Cool Cubs

Age:  24 months to 3 years

Class Size:5 students to 1 teacher

Time:45 minutes

Location:  Mostly Tiger Den.  Occasional trips out to the big gym to go on the

                    trampoline or into the loose foam pit.

Format:Class begins with a cardiovascular activity to music.  We then sit down

                    and do some basic gymnastic stretching together.  Our stretching often

                    involves some “games” that make stretching more fun and interesting for

                    children this age.  We will then do 2 groups of circuit rotations throughout

                    class.  Our circuit rotations revolve around bars, beam or tumbling skills. 

                    Circuit activities will include gross motor activities in addition to gymnastic

                    skills.  We also go out to the big gym to work on the trampoline and in the

                    loose foam pit whenever possible.  Stretch will take between 10-15 minutes

                    followed up by circuit rotations of approximately 15 minutes each.  Class

                    concludes with stamps and praise.

The goal of this class is to be the first unassisted class where the student is independent of the parent/guardian figure in the gym.  A parent/guardian is required to shadow the child in class until the coach excuses the parent/guardian.  The child must demonstrate the ability to stay with the class and be happy independent of his/her shadow being in the room. 

In this class the child will learn Independent Cooperative Play (ICP) skills as well as the appropriate developmental gymnastics skills.  These ICP skills include:  listening and following directions, sequencing (moving from one activity station to the next sequence), taking turns, and respect for safety in the gym.  Students will experience activities that develop gross and fine motor skills, balance, flexibility, strength, rhythm and motion, body awareness and positive self-esteem.  This class also incorporates Reading Readiness Skills as they relate to physical movement (colors, numbers, letters and size differentiation).

Twisty Tails

Age:3 years

Class Size:6 students to 1 teacher

Time:55 minutes

Location:Mostly Tiger Den.  Class will usually do at least one rotation (trampoline) in the big gym. 

                    This class also takes time to work in the loose foam pit.

Equipment:Vaulting Blocks, Small bar modified for hand size and child height, 4” beam, floor

                    (tumbling skills), trampoline.

Format:Class begins with a cardiovascular activity to music.  We then sit down and do some

                    basic gymnastic stretching together.  Our stretching often involves some “games” that

                    make stretching more fun and interesting for children this age.  We will then do 2-3 groups

                    of circuit rotations throughout class.  Our circuit rotations revolve around trampoline,

                    vault, bars, beam or tumbling skills.  Circuit activities will include gross motor activities in

                    addition to gymnastic skills.  We also go out to the big gym to work in the loose foam

                    pit whenever possible.  Stretch will take between 10-15 minutes followed up by circuit

                    rotations of approximately 15 minutes each.  Class concludes with stamps and praise.

This class continues to reinforce Independent Cooperative Play skills while introducing more advanced

gross/fine motor and gymnastics skills.  As this class uses variations of basic mastered skills, the

beginnings of actual gymnastics skills become apparent:  mini-handstands, cartwheels, big beam walking

and bar swinging.  “Creative Play” is also incorporated into lesson plans here, as this age group is more

vocal and likely to use imagery in almost all aspects of play.  Activities are kept short and varied.  Music, games, and drills for skill development are all utilized to work on locomotor movements, balance, strength and coordination.  These classes emphasize listening and following directions and fun!  Parents do not participate, but may watch from the waiting area.

Playful Paws

Age:4 years

Class Size:6 students to 1 teacher

Time:55 minutes

Location:Starts in the pre-school room.  This class will usually do at least 2 rotations

                    in the big gym.  This class also takes time to work in the loose foam pit.

Equipment:Vaulting blocks and boards, Small bar/Big bar, 4” beam (floor height

                    and hip height), floor (tumbling skills), trampoline.

Format:Class begins with a cardiovascular activity to music.  We then sit down

                    and do some basic gymnastic stretching together.  We will begin

                    working on bridges and splits.  Our stretching often involves some

                    “games” that make stretching more fun and interesting for children

                    this age.  We will then do 2-3 groups of circuit rotations throughout class.

                    Our circuit rotations revolve around bars, beam or tumbling skills. 

                    Circuit activities will include gross and fine motor activities in addition to

                    gymnastics skills.  We also go out to the big gym to work in the loose

                    foam pit whenever possible.  Stretch will take between 10-15 minutes

                    followed up by circuit rotations of approximately 15 minutes each.  Class concludes with stamps and praise.

This class introduces the use of Cognitive Processing to help students understand how the body moves and how these movements relate to gymnastics.  Students learn basic body parts and positions and how to demonstrate these positions while moving through space.  It is at this level that students can start to see complete skills and is able to develop the strength to make the “little” skills bigger.  Bridges and splits are introduced at this level.  Children in this class will improve strength, balance, flexibility, and coordination.  Music and games are utilized to help develop concepts of rhythm, colors, numbers, letters, right and left, sharing, listening and following direction, working within a group and taking turns.  Parents do not participate, but may watch from the waiting area.

Silly Stripes

Age:5 years*

Class Size:6 students to 1 teacher

Time:55  minutes

Location:Starts in pre-school room.  Floor exercise in the pre-school room with

                    most other rotations in the big gym.  This class takes time to work in

                    the loose foam pit and on the pit bar.

Equipment:Vaulting blocks and boards, Bars, Beam, Floor Exercise (tumbling

                    skills), trampoline.

Format:Class begins with a cardiovascular activity to music.  We then sit

                    down and do some basic gymnastic stretching together.  We include

                    bridges and splits as part of our stretching.  Our stretching sometimes

                    involves some “games” that make stretching more fun and interesting

                    for children this age.  We will then do 2-3 groups of circuit rotations

                    throughout class.  Our circuit rotations revolve around trampoline,

                    bars, beam or tumbling skills.  Circuit activities will include gross and

                    fine motor activities in addition to gymnastics skills.  We also go out to the big gym to work in the loose foam pit whenever possible.  Stretch will take between 10-15 minutes followed up by circuit rotations of approximately 15 minutes each.  Class concludes with stamps and praise.

This class uses Cognitive Processing to learn body parts and positions as they study muscles and bones and how we use them to move our body through space.  These students have mastered the basic fine and gross motor skills and are ready to be challenged with a higher level or combination of skills.  Reading Readiness and Independent Cooperative Play skills are maintained in this class.  These students seem to be the most active participants in our Theme Weeks.  Music and games are utilized to help reinforce concepts of rhythm, colors, numbers, letters, right and left, sharing, listening and following directions, working within a group and taking turns.  Parents do not participate, but may watch from the waiting area.

*5 year old children that have been in our Tumbling Tiger program for at least one entire 8-week session have the option of enrolling in the Instructional program.  The Instructional program includes Bounders, Fly Away, Cheerleading, and Tumbling classes, to name a few.

Tumbling Tigers

(ages 2-5)