Second Graders Learn New Sports

Now that the first couple of weeks of the school year are over, the games can begin. The games in physical education class at Matthew Paterson Elementary School, that is.  

“Soccer is our first intro to a sport activity,” said Physical Education Teacher Lisa Palmieri as she led groups of second graders around the school field. “The first weeks are about learning routines such as how to behave in the gym and how to act outside. Now they are learning soccer skills like passing, dribbling, shooting – the basics.”   

Playing school sports teaches all of Carmel’s Six Cs -- Critical Thinking, Citizenship, Compassion, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication.   

Darwin, a 7-year-old, passed an orange soccer ball to his classmate Jackson. 

“I do play soccer all the time,” Darwin said. “I asked my mom if she could take me to soccer practice and she said she would.”  

Jackson kicked the soccer ball back, but said he preferred basketball.  

“I love basketball,” he said. “I’ve been playing for nine years.”  

When asked how old he was, Jackson gave a sly grin.  

“I’m six,” he said.