Huntington University partners with Kids Kampus
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Huntington, Ind.-Huntington University's Tumbling and Gymnastics class teamed up with Kids Kampus for the fall 2008 semester to teach children fundamental motor skills through kinesthetic learning for 10 weeks. "We led children through developmentally appropriate, body movement skills, augmenting children's physical fitness as well as their growth and development, and using kinesthetic movement to integrate movement with cognitive learning," said Jody Davenport, instructor in physical education.
The Huntington University students, mostly physical education majors, taught two different age groups every Thursday from 8:45-9:50 a.m. During the first half of the Thursday morning class, five-year-old children from Kids Kampus were taught. The second half of the class, the students taught three to four-year-olds from Kids Kampus.
Allison Budd, a senior psychology major from Winamac, Ind., works with Lucio Gutierrez.
Huntington University students were responsible for creating various activities for the children. These activities had to be integrated into five developmental areas. These areas included hanging/climbing, jumping/landing, flexibility, rotation skills and balance. The activities for each section needed to incorporate muscle strength, physical fitness, rhythm, learning games and curriculum integration. Before the children came to class on Thursday mornings, the HU students practiced each other's activities to ensure that they were safe, fun and practical for the children.
Kids Kampus teacher Nondus Christman helps Dale Schweller on the balance beam.
"I believe that the children responded very well," said Eric Harpring, a junior physical education major from Rushville, Ind. "They seemed to enjoy the activities very much."
Lisa Betzler, administrator for Kids Kampus, said that many of the parents were excited about the class, and they thought it was a great opportunity for the Huntington University students to gain hands-on experience.
