Although Team USA did not emerge victorious at the World Cup, Fairmount Elementary students kept the excitement going with their first-ever World Cup Day on December 5.
Enthusiasm was the name of the game during the school-wide celebration of soccer’s World Cup, which is underway in Qatar. Each grade level chose a country participating in the World Cup to support. Students were dressed in their country’s colors and entered the assembly amidst cheers with flags and other items representing the spirit of their chosen nation.
The assembly featured a hard-fought students versus staff soccer game, which ended in a 1-1 tie. The halftime show featured more friendly competition and clues about the upcoming “Anything Can Happen Day,” a surprise trip in May for students who meet their reading goals.
To prepare for World Cup Day, students learned about their country and the impact of soccer on its population. In addition to the country’s culture, they also learned about the country’s soccer team and how many times the team has appeared in the World Cup. Students created projects during each related arts class. For example, students created a trophy during art class inspired by Lafleur’s World Cup Trophy. During library class, they studied geography and utilized an atlas to locate each of the countries.
“We wanted to create an event that challenged our students to learn about cultures other than their own and about a sport that is bringing the world together,” said Kelli Campbell, Fairmount principal. “In addition, they are exploring aspects of the competition that link to their grade-level standards and expand their learning through a fun and exciting event.”