CONFERENCE/WORKSHOP CALENDAR

"Olympism" Revisited I just received the lastest issue of Quest Vol 53. No 1, and there was one article that caught my attention and interest so much that I was unable to put it down until I had read right through it! "Olympism" Revisited as Context for Global Education: Implications for Physical Education by Deanna Binder is a 'must read' for all physical educators of today. She explores the evolution of the "Olympic philosophy" developed by Baron Pierre De Coubertain in relation to a pedagogy of physical education that seeks the development of the whole human personality. Deanna suggests that values of "fairplay, friendship, peace and international goodwill" are goals that we physical educators can, and should, aim to promote in our programs. Deanna discusses a school based project that was recently launched in Greece (1997), and later (1998-99) was tried out in schools in all the continents of the world under the auspices of the Foundation of Olympic and Sport Education. A teacher's manual "Be a Champion in Life" is the product of a collaborative development process. I myself have been using the manual this year; it really is an inspirational book that aims to "help create a world with healthier, happy children - a world where children and young people have fun while participating in physical activity" (Binder, 2000 in Quest 53, 1, 14-34). The results of the action research project discussed in Deanna's article will be featured in a future issue of Quest. You can check out the contents of Quest Vol. 53. No 1 and view the abstract, or order the entire article. To contact Deanna Binder: In Victoria 863 Royal Oak Avenue Victoria, B.C. V8X 3T3 Tel: (250) 479-0963 Fax: (250) 479-9844 In Edmonton Department of Secondary Education 341 Education South University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta CANADA T6G 2G5 Phone: (780) 492-3674 Fax: (780) 492-9402 dbinder@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca dbinder@pinc.com

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Safety City This enjoyable kids page is the U.S. based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Safety City home page. This site includes games, a movie, and colourful presentations on the importance of safety on our roads; whether kids are on foot, on a bike, or in a car. Students can visit the Crash Test Lab to see what happens when cars crash and passengers aren't wearing seat belts. Or, they can click over to the School section to learn more about school bus safety. On the Bike Tour of the site, kids can make sure they have the proper safety equipment for riding a bike.

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Summer time is here and we all need a well earned rest from the ultra-dynamic school context. It is a time for me to catch up on those articles and books I never got down to read, and surf those sites bookmarked, but never found a moment to browse! If you would like to share highlights of articles on specific books/links that you would recommend to Elementary Physical Education teachers, you can contact one of the section editors below to join this "PE Linking in action". Marina Bonello Section Editor

Focus Issue: Brain Based Research and PE Teaching Elementary Physical Education Vol.12. Issue no.3 Special theme editor Cathie Summerford expounds on "What is the Impact of Exercise on Brain Function and Academic Learning," providing a round-up of the research done in this field. Well known Jean Blaydes also provides an interesting paper on advocacy in which she claims that "brain research is validating our profession," and physical educators "are the most brain compatible professionals on campus." She also provides reference to brain research experts and noteworthy publications (p.9-12). Lisa Hawk's paper on "Stimulating Sensory Receptors" provides the physical educator with practical teaching ideas. The "Science of Nutrition" (p.20) by Pat Wolfe, Burkman, and Katherine Streng is also an interesting article that opens a window into the role of nutrition in children's learning and memory. The role of breakfast is strongly stressed. Helen Landalf explores how by providing creative dance opportunities, the physical educator is playing an important role in providing students with "the tools to dance into learning" (p.24) Cathie Summerford also describes how she has implemented brain research strategies in her program. The article PE-4-ME: Radical Wellness Program: A brain compatible approach to Physical Education provides a glimpse into the program she has developed in Apple Valley Middle School, California. For more information you can visit her website or read the review of her book here. Stephen Ward takes the issue into Hungary when he linked circus skills to the teaching of physics concepts. He concludes his article asking some points which stress the way circus skills can fit into a PE program; "it offers a wide range for the development of physical skills within physical education in a noncompetitive way" (p.30), and that it can be used to "offer an accessible way into the teaching of other curricular areas" (p.30). Renowned expert Dave Finnigan in his "Juggling and the Brain" provides ideas on how to teach juggling. He also refers to a video called "Juggletime" which can be used to introduce children to this activity. More information can be found on at his website and equipment information can be found here.

Seeing, Hearing, and Smelling the World Since the Focus Issue of this Elementary Page featured brain based approaches, I would like to share with you a related website developed by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "Seeing, Hearing, and Smelling the World" is a neat website that enables one to explore how to "make sense out of our senses". Do check it out here. PELINKS4U Resources PELINKS4U, throughout this year, has featured numerous online resources that can be utilized to supplement your Health Related Fitness Units. By doing a subject search - e.g "Nutrition" in the search box found on the main page - you will be taken to numerous links. Alternatively you can review previous issues of the Elementary or Secondary pages. To do this, all you have to do is pull down the menu from "Click for PE links on the top left hand corner of the main page, and then select "Archives." In the meantime, for those of you hungry for still more websites, these are some more neat online resources that you might want to take note of for the next scholastic year. Healthy Eating, Healthy Living From Australia, the Healthy Eating, Healthy Living program provides very useful information for health professionals, online interactive tools for the general public, and more. You might want to highlight the kid's club link, and the student;s resources. Heart Centre Online Animations and Illustrations This is yet another health based site that provides useful information and online interactive tools, such as Nutritional Calculator and Health Tracker. I would like to highlight the illustrations and animations section on the site. From heart and lung animation, to Asian food pyramid illustrations, this is indeed a useful link to bookmark for future use. You can also find Healthy Heart Recipes here.

Miscellaneous

Resources for: Moderators and Facilitators of Online Discussion If you need to run or moderate a discussion list, or electronic mail list, this site has all the information you need to make the experience relatively painless.

Elementary Resources

No Bully This website is part of a campaign to combat bullying and harassment in schools. It gives readable explanations about bullying behavior, possible reasons, and consequences. It has good presentation with an interactive section for children to play games about name calling, taking lunches, being left out, etc. Children select answers from drop down choices about what to say or do in illustrated situations.

If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions about particular topics, please email one of the following Elementary PE Section Editors:

	Gerry Cernicky
	Paula Summit
	Tom Winiecki
	Marina Bonello