Andy Woods Elementary School is taking its physical education (PE) class to a new, neon level.
PE teachers Ashley Phelps and Marybeth Keeling wanted to take a new approach to teaching their golf unit to their PE classes. Inspired by a recent trip to Lunar Golf in Broadway Square Mall, they knew they could gather enough resources to transform the Andy Woods gymnasium into their own glow-in-the-dark putt-putt course. Students spent the week using the neon course to learn about the game of golf.
“We are always looking for ways to make learning fun at Andy Woods Elementary School,” Principal Georgeanna Jones said. “Instead of teaching the golf unit in a traditional way, we thought the students would enjoy a fun, new approach. And, they loved it!”
Throughout the week, students also had the opportunity to practice more than just their golf skills. As part of the school’s leadership culture, fifth-grade students who scored well in recent benchmark tests served as mentors to kindergarten and first-grade students, helping them understand how to play the game.
“I think a lot of times, a kindergartener just looks up to a fifth-grader,” Jones said. “So if we have a student that follows direction and is being a good leader, they are being a model to the younger students. I tell them that the little kids are always watching and mimicking their behavior. We want to make sure that when our fifth-graders leave Andy Woods, they will continue to be good leaders for the rest of their school careers.”
