Mother Goose
Olympics


Kindergarten-Primary and First Grade Classes
Work Together to Create Olympic Activities for Students
Ala Mother Goose

Feature by Brenda Donley, First Grade Teacher
Mecosta Elementary, Michigan

This year, the kindergarten, primary and first grade classes at Mecosta Elementary, participated in the Mother Goose Olympics. Rooms and halls were decorated according to the theme. The students participated in fun and enriching activities.

One of the favorite activities was the Diddle Diddle Dumpling relay race.


The kids just had the most fun just putting on and taking off the socks and running in between!. 4 teams lined up behind their leader on the tape.

On "Go" the first kids ran down to where each of 4 pairs of socks lay-1 pair in front of each team at the other end of the room.

Each student sat down, put on the socks (over their own socks), ran back to where their team was waiting in line, sat down on the tape, took off the socks and handed them to the next team member who then put the socks on, ran down, took socks off, then ran back to tag the next team member, etc.....

This proceeded as described with each player either putting the socks on at the tape mark and taking them off at the other end of the room OR running to the other end of the room, putting the socks on then running back (to where the team was waiting) and taking the socks off to hand to the next team mate. The kids had so much fun just going through the process of putting on and taking off the socks that little attention was paid to the "winner" (which was ok by me!).

The students marched with the Olympic Torch at the opening of the Mother Goose Olympics and of course all of the students in the first grade received a medal, at the closing; a medal which they will treasure for years to come.

I'm hoping that this Web site will encourage our young people to embrace running, stay healthy and be the best they can be.

Please visit Brenda Donley's page at http://chhs.chippewa-hills.k12.mi.us to read ALL about how the teachers at Mecosta Elementary worked together to build the Mother Goose Olympics.

Please email carol.kids@rodale.com with comments on this article.

If the impetus started by Runner's World continues, 2000-2001 may very well be known as the 'Year of School Running Programs'.

Thank you Brenda Donley for sharing the Mother Goose Oympics with KidsRunning.Com