Following Your Passion Introducing Preschoolers to Basketball Jacky Howell

“Girls don’t play basketball!” Eric, For almost 20 years I have shared a topic that is of particular interest to a 4-year-old in Ms. Alina’s pre-K my passion for women’s basketball their teacher. with countless children, teachers, and When teachers share things they class, insists. He is clutching a small families. My love of the game was in- love, things they feel joyful and pas- basketball to keep it away from a girl spired by my grandmother, who played sionate about, they inspire children to in his class. Shaniya responds, “Hey, I basketball in high school and by my join in. Children see that their teach- father, who shot baskets with me as a ers continue to pursue and learn more can play! Ms. Alina, tell Eric girls play child. I played throughout school and about their special interests. basketball.” Ms. Alina kneels down young adulthood, and the sport con- tinually brings joy into my life. Find out what the children know with the two children and says, “Hmm, When teachers are excited and feel When Ms. Alina began as a pre-K let’s fi nd out if both boys and girls can strongly about a topic, that passion is teacher in one of the programs for play basketball.” Ms. Alina turns to contagious. Their plans and interac- which I consult, we talked at length me and says, “I’m glad we scheduled tions contain a unique spark that en- about curriculum strategies that are gages the children in meaningful ways. inviting and engaging for children. a fi eld trip to the Mystics game!” At fi rst, children are drawn in because After discussing possibilities and shar- We discuss other ways to engage of their connections with teachers. Soon ing stories of our teaching, Ms. Alina the children in learning more about their interest grows and they are mak- chose to work with me and the children ing their own discoveries. to learn more about women’s basket- women playing basketball and the ball. I would model how to engage the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Share your passion children in learning about something Association). As a teaching coach and consul- that was one of my great loves. tant, part of my work includes helping We began our investigation by chart- preschool teachers discover their own ing what the children already knew passions. Some catch the basketball about basketball and what they wanted spark and continue to follow the WNBA to discover. We created a web to display with the children. Others identify their and document the children’s ideas and own special interests such as animals, capture their questions about basket- nature, quilting, cooking, blues music, ball. Kayla wanted to know how tall and naval ships. What continues to you had to be to play basketball. Jerald amaze and inspire me are children’s asked, “Are the players giants?” Other deep experiences and discoveries about children came up with ideas on how to

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play basketball. Ms. Alina and I asked stand!), as well as explore math and • Track the results. As the season the children some questions too: How social studies ideas. progresses, do a bar graph tracking do you think basketball is played? Have The following are examples of the the scores of the team the class has you ever seen basketball played near children’s activities and learning. chosen to follow. your home or on TV? Do you own a bas- Language and literacy • Compare heights of players to each ketball hoop? Do you know the names Reading about a topic and learn- other and to the children. of any basketball players or teams? ing related vocabulary can introduce children to a new subject in an easy Sportsmanship Pick a team and engaging way. In a world fi lled with men’s sports, Ms. Alina’s class chose to follow the studying women’s basketball and the • Learn new vocabulary. Write the Washington Mystics, a women’s profes- WNBA lets preschoolers see women as words on a chart or on your word sional team, and several local women’s strong, positive role models who con- wall. Shaniya loved the word dribbling high school and college teams. The tribute to the success of their team. One and bounced the basketball over and children picked two other WNBA teams preschooler, Tahlinda, began attending over until she could dribble like a to compare to the Mystics: the New York Washington Mystics games with her “real lady basketball player.” Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks. In mother. Enamored with the players and the classroom, Ms. Alina put up a team • Get to know the names of teams, the children’s dance team on the court, poster and a map of the United States players, and coaches. Print and post she joined a recreational basketball with marks identifying the cities with photos from the teams’ websites. Chil- group. Her mother often comments WNBA teams. dren can learn the players’ numbers, that the Mystics players were wonderful positions, and fun facts. role models for Tahlinda. Learn about basketball and more Math • Use the concept of team to discuss When we added a basketball hoop Math is integrated in basketball in working together. “How is being on a to the classroom, Shaniya took one of several ways. Each player has a num- basketball team similar to the ways the small basketballs and called out, ber. The game is played in defi ned time we work together in our classroom?” “Hey, I can dribble!” Many of the chil- periods. Different types of baskets are • Explain sportsmanship. After taking dren did not know what Shaniya meant worth different points. by the word dribble. Ms. Alina and I the class to a game, Ms. Alina dis- • Play the game and keep score. Sa- planned a variety of different activities cussed how the players who lost the mantha, a 3-year-old, tallied each to introduce new vocabulary, learn how game must have felt. Marcus noticed, basket made on a whiteboard and to play the game, encourage dramatic “They shook hands at the end of the announced on a regular basis, “Blue play (the children set up a concession game.” To build on this experience, team has the most!”

FOR THE PRESCHOOL PROFESSIONAL NAEYC.ORG/TYC 11

TYC V6N4 1-15.indd 11 3/12/13 1:29 PM Join Jacky Howell for an online Q&A event about women’s basketball and sharing your passions from May 13–17, 2013. Ask a question today! Go to naeyc.org for more information.

Ms. Alina and the children discussed • Talk about related jobs. In addition training. Set up an area where chil- how we can be good sports even when to players, there are coaches, referees, dren can stretch, bounce some small we are sad or disappointed. and athletic trainers. Discuss what basketballs, or do jumps to reach high. these people do to support the team • Create a sportsmanship award. Have Art as a whole. the children nominate classmates Color plays an important role in who have done something to show • Invite experts to talk to the class. Seek sports. Teams distinguish themselves good sportsmanship. out middle school and high school based on the color of their uniforms. female players to visit the class or Music and dramatic play • Use team colors. Do art projects that allow you and the children to attend Sporting events often feature activi- use the main colors of the team. a practice. ties to keep the crowds entertained at • Make a logo. Team logos are often as halftime. Think about mascots, chants, Games, fi tness, and health important as the name of the team. music, magicians, acrobats, dancers, Basketball players need to be strong Children can explore team logos and and more. and healthy. Explore how physical fi t- create their own. • Plan and perform a halftime act. ness and nutritious foods build healthy Family involvement Selena, a 4-year-old, loved the dance bodies. Basketball is a popular sport. Fami- team at the Mystics games. Ms. Alina • Learn the basics of the game. Pre- lies can support children’s interest by made a tape of music played at the schoolers can practice passing, talking and reading about basketball games, and Selena choreographed shooting, and dribbling the ball on and playing preschool-level versions of her own dance. As a result, Selena got a real basketball court or on a small the game. to join the dancers at an open prac- one in the classroom. Ms. Alina hung tice and then performed at a game. a small net on the back of a door • Take a fi eld trip. Invite families to join and provided soft basketballs and a you at a basketball practice or game. • Create a class mascot. Children love whiteboard to use as a scoreboard. Every year I took my preschool class to see the team mascots’ antics and Model how to shoot the ball into the to a Washington Mystics game, and dances at a game. Make your own hoop and then show the children how today I help other classes do it, too. mascot masks or decide on a class- to mark and total the scores on the room mascot of your own. • Turn families into fans. Encourage whiteboard. families to clip sports columns from Social studies • Introduce related physical activities. the paper, print articles from the web, Basketball involves more than play- Talk about how the players not only or bring in newspaper sports sec- ers. Explore how other people support practice basketball, but also need to tions. Collect and post articles where the team and how they got interested stretch their bodies and do strength children can see them. Juan’s mother in the sport. commented that it was hard to fi nd

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TYC V6N4 1-15.indd 12 3/12/13 1:29 PM articles about how women’s teams Sharing something I care about were doing. She had played in college with young children, families, and and shared pictures of herself in uni- other teachers has been incredibly form with the class. rewarding. I now raise funds to bring as many children and families to a WNBA • Help educate parents about the game as possible. Author and profes- importance of involving children in sional development provider Margie fitness and sports activities. Share in- Carter has discussed creating a place formation about how good nutrition, for “bringing ourselves to the teaching fitness, and playing sports are related and learning process.” By sharing my to success in school and life. passion for women’s basketball and the WNBA for more than 16 years, I Conclusion have passed down a love of the sport As part of the basketball study, that came from my grandmother and Ms. Alina’s class attended a Mystics father. game. The children wore jerseys they What would you like to pass on to had made, held up signs to support the the children with whom you work? team, and cheered, sang, and danced to show their enthusiasm. Eric joyously turned to me in the middle of the game and shouted, “These ladies can play basketball!” Back at their program, the children continued their basketball games. Instead of the blue and red teams, they became the Washington Mystics and the New York Liberty. Former Mystics player Alana Beard came to the school to read with the children and talk about her job as a basketball player. Family members who attended the game with the class began going regu- larly with their children. They are on their way to becoming lifelong fans.

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