In honor of the 2018 Winter Olympics, Munsey Park Elementary School in the Manhasset School District held a two-month celebration for students, teaching them about the Winter Games and engaging them in Olympic-style activities during their physical education classes.
Students were divided into four teams representing the countries of the United States, South Korea, Austria and Switzerland. In the spirit of the opening ceremony, the event kicked off with a torch relay race. Younger students ran around cones and passed the baton to teammates, while those in grades 3-6 made the race a little more interactive by tagging their competitors to earn a point for their country.
Among the festivities, students tried their hand at speed skating, using SQAIR mats as skates to travel across the gym. They also enjoyed curling, bob sledding, hockey, cross-country skiing and biathlon.
At the end of every gym class, students answered trivia questions about the Olympics, including current standings and gold medal recipients, and which sports are played in the Winter Games. Physical education teachers tallied the points during each class and added them to the respective countries.
The celebratory games not only taught students about the traditions of this global event, but also reinforced the concepts of teamwork and sportsmanship.
