Tumbling and Safety Mats for Physical Education

Moderation state
funded
Grant Applicant
Kelley Swarberg Ogilvy
School Site
Kings Beach Elementary
Grant Category
Physical Education
Grant Date
2024-06-01T12:00:00
Description

I would like to expand our current selection of  safety mats in the gymnasium to better enhance our physical education program and extend the tumbling and gymnastics unit into a year long theme with obstacle, climbing and ninja courses. These activities are called risky play. I ran a small introduction to this early on in the school year with the current equipment we have and had a huge success with all of our grade levels, TK-5th.

With this grant, we would be able to purchase safety mats, trampolines, climbing trapezoids and slanted ninja steps to bring in a sense of adventure to the indoors. This type of alternative play has become very popular over the last few years.

 

 

 

Benefits of Program

This type of play that I would like to add to the gymnasium is called risky play.  Risky play can be beneficial for children's development as it allows them to explore and test their limits in a controlled and safe environment. Key benefits to this type of activity involves children problem-solving, decision-making, risk assessment and physical coordination. By engaging in activities that require them to think critically and take calculated risks, children can learn how to evaluate potential dangers and make informed choices about how to proceed.

In addition to cognitive benefits, risky play can help build strength, endurance, coordination, as well as boost their confidence and self-esteem.  Studies have shown that by challenging kids and pushing them out of their comfort zone, it is a way children learn to cope with stress and adversity and develop a sense of resilience and grit.

This also hits the target to bring in some non traditional sports to offer a wide range of interest into the physical education program.

Success of Program

My goal as a physical education teacher is to get all students to fall in love with some type of physical activity.  Not all of our students are into traditional sports. We have students who may find problem-solving and decision-making activities far more exciting.  My job as a teacher needs to provide exposure to different forms of exercise to encourage lifelong activity.  

 

Implementation

If this grant is approved, it will be implemented in all physical education classes (currently serving approx. 400 students) grade levels TK-5th ongoing throughout the school year. It will be part of our climbing/gymnastics/tumbling/obstacle course/ninja units.

Can you share this grant with your grade level or subject team?

This grant will not be able to be shared with teachers in my position at other school sites but all teachers  at our site will get to have their students benefit from use of the equipment. The use is appropriate for TK-5th grade.

Sustainability
Yes, this grant is fully sustainable. There will be no need to fund this specific equipment at a future date.
Amount Funded
$6696.00
Individual Budget Items(s)
$1322 - Warrior Fitness Unizoid Barrier (2)
$500 - Jumpsport Trampolines 250 Round 39 inch (2)
$2200 - Tumbl Trak Soft Mat 5x10x8 inches (2)
$1650 - Tumble Trak Ninja Slanted Steps (3)
Shipping
$612.43
Taxes
$411.21
Other funding sources

Yes, I have reached out to our principal and this amount cannot be funded using our current budget allocated for Physical Education classes.