Field Day: Sometimes It Bites

Yesterday was the annual field day at Brook Avenue. We planned it (Actually, Coach W planned it), we went, and it was a rousing success. At times we didn't listen. But we all tossed, we ran, we tugged, and we threw. Up to the end we all had fun. But that's okay. It was field day.

I sometimes wonder if my kindergarten students get together each morning and decide on what they are going to ask me about or what type of malady they will have on that particular day. For example, I may have one student come and tell me that they have a cut or whatever. Instead of sending them to the nurse or office, often times I will tend to the matter myself. Then I have a steady parade of students with the same ailment or malady. By the time run out of band-aids, and patience, the epidemic is over.

In the past I have had many ailments presented to me. I have seen cuts, scrapes, and burns. I have been asked to tend to toothaches, headaches, and tummy aches. There have been real injuries and imagined injuries. Some students have the same complaint at the same time each day. Many times after sending a student to the office or nurse I get a note telling me their temperature or explaining that they cannot treat that particular ailment. I often end up telling the next student, "I'm sorry, the office can't help with that!"

Yesterday, I had a first for me. I had three students come to me on three separate occasions during the field day activities. They came to me and told me a variation of , "Mr. Horst, I have a mosquito bite on my behind and it hurts." I looked at them, paused and thought, then said "I'm sorry. I can't do anything about it and neither can the school." They weren't happy but time seems to heal all wounds and they soon forgot about it and started having fun once again.

© 2008 Barry T Horst


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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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FIELD DAY-If You Plan It, They Will Come

Today is our annual Field Day at school. The theme of this years field day is The Olympics. All of our activities have an international flair. For example, we will have Ireland’s Potato Race, Greece’s Torch Relay Race, and China’s Dragon Race. Those activities sound pretty straightforward and actually make sense.

BUT,--------Is it just me? What is it with Portugal’s Popcorn Machine? I thought popcorn was given to the world by Native Americans, not Portugal. Perhaps it has to do with Chapter 5 of the report, "Savory Snacks in Portugal to 2010".

Then there's Italy’s Balloon Toss. Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the French the first in the balloon category. I know the event is using latex balloons and not hot air balloons. But the first rubber balloons were made by Faraday for use in his experiments with hydrogen. There is more information on balloon history at Balloon HQ. I never saw a mention of Italy. Although I suppose they could have introduced the use of animal bladders and entrails as balloons in antiquity.

Finally, there's Australia’s Marble
Grab. Australia has got some marbles. they haven't lost them yet. (Sorry! I couldn't resist.) Their marbles are actually named Devils Marbles and they are huge. I'm sorry but my babies aren't going to be able to grab them anytime soon. Check out these pictures of them at Australia Marbles.

Forecast for today is HOT and HUMID, high around 92. There was a slight chance of rain but now I think that has passed. Regardless of the weather, fun will be had by one and all. After all, we will be outside running and playing and getting wet tossing all of those Italian water balloons. Maybe they will be filled with Perrier water as a concession to the French who kindly gave the world the hot air balloon.

© 2008 Barry T Horst


This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Please visit the Giveaway of the Day near the bottom of the left sidebar for free software downloads daily.