguishing features of this report is the great extent to which each teacher’s style, focus, and personality come through in this retrospective narrative. Check out the PE Curriculum Report.
