Seeing an extended row of forty middle schoolers with bows and arrows in hand might make you want to head in the opposite direction but in Ms. Highshoe and Mr. Timothy’s Grade 9 Physical Education Class at Emerson Junior High School, these students really ‘hit the target.’ If you were to observe these 9th graders several weeks into their Archery Unit, you would be impressed with their marksmanship but what precedes this demonstration of skill is just as important as students acquire unique Communication skills and hone their Adaptability & Resilience to ensure a safe and productive archery experience. 

Students eagerly await this unit starting all the way back in seventh grade but before a single student touches an arrow, Mr. Timothy and Ms. Highshoe conduct a week-long safety and preparation course that culminates with a test and contract to ensure that students understand the roles and responsibilities they must be accountable for to themselves and to each other. Students learn the awareness to only aim a knocked arrow in the direction of a target. They learn specific whistle commands that instruct them when to load, when to fire, and when to retrieve their arrows. They even learn the ‘whistle blast’ that instructs them to immediately drop their implements due to a safety concern. Through their active listening and clear understanding of the purpose of this communication, students learn how this unique style of communication is essential to a safe environment. Students learn to understand and adapt to different roles while working as an individual, a partner, and within the whole group to protect themselves and each other.

By the end of this experience, students have learned technical skills and how to improve accuracy, which results in some fun competition, but underlying each successful shot and squeal of delight are important lessons on communication and adaptability & resilience that these ninth graders can carry forward as community members.


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"We get buy-in from 100% students because it is a privilege. Students want to prove that they know the seriousness of the activity and the responsibilities that go along with participating in this unit. Students are eager to help each other out and follow the instructions and do things safely because they want to get back to shooting."

- Mr. Timothy, PE Teacher

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"We want our students to understand that this is a privilege that is for our 9th grade students, and they have to demonstrate they are ready for the responsibility. Understanding the commands and responsibilities carries over into other units such as our golf unit."

- Ms. Highshoe, PE Teacher

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"It’s a really fun unit but we have to pass a test for knowing the procedures. We learn to follow the whistle commands, so we don’t hurt anyone."

- Isaac

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"It’s super fun because it’s something most of us have never done before. We all have to learn the safety requirements, like where to point the arrow and to never go on the range while shooting."

-Cooper

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"It’s so important that we don’t accidentally hurt anyone. We have to individually track our materials and we have to track each other’s actions as a group. If we do that, it’s really fun."

-Serena


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