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Afternoon kindergarten is having a field
day, and Junie B. Jones is team captain! Only, here's the
problem. Room Eight keeps on winning too many events. And
so how will Room Nine ever become the kindergarten champions?
As Captain Field Day, will Junie B. find a way to lead her
team to victory? Or will it be up to someone else to save
the day?
In this guide, a science lesson is used
to focus on physical characteristics of students’ family
members to help them understand genes and heredity.
"I would have loved having Field
Day when I was in elementary school
All that exercise!
All that team spirit!
And best of all-NO TESTS!
Luckily, both of my sons did have
school Field Days. Each spring, my husband and I looked
forward to going down to the playground and cheering
them on. Of course, like most parents, we spent lots
of time trying to convince them that it didn't matter
who won or lost. 'The fun of sports is in the competition,'
we insisted.
They didn't buy it.
Neither does Room Nine.
Okay, fine. Maybe losing isn't 'joyful.'
But as Junie B. and her class discover, even when things
look their gloomiest, life can still deliver some happy
little surprises."
© 2001 by Barbara Park. |
Pre-Reading Activities
According to Junie B. in Junie B. Jones Is Captain Field Day, "losing does not feel joyful." Start a classroom discussion about friendly competition. Ask your students how it feels to win and to lose in events such as little league games, spelling bees, and field events. Write the phrase "it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game" on the board. Ask the students what they think this popular phrase means.
 Field Day Goes International!
The relay racing and tug-of-war games in Junie B.'s Field Day are traditional in Field Day competitions throughout America. But what would Field Day be like in Ethiopia? Brazil? Using resources such as The Multicultural Game Book or Children's Traditional Games, give Field Day a whole new dimension by introducing kids to games and activities from around the world. Organize an International Field Day in which teams play games such as Catching Stars (Zaire), Coyote and Sheep (Mexico), and many others in their program of events.
 Printable
Activities
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