I remember when I was in Elementary School that we had Track and Field day. It was a huge event and there were many relays and games that we got to choose which to participate in. Now when we had Field Day here, it was chaotic and depressing. The primary teachers, myself included, planned a few stations where students in preK through 2nd grade could compete for tickets anduse those tickets to redeem prizes. It started off with just two stations open andended up with just me running the jump rope contest. The kids were so into it that I had to add hula hoops so more kids could play. Eventually the older kids started coming up to ask if they could play due to the fact that the upper grades had no planned activities, just a day of being outside. I allowed the older students to play but could not give them tickets for prizes. We then had a one hour time slot to allow the k-3rd graders into the bounce house, followed by being forced to stay outside in the intermittent rain and a clown whom only a few younger students wanted to see.
Of course this whole day was ended with dancing to a DJ’smixed rap songs with the bad words bleeped out, but even with that you could look at almost any student and see them mouthing the words! Then two different groups of 5th and 6th grade girls proceeded to do dance routines. Now, they were doing them to music inappropriate for their age and with dance moves that I can’t believe no adult objected to! Even the 5 year old daughter of a teacher jumped in andstarted shaking her stuff with surprising quality comparable to the older girls.
To end this unusual day of events, the 6th grader who just gave birth to a baby girl 3 or 4 days previous showed up with daughter in tow. It was so dusty and windy and she had the baby open and exposed that a teacher had to go over and show her the proper way to hold, shield, and protect her baby!
