Welcome to my “Physical Education 101” program where I take the classical approach to PE combined with current science to responsibly educate today’s children for the future. This content is what I have been teaching my TK-6th grade PE students. You will find links to specific PE 101 videos and the supplemental handouts that go with the YouTube training videos or PE content areas that I teach. Included are many videos specifically directed at parents where I explain “why” I’m teaching these movements. While directed towards K-12 students, these are THE fundamentals of human movement education whether child or adult! Everyone can benefit. 🙂
In brief, the best and quickest way to begin understanding “Classical PE” is to watch our award-winning documentary film “The Motivation Factor.” I was the Executive Producer and PE Historian on this project for Filmmaker Doug Orchard. We uncovered the secrets of making the best learners–it was quality PE! It’s not the PE you might be thinking of though–our film covers the best of PE going back to ancient Greece and into the JFK era of early 1960s. What did history and PE know? Plenty! Watch the film then what is below will have far more impact.
These fundamental methods worked for generations of children to build strong minds, strong bodies, and good citizenship. Through quality of movement and thought, our children can have the best chance for success in the future.
Enjoy and engage! Ron Jones
JFK’s Physical Fitness Statement (March 30, 1962)
PE 101 Training Videos: My YouTube Playlist with Introductions, Definitions, Philosophy, Warm-Ups & Basics-Feet, Hands, Brain, Breath. *Specific links are also listed below.
Parent Message Videos: These short messages teach parents the history and philosophy behind my classical approach to physical education. It’s important for parents to know “why” these activities and exercises are so important.
- Introduction
- What is “Classical” PE?
- Adventure Walking & Parkour
- Building a PE Toolbag
- Crawling & Rolling Ground Movements
- Construction Projects: “How to Build Your Own”
- Counting Cadence
- Cross-Crawl Movements
- Find Your Center
- Fox Feet
- Hand & Finger Exercises
- Hip Hinge
- Kraus-Weber Test for Postural Fitness
- Main Components of Fitness
- Outside Leisure Activities for Health
- Push-Ups
- Teaching How to Fish in PE
Ron Jones Interviews on Classical PE:
Movement & PE Videos:
- PRIORITIES! These are front and center with my PE class teaching philosophy. They address centering, awareness, breathing, postural alignment, correctives, and learning to work together as a group.
- Find Your Center
- Cross-Crawl Patterns (BrainGym)
- Hands & Fingers Agility Counting (TK-2 Grades)
- How to Stand Upright with Ease
- How to Walk with Gliding Gait
- Calisthenics: (LaSierra Strength Endurance Exercise Routine)
- History of LaSierra PE
- “The Motivation Factor” Documentary Film
- Cadence Counting Tutorial
- Side Straddle Hops Tutorial
- Push-Ups Tutorial
- Full Bends Tutorial
- Stride Hops Tutorial
- Follow Along Warm-Up
- Adventure Walking
- Back Pain Prevention:
- Back Limbering Series
- Back Stretch Partner Row Bars
- Bonnie Prudden QuickFix Correctives
- Balance:
- Balance Disc Partner Game
- Balance Objects @ Home Ideas
- Cone Reach
- Cone Chop
- Circuit Training Basics:
- Super Sets
- Setting Up Circuit Interval Times & Intensity
- Sample Circuit #1: Push-Up, Air Squat, Rest (Upper Body & Lower Body)
- Sample Circuit #2: Push-Up, Row (Upper Body-Front Side/Back Side, Rest)
- Sample Circuit #3: Air Squat, Calf Raise, Rest (Lower Body)
- Core Strength: (Fundamentals)
- Curl Ups
- Bridging & Planking
- Rotational Training
- Trunk Lifts
- Dynamic Warm-Up Routines:
- Coach RJ DWU-Level 1
- Coach RJ DWU-Level 2
- Daily Dozen: Part I-Teaching Version (Bonnie Prudden)
- Daily Dozen: Part II-Follow Along (Bonnie Prudden)
- Ergonomics & Posture: ALL of these used to be fundamentals in education!
- Arch VS. Angle Spine Assessment
- Foot Tripod
- History of School Posture & Desks
- How To Sit
- How To Stand
- How To Walk
- Reading, Writing, & Surface Angles
- Shoulder Elevation & Spinal Rotation Deformity
- Lighting & Reflection Factors
- SandBell Walking & Relays
- Exercise Science:
- Newton’s Third Law of Motion Lesson
- Resting Heart Rate Activity
- Feet:
- Ground & Guerrilla Moves:
- Crab Walk
- Creep (Knees On Ground)
- Crawl (Bear)
- Crawl (Knees Off Ground)
- Crawl (On Belly)
- Organic Flow Restorative Ground Moves (Introduction)
- Organic Flow Restorative Ground Moves (Tutorial)
- Side Roll
- Hands & Fingers:
- Open, Close, Claw Exercises
- Health Wands: (Handout)
- Hip Hinge *HIGH PRIORITY!
- Joint Mobility: (Restorative & Corrective)
- Lunges:
- Regressions to Progressions (Easiest to Harder)
- Outdoor Recreation:
- Adventure Walking
- Hiking for Health: (SoCal Trails)
- Towsley Canyon
- Vasquez Rocks
- Hiking & Ten Essentials
- Park & Playground Equipment
- Parkour Introduction
- Road Running in Nature
- Trail Running
- Mental & Social Health:
- Push-Ups: (The Basics)
- Full Plank Position
- Push-Up Regressions (Wall, Box, Bench, Knee, Negative)
- SandBells:
- Speed, Agility, & Quickness Drills: (SAQ)
- Why do SAQ Drills? (Parent Message)
- Regular Skip
- Side Shuffle
- Side Jacks
- Carioca
- Z-Cuts
- T-Stops
- Alternative Starting Positions (Using Survival Skills)
- Speed Ladders
- Strength Routines:
- Squat:
- Air (Body Weight Only)
- Object Loads (Bar, Bag, Dumbbell, Kettlebell)
Handouts:
- Bonnie Prudden Archives:
- Daily Dozen Dynamic Warm-Up Routine
- Quick Fix Back Pain Prevention Exercises
- Estimating Resting Heart Rate
- Lunges
- PE Rules & Philosophy/History Terms
- PE 101 Flowchart
- Push-Ups
- SAQ: Speed, Agility, & Quickness Training
- Speed/Agility Ladders
- LaSierra High PE Strength Endurance Routine: (SER) This is the short “sampler” version suitable for elementary children. It has four foundational exercises: Side Straddle Hops, Push-Ups, Full Bends, & Stride Hops.
- Cadence Packet (How to voice the directions and count each exercise)
- Form Packet (How to actually do each exercise with classical form and quality)
- Organic Flow Restorative Ground Moves:
LaSierra High PE Vintage Film Clips: Look back to see what real PE programs used to be.
- JFK Physical Fitness Statement (1962)
- “CalPoly SLO Demos”
- LaSierra PE Demos (Reel #1)
- LaSierra PE Demos (Reel #2)
- LaSierra PE Demos (Reel #3)
- LaSierra PE Demos (Reel #4)
- LaSierra PE Demos (Reel #5)
- LaSierra PE Demos (Reel #6)
- LaSierra PE Demos (Reel #7)
- LaSierra PE Demos (Reel #8)
- LaSierra PE Demos (Reel #9)
- “Navy Blue & Gold” (Dave Brown Report)
- “Physical Conditioning For a Purpose” (National Varsity Club)
- “Poised for Action” Fitness Clinic-1″ (President’s Council of Physical Fitness)
- “Poised for Action Fitness Clinic-2” (President’s Council of Physical Fitness)
- “The School Where Fitness Counts” (President’s Council On Physical Fitness and Sports)
- “The School Where Fitness Counts-1964” (President’s Council On Physical Fitness & Sports)
Other Health & PE Resources: I highly recommend these and use them for my students.
- Bonnie Prudden: Bonnie was one of the top fitness experts in America for decades and taught PE, quality movement, back pain prevention, and trigger point release all over the world. This site is still featuring her books, methods, and workshops. From the classical or quality perspective, I highly recommend ANY of her books!
- Lean Berets Bonnie Prudden Page (info, podcasts, etc.)
- Cosmic Kids Yoga: Instructor Jaime is amazing and does a great job teaching proper yoga movements in fun and entertaining ways using modern technology and colorful graphics. My kindergarteners like these.
- “Educate Your Brain” by Kathy Brown, MEd: This book is a valuable resource for parents and teachers and does a great job explaining how the brain learns best through certain types of movement patterns. The BrainGym organization is also featured in this book. BrainGym has been in classrooms for decades helping children optimize learning around the globe. If you are interested in reading better, learning better, helping ADHD or autistic children, or just learning new ways to think about cross-body or cross-lateral movements, this is a great book to own and use.
- Huell Howser Shows: These are all educational and approved by education and library groups and based in California. While most are not PE or fitness-specific, many involve environmental health like water rights history, clean water resources, food and culture, parks and exercise, etc. They are fun and entertaining too.
- The Renaissance: This is a postural video project I did with filmmaker Doug Orchard. We cover the history of postural alignment, back pain, and the design of “vintage” school desks and how they related to the “prevention” of back pain.
- Trail Guide to Movement Video Series: This is an excellent collection of 26 short educational videos by LMT Andrew Biel. He covers the basics of biomechanics, balance, soft tissues, laws of motion, physics of motion, gravity, types of levers, and more. You can buy and download (or stream) all 26 for just $6.99 USD. Very high quality for great value.
Current PE References:
- California Health Education Content Standards (CDE)
- California PE Content Standards (CDE)
- Move Your Way: 60 A Day (US HHS)
- Physical Activity Guidelines For All Americans (US HHS)
- Physical Activity Recommendations By Age Group (CDC)
Ron Jones, MS, is a Historical Kinesiologist and a fully credentialed California teacher in Physical Education, Health Science, and English. He has a double major BA in PE/English and MS in Kinesiology with subdiscipline in Exercise & Sport Psychology.
