Equipment: Selection and Purchase

Know What You Need Review your curriculum. Understand your students. Inventory your equipment. Scope and Sequence = Your Curriculum

Vendors and School Resources Make sure your selected vendor is School Board approved. Establish a relationship with the vendor – it might result in “preferred” customer rates. Check to see if the district has a warehouse with equipment you could use. Check with other schools in your district to see if they have equipment they aren’t using any longer.

Variety and Flexibility Pick equipment that you can use for a variety of situations. For example, if you purchase playground balls, you can use that to teach a variety of skills from striking to kicking. This will keep your cost down and flexibility up.

Storage and Organization As you purchase equipment, remember you will need ways to store and carry it around. Be sure to purchase storage bins, racks, mesh bags, push carts. Consider that your equipment can help you with your class organization. Use different colors to organize groups.

Size/Age Appropriateness Make sure to purchase items in different sizes and targeted for different ages. Evaluate your need for oversized equipment such as earth balls, large beach balls, etc. You may find them good for alternative activities such as team challenges.

Adapted Physical Education Needs We must meet individual learner needs. Consider purchasing equipment for adapted P.E. purposes. This might include T-ball T’s to strike a ball. You can use it in all classes.

Quality – Don’t Waste $ Sometimes an investment pays off – don’t be afraid to buy quality and have it last. For example, no kink hula hoops will last longer with less bend and gator skin balls are going to be tougher and hold up longer than foam balls.

Safety is #1 Choose equipment that will maximize safety. Think about softer material like gator balls versus leather ones or mats to cover hard surfaces.

How Much Do I Need? Try to have a piece of equipment for each student. Order a few extra to have when something breaks.

Integrate Consider equipment with character statements and use to integrate with other subject areas.

Creativity – Thinking Outside the Box Throwing –beanbags, scarves, rubber chickens, or frogs Cooperative – several mini-parachutes rather than a single large one Location/Direction – directional arrows to mark pathways Visual cues - Hand placement markers on equipment

FLAGHOUSE Medium - Weighted 15" Cones Super Set (includes 24 cones and mesh carrying bag) $90.00 ****Buying in bulk might save you $$$$$$$$$

KEEPERS™ Spot Marker Set 48 in four colors $ ****Remember shipping

VS FLAGHOUSE Active Series Rubber Basketball Set - #5 Special = mesh bags $ Rubber Active Series Basketball #5 Price: $7.95 $8 balls x 24 = 192 $4 bags x 5 = 20 ($212.00) Sets will often go on sale for a large savings

AAI 2 1/2" - Thick Mats - 2 Sided H & L - 4' x 8' $ Imagine that you could use this with 4 students – you have 30 students in your class – you would need 7 or 8 of these – 8 x $365 = $

Grants or Other Funding Avenues Look for grant funding by visiting websites like these: eHow Grant Wrangler

Grants or Other Funding Avenues Administration (check out the large equipment budget) PTA/PTO Professional Organizations – New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance – U.S. Lacrosse U.S. Lacrosse – U. S. Tennis Association – school clinics