End 'O Year

5th Grade Field Trip

School is Out for Summer.

Pictures from 4 v. 4 Festival

Rules for Games on Saturday, May 23, 2009.

In this format a number of players rotate through different teams in a series of short games. Each player is awarded points based on the result of his team's game. These points are added together so that at the end of the tournament one player, unless there is a tie, will emerge as the winner.

This system keeps the games competitive. The children are playing to win and one or two losses aren't catastrophic. The coach can monitor the scores and adjust the teams so that players can't easily run away with the tournament or get buried.

Rules.
*Time. 10 to 12 minute games.
*Numbers. 4v4, or if numbers allow one group plays 3v3 or 5v5.
*Scoring. Each player on a winning team gets 10 points and 1 point for each goal scored by the team. The losing players each get 1 point for every goal scored by the team. In a tie every player gets 5 points plus 1 point for each goal scored by his team.
*Since this is a competition it is recommended that all teams play the "same game" although it doe not have to be the basic game.
*Touchline Restarts are a kick or dribble in from the point where the ball went out.
* Goal line Restarts are corner or goal.
* All penalties are indirect.

Organization.
*Set out enough fields for the number of players. Label each goal. In the example below two fields are set up for 16 players. The goals are labeled A, B, C and D.
*The coach tells each player which goal to report to. The teams organize themselves there.
*Scrimmage vests and balls are available at the fields. Players can leave the vests at a goal at the end of each game.
*Players referee themselves.
*On a signal from the coach all of the games begin. The games end on another signal. The coach's job is to be a time and record keeper.
*The players report their results to the coach who records them, (see example), and the coach tells them which goal to report to next. The sequence repeats until all of the games are done and the winner is determined.

Coaching. The coach should refrain from offering too much advice. It's up to the children to organize themselves, deal with the soccer problems they encounter and to take responsibility for their play. The major advantage of this method can be seen after the children have played it a few times and know what to expect. They will have to assume responsibility for their own teams and performance.

Eat Your Oats!

The Quakers were one of the first religious groups to settle in America. They came here to escape punishment in England for their religious beliefs. William Penn, a Quaker, founded the colony of Pennsylvania so people of many religions could worship without being prosecuted. The Quakers made an impact in Colonial America and continue to practice their religion today.
A theologian named George Fox founded this religion in 1647 and called it the Society of Friends. While many thought that the Bible was how God spoke to men, George Fox thought that God was inside of every person. George Fox once told a judge “to tremble at the word of the Lord.” The judge called Fox a Quaker. Enemies first used the word “Quakers” as a term of abuse, but the Quakers soon used it to describe themselves. Quakers did not wear colors, all their clothing was black or white. They wore hats, to cover their heads from the sight of God. They rejected war and stressed peace and education.
The Quakers effected the world around them in many ways. They helped stop wars and they also helped make America a county where you can practice your religion freely. They were the first group to oppose slaveholding. The Quakers thought that all men were equal and no man could own a slave. They also renounced violence.
If there were never any Quakers then Americans might still have to belong to the official Church of England and we might not have all the religious rights we have now. The Quakers, or the Society of Friends, still are an influential religion in the USA. In 1947 Quakerism was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Both of President Obama's daughters, Sasha and Malia, currently attend a Quaker school, Sidwell Friends.
Slavery was abolished in the United States, in part, because the Quakers taught that it was evil. The principal of non-violence that is a basic part of the Quaker religion has spread throughout the world. Quakerism is now a major religion all over the world.

Robert
Freedom Seven Elementary
School of International Studies
May 17, 2009

Baloba Celebrates finding the Pacific Ocean!

Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a conquistador who discovered the Pacific Ocean and was governor of Panama for a short time. He had a very adventurous life; he went from hiding in a barrel to leading a group of soldiers to riches beyond imagination. He founded cities and settled Panama.
Little is know about Balboa’s childhood, he was one of four bothers born to a nobleman in southwestern Spain. In 1501 Balboa crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of treasure. He explored the southeastern coast of South America and made a lot of money. He took his earning and moved to the island of Hispaniola where he settled and, for five years tried to farm and raise pigs. His farm was not a success and Balboa lost his money. In 1509 he sneaked on a ship to escape his debts. Balboa stowed away, hidden in barrel with his dog, Leoncico. The ship was headed to San Sebastian to aid Alonso de Ojeda. Before the ship reached San Sebastian Balboa was discovered. The captain threatened to maroon Balboa on a desert island, but the crew became friends with him and his life was spared. When the ship landed they found survivors from a massacre. With Balboa’s knowledge and leadership the survivors were able to make it to safety. After he lead the group to safety, he founded a settlement, then set off across Panama. In 1513, Balboa became the first the first conquistador to see the Pacific Ocean.
Balboa was able to lead his troops through the jungles and make friends with the Indians. He traded with them, rather than killing them and taking their property. When he came back from discovering the Pacific Ocean his troops were loaded with gold, goods and pearls. It is sad that the Governor, his wife’s father, wanted his troops to kill the natives rather than trade with them and make friends.
Balboa was not that important in the history of America, he was a good leader, but he was killed by his wife’s father before he had a chance to accomplish many things. Had he lived, he might have made a greater impact on the world.
Balboa was important to South America because he civilized Panama and made allies of the local tribes which helped them be more successful in life. He brought them heath, productivity and protection from Spain. Without Balboa Panama would have been slave central. He protected them from cruel slave owners and brutal slaughter. So, that’s how Vasco Nunez de Balboa became famous, a great conquistador and a great Spaniard by helping Panama, helping natives and helping Spain.

John
Freedom Seven Elementary
School of International Studies
May 17, 2009

Rules for games on Saturday May 32, 2009

In this format a number of players rotate through different teams in a series of short games. Each player is awarded points based on the result of his team's game. These points are added together so that at the end of the tournament one player, unless there is a tie, will emerge as the winner.

This system keeps the games competitive. The children are playing to win and one or two losses aren't catastrophic. The coach can monitor the scores and adjust the teams so that players can't easily run away with the tournament or get buried.

Rules.
*Time. 10 to 12 minute games.
*Numbers. 4v4, or if numbers allow one group plays 3v3 or 5v5.
*Scoring. Each player on a winning team gets 10 points and 1 point for each goal scored by the team. The losing players each get 1 point for every goal scored by the team. In a tie every player gets 5 points plus 1 point for each goal scored by his team.
*Since this is a competition it is recommended that all teams play the "same game" although it doe not have to be the basic game.
*Touchline Restarts are a kick or dribble in from the point where the ball went out.
* Goal line Restarts are corner or goal.
* All penalties are indirect.

Organization.
*Set out enough fields for the number of players. Label each goal. In the example below two fields are set up for 16 players. The goals are labeled A, B, C and D.
*The coach tells each player which goal to report to. The teams organize themselves there.
*Scrimmage vests and balls are available at the fields. Players can leave the vests at a goal at the end of each game.
*Players referee themselves.
*On a signal from the coach all of the games begin. The games end on another signal. The coach's job is to be a time and record keeper.
*The players report their results to the coach who records them, (see example), and the coach tells them which goal to report to next. The sequence repeats until all of the games are done and the winner is determined.

Coaching. The coach should refrain from offering too much advice. It's up to the children to organize themselves, deal with the soccer problems they encounter and to take responsibility for their play. The major advantage of this method can be seen after the children have played it a few times and know what to expect. They will have to assume responsibility for their own teams and performance.