A Sporty Entry Point!
Gabrielle M. Hadipraja
It was 1-0, the Year sevens were speeding around the humongous
gymnasium. Everybody was keeping an eye on the small soccer ball.
Though the way they move the ball was not like football at all. Instead
of kicking the ball on the ground, the students were trying their best to
keep the soccer ball up in the air. With their arms but no hands, they
steadily threw it up in the air. So what are they doing and what for
exactly? Well, first this Entry Point was for their next unit, through the
ancient game of Cuju.
Cuju is an old Chinese sport. In the past, this sport was not for
entertainment but it was for military training. It was a practice for
fighting against their enemies, until the Song dynasty, when the
Emperor Taizu of Song, played the sport in his palace and so the news
of this game started spreading. Then it became popular, so people
would be playing it in the special events. Most of all the games were
originated from this sport.
The students were very curious; since there was a break, they had a
lot of time to think about it. When they came back, they all had
hilarious answers. Unfortunately they were all incorrect. Then Ms
Maggie, their teacher, revealed the answer. And it is of
course…Tradition!
“It was really shocking! I expected it to be about teamwork!”
exclaimed Stephanie Lay, a Year 7 student. Although it was surprising,
a student named Arlyn Buntaram commented, ”It was very fun
because it involves sports. And I like sports!” As Arlyn mentioned it is
sporty, Ms. Maggie’s response was, “This would of course relate to the
sport! It is because the sport is from the past and thanks to this sport
we have football, basketball and many more sports’ activities!”
The big idea is: ‘Beliefs and customs from the past has a powerful
impact on our lives today,’
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