superbowl

"last night i watched the greatest football movie ever...it was called the superbowl"...this was the beginning of our superbowl discussion on monday. i didn't plan on having a 'superbowl discussion' with my students, but on a monday i usually get an earful of what they did over the weekend. (so i wasn't surprised it was the topic of choice) another child piped in and said, "i don't know what the superbowl is...but i do know we went to a party and ate lots of food and all the adults were screaming at the TV." 

i've found that a child's spin on things that adults deem important is usually funny. also, the way kids interpret these rituals may be way different than we think they do. for instance, when i was a kid i knew if my dad said, "i'm going to watch the game (on tv)" (didn't matter what type of game...basketball, football, soccer) it really meant that in about a half an hour he'd be snoring on the couch and we better leave him the hell alone. also, if we dared to change the channel, he'd wake up annoyed from his deep slumber (somehow) and tell us to put the game back on immediately before he kicked our asses. 

after a few students shared about their superbowl sunday, i thought it would be fun to ask them some questions about the game. the first thing i asked was if they knew who played, "the Giants and the Pear Trees" was one answer. i added, why do you think they are called the Giants? one child said, "umm...because they are gigantic?" (logical, at least) another said, "because they like to shop at Giant supermarket?" (funny!) i also asked them how many points a team gets if they score a touchdown..."52!" was my favorite answer. since so many kids were so interested in this topic...as a follow up today, i had them draw picture about the superbowl.

Giants vs. Pear Trees

check out the guy in the picture who doesn't have the ball, is facing the wrong way, and is not even looking at the play...he's white. coincidence? i think not. maybe children are more observant than we give them credit for...eh?

"When in doubt, punt!" -John Heisman