Classroom Ideas

[mole]

Hey Guys I need some suggestions. I am starting a short archery unit with my sixth graders. I have the local dnr coming in with some bows and targets. We will be doing history of Archery and safety and some shooting. Does anyone else have any suggestions on what we could do. I toyed with the idea of trying to get some professional shooters out there to come and do a demo for the kids. Kale are you game?

I want to give the kids a solid base for the sport as well as introducve them to the possibility of hunting. Any suggestions would be great. This site has a lot of experience and a lot of great ideas. Thanks.

mole

 

[Pupster]

I'm sure safety is a big part of your agenda but accidents do happen. When I was in school we had a PE archery class let's just say 20 some years ago, and the teacher just let us all line up and start shooting at tagets. Obviously she didn't know that there's a safe side and safe distance to stand when someone is shooting. (Keep the riser beween you and the arrow if you're spectating)a kid got to full draw and the arrow came off the rest and he let go shooting the kid next him right through his hand. Now these were only 30lb recurves!

Anyway get 3d deer target or something for them to shoot at, kids that age are great to work with, show them the kill zone etc...We also shot at a swinging target also it was just a target hanging from a rope, she would give it a swing and we would shoot at it, taught us to lead a moving target. I think our backstop was just a huge heavy canvas tarp. The arrows wouldn't even penetrate it.
Good luck, thanks for teaching the next generation about our heritage.

Here's alittle something along these lines. http://www.courier-journal.com/cjsports/news2003/04/03/sp040303s391380.htm

Pupster

 

[Shovelbuck]

Something I did while teaching the safety part was this. I would place a styrofoam wig head on a post in front of the target. Shoot an apple off it a couple times to wow the crowd and then ask for a volunteer to put the apple on there head. You will be ammazed at the numbers that will raise there hands! Tell them you want to take one more practice shot first. Put the next arrow right between the eyes! Lesson learned.

 

[River1]

Glad to here you're teaching this!

I think would be nice for the students to understand all the various ways they could enjoy the sport and how rewarding it could be. Hopefully they would realize it can be much more than just owning a bow and some arrows.

Modern vs. traditional archery
3-D shooting and competition
Field Archery
Hunting
Bowfishing
Crafting your own equipement (arrows etc.)
Archery clubs (organizations) and their activities.



Skies the limit, the list goes on.

I'd have to bet though, just getting the equipment in their hands will give the biggest spark.

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[mole]

Update: The lesson went well other than the kids got really wet in the downpour

I was surprised at how excited the kids were and how little they knew about the sport. Even though we had to cut the lesson short due to weather it was a success. Thanks for all of the sugestions, you guys were a big help in making this a success.

Also our local archery shop let us use three 3-D targets the kids loved them

remember that when you go shopping at wally world. Thanks again

mole