Greg Thompson teaches PE at Longacre Elementary School in Michigan, USA and builds all his work around movement efficiency. He uses the 5in5 in the PE lessons as a basis for classroom teachers to use them as ‘movement breaks’ inside the classroom. By teaching the foundation movements as a series of ‘movement puzzles’ each student is able to work at their own unique level of development. This style of teaching, along with Greg’s immense passion and commitment to the journey his students must take, is reflected in the number of students who take the puzzles home for ‘homework’. By creating this wide and deep ‘movement vocabulary’ Greg is able to progress his students in locomotor, non-locomotor and manipulative skills at an appropriate rate. He is also in a position to set challenges and standards in a range of ‘physical’ actions that has led to this ‘Wall-of-Fame’. By involving parents in the challenge he was able to open up the home as an additional center for progression. Greg has created an environment where PE is not seen solely as a competitive games based process. He has created a journey that starts with movement (mechanical) efficiency that creates the foundation movements; weaves these into locomotor, non-locomotor and manipulative movement development; and finally expresses this physical literacy into a range of games and relays. Add to this the ‘movement breaks’ in the classroom environment and there is every chance that these young people will grow with a healthy appreciation of being ‘physical’ and succeeding. Their next steps into competitive games (should they choose to explore this) will see them mechanically efficient in all planes, directions and joints which will serve them well as they acquire the sports-specific actions, postures and skills. What a great journey!










