Worms Like to Wiggle :: Physical nd Motor Development

Research has established a compelling link between physical development and cognition, language, personal and social development. Through body movement the brain internalizes the foundations of laterality (left, right), directionality (up, down, in, out), and position in space (over, under, behind). These processes are developed through early motor development and are critical to mathematical thinking, as well as beginning reading and writing. They lay the foundation for the child to “see” how letters are formed and put them together in patterns called words, and to translate this understanding into symbols on paper in the form of writing. The brain and body’s movement and learning systems are interdependent and interactive with body movements. Gross and fine motor movement experiences provided at the preschool level need to be structured to encourage a child’s brain to use the movement experiences as building blocks for future learning. Within the preschool daily schedule there should be strong emphasis on both gross and fine motor development activities. Outdoor and indoor physical activity should be an integral part of the curriculum and should be viewed as an opportunity for learning. If children are provided with positive movement experiences at an early age they may later choose to participate in physical activities and stay active for a lifetime. All children, regardless of physical or mental development, learn by moving through their environment and should be provided with opportunities to participate in preschool motor learning activities with appropriate modifications.

Block One	Block Two	Block Three
Skilled Movement: The child will build body awareness, strength and coordination through locomotor (A) activities, non-locomotor (B) (stability) activities and manipulative skills (C).	Movement Principals and Concepts: The child will demonstrate the use of the movement concepts of directions, levels, pathways, and effort.	Personal Fitness: The child will participate in structured and unstructured physical activity designed to increase heart rate and breathing along with improving muscular strength and flexibility.
Block Four	Block Five
Responsible Behaviors: The child will demonstrate good listening skills and cooperative behaviors.	Physically Active Lifestyles: The child will participate in physical activity and explain why physical activity is good for health.

Block One - A: Skilled Movement- Locomotor Activities

Locomotor activities (walking, running, galloping) are built on patterns. The brain prepares for learning by mastering movements that lay the framework for sequencing thoughts and recognizing patterns. Information arranged in patterns is more easily processed, stored and retrieved. Mathematics concepts, the alphabet, etc., are built on patterns.

a) Demonstrate progress in performing the mature level of selected locomotor skills.	Physical and Motor Development: Skilled Movement- Locomotor Activities A
b) Demonstrate initial, elementary and mature forms of walking and running.	Physical and Motor Development: Skilled Movement- Locomotor Activities B

Block One - B: Skilled Movement- Non-locomotive Skills

Non-locomotor skills (stability) use the sensory components of balance, coordination, spatial awareness, directionality, and vision; and are developed as the child rolls, creeps, crawls, spins, twirls, bounces, balances, walks, jumps, juggles, and supports his or her own weight in space. A series of non-locomotor movement progressions prepare the brain for input and processing.

a) Maintain a stable static position while practicing specific balances.	Physical and Motor Development: Skilled Movement- Non-locomotive Skills A
b) Maintain balance while performing a controlled spin.	Physical and Motor Development: Skilled Movement- Non-locomotive Skills B
c) Maintain balance while walking on a painted line or a low balance beam that is no more than three inches above the floor.	Physical and Motor Development: Skilled Movement- Non-locomotive Skills C
d) Maintain balance while climbing up steps and walking on a horizontal ladder placed on the floor.	Physical and Motor Development: Skilled Movement- Non-locomotive Skills D
e) Perform criss-cross pattern activities that will stimulate the brain.	Physical and Motor Development: Skilled Movement- Non-locomotive Skills E

Block One - C: Skilled Movement- Manipulative Skills

Manipulative skills of toss, catch, throw, aim, strike, jump, juggle, kick, bounce, and dribble develop visual tracking of moving objects, eye-hand and eye-foot coordination, visual fields, cross lateralization, sequencing of patterns, and dynamic balance. These skills aid the brain in organizing thoughts in sequence, and tracking exercises strengthen the eye muscles and visual fields used in reading.

a) Manipulate a variety of objects during structured and unstructured physical activity settings.	Physical and Motor Development: Skilled Movement- Manipulative Skills A
b) Manipulate small objects using one hand independently, the other hand independently, and both hands working on the same task.	Physical and Motor Development: Skilled Movement- Manipulative Skills B

Block Two: Movement Principles and Concepts

Movement is navigation in one’s environment and allows the child to develop motor skills, self awareness, self esteem, and social skills critical to a child’s ability to learn. Children gain the knowledge of movement by practicing the concepts regularly during structured or unstructured movement opportunities offered both indoors and outdoors.

a) Apply knowledge of movement concepts by performing various locomotor movements while changing directions (right, left, up, down, forward and backward), levels (high, medium, and low), pathways (straight, curved, and zig-zag), and effort (fast, slow, hard, and soft).	Physical and Motor Development: Movement Principals and ConceptsA
b) Identify fundamental movement patterns.	Physical and Motor Development: Movement Principals and Concepts B
c) Begin and expand movement vocabulary.	Physical and Motor Development: Movement Principals and Concepts C
d) Perform various locomotor movements demonstrating changes in directions, levels, pathways, effort, and relationships in space while listening to music, or responding to a drum beat, the beat of tambourine, verbal instruction, or other signal.	Physical and Motor Development: Movement Principals and Concepts D

Block Three: Personal Fitness

Physical fitness is having a healthy body and mind. When children engage in exercise that elevates the heart rate, the brain and body go into a homeostatic state, balancing brain chemicals, hormones, and body system functions. This homeostatic state increases the brain’s ability to retain or retrieve memory. Blood traveling to the brain at a greater rate feeds the brain the needed nutrients of oxygen and glucose. Engaging in vigorous activity gives the brain the nutrients it needs to function at an optimal state and benefit the learner.

a) Participate in activities that allow the child to experience a rise in the heart rate and breathing rate.	Physical and Motor Development: Personal Fitness A
b) Demonstrate the ability to determine if the heart is beating faster after activity.	Physical and Motor Development: Personal Fitness B
c) Participate in activities designed to strengthen major muscle groups.	Physical and Motor Development: Personal Fitness C
d) Participate in activities that enhance flexibility.	Physical and Motor Development: Personal Fitness D

Block Four: Responsible Behaviors

All children must be provided with opportunities to experience rules regarding safety and behaviors towards others, as well as to demonstrate an understanding of what cooperation means. These behaviors need to be practiced on a regular/daily basis so that acceptable behaviors may be positively learned and reinforced.

a) Demonstrate safe behaviors by applying rules regarding behaviors in a physical activity setting.	Physical and Motor Development: Responsible Behaviors A
b) Share equipment and space, and take turns with help from the teacher.	Physical and Motor Development: Responsible Behaviors B
c) Work well with all children.	Physical and Motor Development: Responsible Behaviors C
d) Listen to and follow simple directions.	Physical and Motor Development: Responsible Behaviors D

Block Five: Physically Active Lifestyle

Regular physical activity prepares the brain for learning by providing a healthier body that works more efficiently. Young developing brains benefit from regular physical activity.

a) Identify the activities that they like and dislike.	Physical and Motor Development: Physically Active Lifestyle A
b) Describe what it means to be physically active and then have the opportunity to actively pursue the activities they have described.	Physical and Motor Development: Physically Active Lifestyle B
c) Participate in structured and unstructured physical activity every day.	Physical and Motor Development: Physically Active Lifestyle C
d) Participate in activities geared toward different levels of proficiency.	Physical and Motor Development: Physically Active Lifestyle D
e) Identify places at home, in the neighborhood and in the communities where children can play safely and be physically active.	Physical and Motor Development: Physically Active Lifestyle E

Text on this page has been taken from and adapted to use for instructional purposes in Virginia classrooms. To access to Virginia Foundation Blocks for Early Learning: Comprehensive Standards for Four-Year-Olds go to:
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/Elem_M/FoundationBlocks.pdf. The acutal lesson plans are copyrighted by Curriculum Enrichment Publications LLC.