Play Ball

The theme between both sixth grade classrooms is baseball, representing both Chicago teams. This theme is incorporated throughout the year assisting in our behavior management system, All-Star Break Fridays, a World Series for review, and our favorite, the beginning of the year baseball game. Last week, the two sixth grade classes put on their favorite baseball attire and played ball with a celebrity pitcher on the mound for each team.  

The students, excited and energetic, ran to the field and lined up either to bat or play the field. Each student had a role on the team and it was necessary for cohesive teamwork to enable a well-run game. The students, when in the field, used communication to direct the student who had received the ball on where to throw it next. On the other hand, the students who were at bat were extremely supportive. If you have never played baseball or softball before it is nerve wracking being the center of attention while you are up to bat. The students however, cheered for their peer at bat whether they were in the field or on the batting team. This relieved anxiety and increased team pride.

At the beginning of the game, we told the students that we would not be keeping track of the score with the fear it would end in one team winning drastically. To our pleasant surprise, the teams were matched very fairly and the talent was unbelievable. The game ended in a 6-6 tie with both teams feeling a sense of pride. The teams lined up at the end of the game and shook hands, praising one another on their performance of the game. This was such a fun team building activity to start the beginning of the year!