Haisley is fortunate to participate in a program called In-School Bowling (
Bowler's Ed), in partnership with
Bel-Mark Lanes. Bel-Mark provides 6 carpet bowling lanes, 6 sets of pins, and 6 bowling balls (rubber) for two weeks. They deliver and pickup the lanes, and students enjoy them in the meantime. This morning, students were
SO EXCITED as they entered the gym to see the bowling equipment set up!
(Thanks to my morning and afternoon helpers for the setup assistance!!)
For older students (grades 3-5), the first bowling lesson begins with safety reminders and basics (how to hold the ball, which fingers to use, and different approach steps). We discuss how to rotate at the lane (bowler, line judge, pin setter, and ball returner). Then it's time to bowl! Students "warm-up" with two rolls each turn. The second lesson begins with a brief review of the first lesson, and some warm-up time. Then we play Tic-Tac Bowl. Lanes play against each other, aiming to knock over a certain number of pins to be able to mark a tic-tac-toe on their scorecard, hoping to beat the other lane! A strike means a team can put their X or O wherever they choose, over any number.
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| 5th graders, Lane 1 versus Lane 2 in Tic Tac Bowl. |
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| 4th graders warming up |
Younger students also begin with safety reminders and basics. Most younger students don't do any approach steps, but rather stand with opposite foot forward, swinging arm(s) back, and then rolling the ball that way. I encourage opposite foot forward, which then helps prepare them for then taking steps when they're ready. We also discuss rotating "jobs" at each lane, but for younger students, the rotation is much more simple: wait to bowl, bowler, and pin helper. After you bowl, you help the pin helper set up the pins ("help clean up your own mess"), and then the pin helper brings the ball to the next person and waits for their turn to bowl. Tape marks spots to wait and be a pin helper for younger students.
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| Young Fives: One student is pin helper (near the pins), one bowling, and the other waiting her turn. |
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| Young Fives: All six lanes in action! |
Self-contained classes will also practice bowling! Our SXI and ASD classrooms love bowling. Bel-Mark lanes brought not one but TWO bowling ramps to help all students enjoy and learn with this equipment. Thank you, Bel-Mark!!
Bowling is a great lifetime activity, and most of all, it is FUN! I'll be posting more pictures of students in action throughout the next couple of weeks.
