Sports classes took place today for year 2 and year 3 students. The exercises were held in the main hall on the second floor, and were conducted by Samejima sensei. Year 2 kids were a combined group of the Bear class and the Momo class. After changing into sportswear they began the practice. Firstly they did some body stretches, and then wiggled and shook out tension in their feet/ankles, and their hands/wrists.

They did some jumping activities, and then they followed with some straight line races – running, hopping, and skipping, and also pretending to be a rabbit. Next we practiced lying down on the floor in a Superman pose! This was then combined with sitting down like father, mother, and in the sitting sports position (triangle sitting). Samejima sensei rapidly called out the way they should present themselves, for example: “father…. sports…. mother…. Superman…. sports…. Superman…. father…. sports…. mother….”, etc. They had to repond as fast as possible!

The main part of the lesson was to learn, and then to practice, forward rolls. Children lined up, and had to form a bear position on all fours. After placing their heads onto the floor mat, they could roll forward. Each student had the chance to repeat the process a few times, thus helping them to gain in confidence. They could then try the rolls with their legs closed, so as to do a neater movement.

Next week we will continue to practice the forward rolls. This time we will also add additional moves to the beginning and ending of the roll. The kids can look forward to further exercise, and at enhancing their sports skills.

-Mark-

（本日，年中組さんと年長組さんは体操教室がありました。鮫島先生による体操教室は，２階の遊戯室で行いました。年中組さんの体操教室は，ベアークラスさんともも組さんによる合同レッスンです。体操服に着替えた後，練習が始まりました。最初に，子どもたちは身体のストレッチを行い，そして足・足首，手・手首をブラブラ。

子どもたちは，ジャンプをする活動を行い，一列に並んでから走ったり，けんけんやスキップ，さらにはうさぎ跳びを行いました。次に，私たちは床の上に寝転がり，スーパーマンのポーズです！これは，お父さん座り，お母さん座り，体操座り（三角座り）と一緒に行いました。鮫島先生は，子どもたちに様々な座り方を素早く「お父さん座り，体操座り，お母さん座り，スーパーマン，体操座り・・・・・」のように伝えられるのですが，子どもたちは，出来るだけ早く言われたポーズを取らなければなりません！

今日のレッスンのメインは，前転でした。子どもたちは一列に並び，両手両足をマットにつけ，クマさんのポーズを行いました。その後，頭をマットにつけ，前転を行いました。子どもたちは上手に回れるようになるために，それぞれ何度も練習を行う機会がありました。そしてきれいな動きになるように足を閉じて回りました。

来週も前転の練習を引き続き行います。次回は，動きの始めと終わりに別の動きが加わります。子どもたちはこれからの体操教室と，さらにスキルが高まることを楽しみにしています。

マーク先生より）