CrazyBusy - Physical Fitness In Your Homeschool

CrazyBusy

Nov. 2, 2008

Physical Fitness In Your Homeschool

Posted in A Day in the Life (of our homeschool)

My mother-in-law started working in the public school system when my hubby started kindergarten. He's the baby of the family and I guess she figured that would be a good way to keep a close eye on him. She was a teacher's aide for years and remained so even after DH switched to a Christian school his freshman year in high school and beyond those years too. For the few years before we moved to WA, she worked as a teacher in a Christian school. She is a very bright lady and really has a gift for teaching children. Having gone to a Christian school my entire life, I can say that you do NOT need to be a certified teacher to be a good one. In fact, a lot of the uncertified teachers are some of the best! Also, we, as homeschoolers, also know that you do not need to be certified to teach.

Anyway. I am blessed to have a mother-in-law who has worked in the school system for a good chunk of her life AND is supportive of our decision to homeschool. Not only that, but she gives me some great ideas too- things I'd never heard of or thought of.

A few weeks ago, we were at her house & she brought out some of the things she used to use in her classroom. She showed Gracie how to play a pie fraction game. And then she got out this old cassette tape called Chicken Fat. She was surprised I'd never heard of it before. Have YOU heard of it? She played it & the girls, Kenton, his mom & I all followed along with the tape & did some exercising. I loved it! She said I could borrow it and make a copy but I wasn't sure how I could get it from cassette tape to my computer, so I told her I'd just find a digital copy online.

I think a lot of homeschoolers miss out on P.E. One reason we joined the homeschool co-op the children attend is because of the P.E. classes they offer. But still, once a week is not enough, so I'm always on the lookout for DVD's or other things to get these children moving (and there are plenty of days that they don't need any nudging to MOVE). Once it starts getting dark earlier and the rains begin, I start trying to find ways to keep my children active (in a productive way). This dark and dreary day made me remember the Chicken Fat song from a few weeks ago & I've been searching for a copy online.

I found it and even more interesting, I found out that this song was distributed to classrooms in the '60's as an effort by JFK to help school children become more physically fit! Somehow, I'd like to work this into our routine. It's short & sweet and will get your blood pumping! Click below to listen to it.

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

You can download this song HERE. (right click on the link & choose "save link as" or "save target as", depending on your browser)

And here is a YouTube video of older children exercising to this song:

And lastly, here are the lyrics:

Lyrics to "Chicken Fat," also known as "The Youth Fitness Song"

Touch down
Every morning
Ten times!
Not just
Now and then.
Give that chicken fat
Back to the chicken,
And don't be chicken again.
No, don't be chicken again.

Push up
Every morning
Ten times.
Push up
Starting low.
Once more on the rise.
Nuts to the flabby guys!
Go, you chicken fat, go away!
Go, you chicken fat, go!

Good morning!
Hands on hips, place!
Now then, touch your toes with me. Ready!

Touch down (up)
Every morning (down)
Ten times!
(Up) Not just (d-) [he mistakenly starts to say "down" here]
(Four!) Now and then (up)
(Five!) Give that (up) chicken fat
(Six!) Back to the (up) chicken and
(Seven!) Don't be (up) chicken (Eight!) again
(up) No, (Nine!) don't be (up) chicken again. (Ten...halt!)

Hit the dirt! Hit!
Push ups next,
Nice and steady.
Not too fast.
Ready!

Push up (down)
Every morning (up)
Ten times!
Push up,
Starting low.
(Down! That's five.) Once more (down) on the rise
(Six!) Nuts to the (down) flabby guys.
Go, you chicken fat, go away (down).
(Nine) Go, you (down) chicken fat, go!
Ten, and halt!

Now, struggle up to your feet!
Strug...(Struggle!)
March in place, march!

Left! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
Was it right, right that it should be left?
Yes, I left! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
It was right (left), right (left) that it should be left!

And halt! One, two.
Next, sittups.
Everybody's favorite, so on your back, drop.
All right girls, you're in this too.
Arms over head, flop!
C'mon girls, now!
Sit up!

Sit up (down)
Every morning (up)
Ten times
Sit up (down)
(Up) On your seat. (down)
(Five) Swing that rusty gate.
(Six) Don't drop the tempo, mate.
(Seven) Can't win draggin' your feet.
(Eight) No, (nine) can't win draggin' your feet.
Ten, and halt!

Now on your feet, up!
Everybody, hands on hips, place.
Twist your trunk to the left, ready!

Twist left, front,
Now the right side,
Ten times!
Twist left, front
(Right) Grunting low (front)
Grunt!
(Ungh!) Louder!
(Ungh!) Front, now!
Left and front and everybody sing!
Go, you chicken fat, go!

And, halt.
Fingers back of your neck, lace.
Right foot forward, place.
The pogo spring, landing on alternate feet.
Ready!

Spring left,
Spring right,
Higher!
Higher!
Up, down,
Up, down,
Higher!
Higher!
Wait, not too high!
Up, down,
Up, down,
Up, down,
Halt!

Drop your hands to the side, feet together, place.
Overhead, clap, and jump to stride.
Known as the jumping jack far and wide.
All right, are you ready? Ready!

Jump, two! Clap, Two!
Clap, two! Clap, slap!
Clap, slap! Clap, slap!
Jump, two! Jump, two!
Jump, it's good for you.
Three more is all we do.
Jump, two!
And...halt and sing!
Go, you chicken fat, go!

March in place,
March! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
Was it right, right that it should be left?
Oh, I left! Left! Left! Left!
Left a good pound and a quarter.
It was right (left), right (left) and halt.
One, two.

Palms up, arms to the side, raise!
Next we're gonna do backwards circles,
Ready? Ready!

Circle round, round, round,
Back and around, back and around.
Back and around, back and around.
And back and around, and reverse.
And around, Front and around.
Front and around, front and around.
Front and around, and halt.

Arms to the side, place.
On your back, drop.
And now, raise your legs in the air, raise!
It's the bicycle ride!

And, pump, pump, pump, pump,
Pump, pump, pump, pump,
Pump, pump, pump, pump,
Pump, pump, and...
Halt.
On your feet, up
Quickly, quickly, next
Inhale, arms sweep up inward,
Exhale, arms out and down.
(Inhale, arms sweep up inward,
Exhale, outward, down.)
Ready!

Inhale, slow
Every morning
Exhale, clear down.
Inhale, take the air!
Down and around and inhale.
Grab that oxygen,
Exhale and try again!
You're not getting your share.
(Clear down) No, (inhale) you're not getting your share!
On the down, halt!

The tortoise and the hare next.
First the tortoise.
Bend the elbow, and run in place.
Ready? Ready!

Running, (two)
(Run)
Like a tortoise,
(Okay)
Too far, and too slow.
Now double up, ready!
(Running)
Run two three four,
(Like a hare)
Run two three four,
(Now you are)
Run two three four,
(Getting there)
Run two three four,
Go you
(Run two three four)
Chicken fat,
(Run two three four)
(Go away!)
Everybody sing!
Go, you chicken fat, go!
Go!
Go!
Dismissed!

Now get those kiddies MOVING! :) Enjoy!

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Comments

Nov. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Haflingerhorses

Hi Alyssa
It is true, indeed, that you are blessed with having a mom in law that is supportive of your homeschooling, although she has been so involved in the public school. A good relationship with a mother in law is always a wonderful and blessed thing!

Great idea that you shared with us here. I'm going to pass it on to someone that recently was asking for ideas on this very subject.

We've been riding horses a lot around here. It used to be just a Rachel and mom thing, but now the entire family has jumped in (on). You wouldn't believe how good a work out you can get just by riding a horse!

I think, too, though, that just by turning the t.v. off, kids will be kids and will start running around doing stuff if we just send them outside to play. If allowed to watch t.v. I think they will be unactive. It's a natural.

Good for you getting your kids exercising and having fun at the same time. Your kids are blessed with a loving and wise mom.
Antoinette

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Nov. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by henryteachers

I loved this Alyssa. I'm always feeling like my kids don't get enough exercise and this would be perfect and fun for them. Though I'm not in the condition to do it with them so I may need to wait until after the baby to get them to learn it. Hmmm.

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Nov. 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by 40winkzzz

Um, OK, *that* was interesting! I clicked on my /friends page and immediately this LOUD MUSIC starts blasting and then some guy is singing something about chicken fat and I'm frantically scrolling down trying to find where the heck it is coming from... Whew!

I will have to download it and haul it out on one of those rainy, cold days when I can't send the kids out for their daily exercise on the trampoline. They will probably think it is hilarious. Someone needs to make this into an exercise DVD with animated characters (including chickens, of course).

Now that I think about that, it seems like something you'd see on a Foghorn Leghorn cartoon...

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Nov. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by denisebp

Okay, this will illustrated just how old I am, but YES, I remember Chicken Fat! I can still remember all of the words, too! (And this from someone who can't even remember her Zip Code most days!) I think my kids would love this! I can't wait to let them hear it.

Your MIL sounds awesome! :)

Love,
Denise

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Nov. 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Amy Beth

What an awesome MIL you have!

I've never heard of Chicken Fat. What a hoot! (is that the same thing as Jiggle Fat?) I can't wait to show this to my kids. We will have to implement this into our day.

There is another song that we like to dance to here for exercise. I can't think of the name of it off hand. I will have to post it . I think I will share this song on my blog, too.!

Blessings,
Amy Beth
blog.mysmokymtnhomeschool.com

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Nov. 3, 2008 - How you say

Posted by thornfaith

So how do you stay so thin "chicken fat"

ROFLOL I loved the name of the workout game!

Faith

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Nov. 5, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mojmommy

I love it!!!!!!!! This is one area I am not happy about in our everyday homeschool day. I have down loaded it and bye bye chicken fat, hehe.
Be blessed,
CHasity

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About Me

Hi and welcome to my crazy busy world! I'm Alyssa (pronounced A-lee-sa). Hubby & I have been married for 15 years and we have 6 wonderful children! Their ages are 11, 8, 7, 5 , 3 and our newest little blessing was born on the Fourth of July ('08)! Spend any amount of time here and I'm sure you'll quickly learn that I love photography! You'll find quite a mix of posts here- lots of photo blogging, some photography tips and tutorials, posts about home schooling and posts that will give you a glimpse to the goings-on in our lives. I hope you enjoy your visit! Thanks for stopping by!