Tire, Parachute Activities (Perceptual Motor Development) - Softcover

PART 1 introduces the student to Tire Activities that consists of bicycle tires which are among the most versatile, inexpensive, indestructible and easily obtained teacher tools available for use in the physical education program. They are safe, easy to handle and their shape makes them convenient for storage. Bicycle tires, being lightweight, are more practical than automobile tires thereby allowing for a greater variety of uses. The tires can be painted in a variety of colors and when used with colored bean bags, children can toss the red bean bag into a red tire, blue bean bag into a blue tire, etc. Matching objects that are the same color develops visual perception in your children and reinforces the same skills that are used in a reading readiness program. By using color labels, children can match the word to the appropriate colored tire, thereby helping to build and strengthen the bridge between cognition and language. (Note that, of course, if necessary, due to your particular circumstances, plastic hoops could be substituted for the rubber bicycle tires. However, within this series of 5 books, plastic hoops are already used in their own activities in Book 2. Varying the use of different equipment items keeps the children interested and engaged. Using new equipment items will keep the children from getting bored with the same old items and signal brand new motor development activities and more fun!)

PART 2 introduces the student to Parachute Activities that utilize the parachute which represents an exciting catalyst for movement in the physical education program. Movement means life. It means freedom, pleasure, communication and sensuous enjoyment. Inflating the canopy requires teamwork and cooperation. A child learns first hand the meaning of total involvement and so moving through space he gains an understanding of his physical relationship to the real world. The games and exercises develop and strengthen arm and shoulder muscle development and at the same time strengthens wrist and finger muscles. There are wide variations in interests and abilities within a given group, however, all students, regardless of skill and strength, can participate successfully and non-competively in parachute activities. A child must be aware of himself. With this knowledge he is better able to know where he is in space and how he can control his movements. This self-discovery is unique to each child as he explores the infinite number of alternatives in working out a challenge. And as he discovers himself, he will become more accepting of classroom challenges. These parachute activities assist him in improving his sense of rhythm, his basic motor skills and his self-confidence; qualities which have a direct relationship to his physical maturity and his academic performance. The teacher might also want to give the class a brief historical background about the parachute. This could prove stimulating to the children and perhaps would encourage the students to pursue the subject further. The parachute lends itself to both indoor and outdoor use. Space permitting, it is a marvelous activity for rainy days. Each child achieves immediate success and gratification. The removal of competition and the risk of failure, creates a positive attitude toward learning both in and out of the classroom.

Jack Capon was active in Movement Education from the early 1960's right on up to the mid 1990's when, by an ironic twist of fate, he was forced into early retirement by the onslaught of a rare neurological disorder called Striatonigral Degeneration. In the early stages this disorder mimics the symptoms of Parkinson's disease but later on as it kills off more and more brain cells it forces its host into paraplegic-like conditions. And finally, after several years of deteriorating health, Jack passed away in the summer of 1999 soon after the publication of the newest edition of his Perceptual-Motor Lesson Plans, Level-2 book. But Jack's legacy lives on and thanks to Jack's many workshops over the years and to the continuing great success of his programs, many people have been trained in the Jack Capon method and are quite skilled in advising any of those who are interested in starting, restarting, or continuing his Movement Education programs. People who have been trained in the Jack Capon method and who are willing to offer their advice and assistance are available from the publisher, Front Row Experience. Also available from the publisher, are training videos for teachers and instructors that show Jack's program in action for themselves!

Jack Capon was not only a great Movement Educator, but a great human being as well, as witnessed by his 25 years of volunteering to direct the Special Olympics Program for his local town of Alameda, California. Although Jack is no longer here with his energy and enthusiasm for Movement Education, his Perceptual-Motor Development Programs lives on and continues to provide valuable help in developing the movement coordination skills necessary for the healthy development of children everywhere.