Notes of Lessons: Drill, Class IV

Notes of Lessons: Drill, Class IV

[We have thought that it might be of use to our readers (in their own families) to publish from month to month during the current year, Notes of Lessons prepared by students of the House of Education for the pupils of the Practising School. We should like to say, however, that such a Lesson is never given as a tour de force, but is always an illustration or an expansion of some part of the children’s regular studies (in the Parents’ Review School), some passage in one or other of their school books.—Ed.]

Subject: Clubs • Group: DrillClass IVTime: 20 minutes

By C. A. Fraser
The Parents’ Review, 1904, pp. 227-228

Objects

I. To increase the girls’ interest in drill by teaching them a new kind.

II. To train the girls in accuracy of movement and prompt obedience to the word of command.

III. To teach the girls to keep perfect time with the music.

IV. To teach the girls self-reliance.

V. To teach them club exercises.

Lesson

Step I.—Ask the girls what the use of club-drill is? It strengthens the muscles of the arm and wrist and makes the wrist more supple. It teaches us to use our arms freely while the rest of the body remains still. Also club-drill helps us to hold our heads erect, presses back our shoulders and develops our chests.

Step II.—See that the girls are standing properly—feet firmly planted on the ground, heels together, head erect and shoulders well thrown back. Show the girls how the club is held, by placing it in the hollow of the thumb and first finger. Tell the girls that there are two turns in club-drill—the outer turn, which consists in dropping the club away from you, and the inner turn, which consists in dropping the club towards you. Show both the turns, taking care that the girls are sure which is the outer and which is the inner turn. Let the girls practise the turns. When the turns are mastered go on to the first exercise.

Exercise I. Movement 1.—Begin with clubs on the shoulders. Extend clubs forward on a line with the shoulders. Movement 2.—Extend clubs to the sides on a line with the shoulders. Movement 3.—Make the outer turns, keeping the arms stiff. Movement 4.—Drop the clubs noiselessly to the sides.

Do Exercise I. very slowly two or three times, counting aloud distinctly. Then let the girls do it slowly while the teacher counts aloud. Then take this exercise with music, first telling the girls that one bar of music goes to each movement.

Before going on to the next exercise make the girls take three deep breaths by placing the hands on the hips, shutting the mouth and breathing through the nose. Fill the lungs. Let the breath go slowly through the mouth. Give this breathing exercise after each exercise.

Exercise II. Movement 1.—Make the outer turn—with right arm bent from the elbow—behind the head. Movement 2.—Extend the arm outwards on a line with the shoulder and swing across the chest. Do the same with the left arm.

Exercise III. Movement 1.—Make the inner turn—with the right arm bent from the elbow—behind the head. Movement 2.—Extend the arm outwards on a line with the shoulder and swing it across the chest. Do the same with the left arm.

These exercises are to be taken in the same way as Exercise I. While the exercises are being done, see that the girls continue to stand well with heels together, and prevent as much as possible unnecessary swinging of the body. If the girls find great difficulty in doing the turns, let them do the exercises without the turns and merely dropping the clubs from the wrist.

Step III.—Take all the exercises together with music, letting the girls do them entirely alone.