Develop Mental and Physical Skills thru Cup Stacking Activity

Our school, Longfellow Elementary in Alameda, is a low performing school in the areas of reading and math. As the physical education teacher, (this is my second year at this site, but 25 years in this district), I know there is a correlation between motor and cognitive function. Last year I instituted a daily jog program to increase cardiovascular fitness and therefore improve brain function. During a recent discussion with a veteran classroom teacher, she mentioned that many of her students had not developed motor skills (such as crossing mid-line) and lamented that kids were not playing games to develop bilaterally. The benefits of motor skills extend beyond the mere physical. While reading, for example, a child with poor bilateral skills will lose his place because his eyes accidentally skip down a couple of lines at the middle of the page. This week, I had the opportunity to borrow a set of Speed Stack (stacking cups) from a Middle School PE teacher to try with my fourth grade Cub Scout den. As the boys worked to quickly stack and unstack cups into pyramids, it struck me that this was mid-line-crossing practice at its best! Kids are focused on a challenge that involves perseverance and teamwork, and it is a blast! At the same time they are developing motor skills (eye-hand coordination, ambidexterity, bilateral/mid-line proficiency), patterning, and sequencing (math skills). My goal, after teaching the cup stacking activity in PE at Longfellow, is to take the cups out twice a week during recess to allow kids to practice, master, and compete with themselves and others. I envision my students (first through fifth grade), trying to work out strategies to build the pyramid faster. I see a great opportunity to build in integrity and sportsmanship, because rules for honesty are so specific and because the game is so quick. It also will give many an opportunity to practice complementing and thanking an opponent. I am hoping to acquire a Speed Stack sport pack set of 35, so that we have enough for every student in a class of 32. This set also includes a practice mat, a timing mat, an instructor video, student training DVD, weighted training cups, and lesson plans.