Physical Education

PE Timetable
We love PE here in Merlin Woods Primary school and we ensure that all of the children have 60 minutes timetabled physical education each and every week. Take a look at our PE hall timetable. 

Move well, move oftern resources.
 Our teachers are dedicated to developing the children's
fundamental movement skills within their PE programme every year. This year our focus was on:

• Dance- undertanding and appreciation of dance; exploration, creation and performance of dance.
• Athletics- Running and walking.
• Gymnastics- Jumping for height.

PAWS water safety programme
Our 3rd class completed the PAWS water safety programme. They learned safety tips connected to the following topics: baths, paddling pools, emergency services, beaches, sign posts, lifejackets and calling for help. 
Children completed interactive online tasks at home and in school. They also prepared posters to promote aquatic and water safety.

PE facilities, resouces and store room
We are so lucky to have fantastic facilities and resources in our school. Our PE store room is full of fun filled PE equipment. 
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Our Outdoor Gym Equipment
We are so lucky to have outdoor gym equpiment in our yard. All classes use it everyday during our active breaks, movement breaks and during outdoor PE lessons. 

PE timetable
We are ensuring that all our students are getting their 60 minutes of timetables PE per week.

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Curriculum

As part of the Active School Flag process, the staff at Merlin Woods Primary School are currently reviewing status of Physical Education across the school. We have ensured that all pupils are provided with a minimum of 60 minutes of timetabled PE per week and that all classes are taught at least 5 different PE strands each year, using the PSSI and PDST lesson plans and resources.

PE has always been considered a vital element of the curriculum taught in our school and is discussed in PT meetings, and included in all annual school reports alongside other taught subjects.

Below is an outline of the strands and fundamental movement skills we have chosen to focus on throughout the course of the year for each month.

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PDST Training
​Our teachers attended  yearly PDST webinars and training events to further develop their ability to deliver the PE curriculum. Our focus strand is dance, some of our teachers attended a 'Dance workshop' with the PDST. We really enjoyed learning the new dances, the games and much more from our teachers. 

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Games

Gymnastics

Dance

We even learnt a dance at home while the schools were shut! Thanks to Múinteoir Grace for putting this together for us! Check it out at this link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wu6NMjuSnLrbrPukq2cWw4kvyhoWwO2s/view

St. Patrick's Day performance by our talented pupils and staff
Due to the COVID restrictions this year we were unable to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the way we hoped. This year our extremely talented pupils and staff created a video of them showcasing their talents, each class watched the performance in their classrooms. The talented pupils and staff encouraged many of our pupils to dance along with them and celebrate our national day.
​https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dwXZJrTOMHI8lHqZeNOG9Y4YVx4t7Z9V/view

Activity Challenge During School Closure

The school building was closed at the beginning of 2021 but we did not use that as an excuse to be inactive. Children from 3rd to 6th classes took part in "The Merlin Woods Activity Challenge" over a period of 4 weeks. Children submitted videos of themselves trying the challenge. Some found it easy and were able to complete more complex movements. If it was difficult, we enjoyed working towards a goal and we were happy to try out new things.

Check out screenshots from some of our winning videos below.
​We worked on our coordination. It was tricky!

We improved our mobility and flexibility.

We practiced throwing and catching, with a twist!