Tuesday, November 15, 2011

3rd and 4th Grade Soccer



Many classes at Palouse Prairie School are now playing soccer.  As we get to the park each team will warm up and demonstrate proper passing technique, that is to say, passing with the side of one's foot rather than the tip of one's foot.  Following the warm up period we start two games.  The benefit of having two smaller games as opposed to one large game is that team sizes are much smaller, meaning that each player interacts with the ball more frequently.  While we have only been playing soccer a few days we are already seeing great growth from each crew member!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Legend of the Stacker

Stacker and Sentinels defending the pins

Legendary Stacker: John Wallace

Terminators on the look out for an unsuspecting Stacker
Legendary Stacker: David Jessup
For the past few weeks grades 1-4 have been playing a game called 'Legend of the Stacker.'  Legend of the Stacker is an exciting game involving the principles of bowling, chess, dodgeball, and soccer.  Each team has one Stacker, several Sentinels, and several Terminators.  A Stacker's job is to stack pins that have been knocked over, while at the same time evading incoming dodgeballs.  Stackers can only move side to side and must stay behind a dotted line at the back of the court.  If a Stacker is hit with a dodgeball, they are out of the game.  The Stacker is the only position vulnerable to dodgeballs. Sentinels guard the pins and the Stacker, but they can't use their arms or hands (soccer rules).  Like the Stacker, they can only move side to side (but in front of the dots).  Terminators can move anywhere they want and can use their arms and hands.  Terminators throw dodgeballs to get the Stacker out, and roll tennis balls to try and knock over the opposing team's pins.  It is very rare, but sometimes a Stacker will stay in the entire game, evading countless dodgeballs.  If a Stacker survives to the end of a game, AND his/her team wins (knocks over all of the opposing pins), that Stacker becomes a "Legendary Stacker."  Though many have tried, very few have obtained this noble title.  If a Stacker becomes a legend, they get their picture taken and are placed on the 'Legendary Stacker' poster on the gym wall.