Fitness Focus: High Knee March

Say to students:

• It’s wonderful to see that so many of you are ready to move to get stronger.
• In our warmup we are going to try to march with our knees up high.
• You may have seen people march in a parade or band.
• It’s a move people sometimes do when they are all moving together.
• Stand up so that we can try it all together!

Procedure:

1. Work through proper form: Stand strong/tall through the head and torso, Lift the knees up to waist height, while alternating with a medium hard foot placement on the floor.
2. Practice together for 20 counts, trying to stay in rhythm with each other.

Warm Up: March, Meet, and Move

This warm-up activity allows students to begin moving at a moderate pace, using the skill of high knee marching, while they interact and cooperate with each other to complete previously learned exercises/moves.

It prompts them to focus on working well with others to complete a task together.

Tell students that the warm up is called, March, Meet, and Move.

• Explain that in the warm-up they will use their marching skill to move safely throughout the activity area.
• Share that when you call aloud, Meet and Move, they should stop marching and turn towards the person/s closest to them.
• Share that the taller person will show an exercise that they know, and their partner/s should then copy the move.
• Explain that when you call aloud, march, they will begin marching and moving around the general space again.
• Tell them that this pattern of moving will continue for one song.
• Remind them to be aware of their personal space while moving and use safe moving skills so they don’t bump/bang or slip/slide into others.
• Prompt them to work well with others they “meet up” with by mimicking the tallest person’s moves quickly and cooperating/not arguing with each other.

Procedure:

1. Start music to begin movement.
2. Intermittently call aloud, Meet and Move.
3. Move through activity space and encourage lots of movement.
4. Continue activity with intermittent cues for 3-5 minutes or one song.

Transition:

Ask students to place a flat palm over their heart and give a thumb’s up hand signal if they can feel the heart doing its job.