Nathaniel Woodhull Elementary School students recently had a fun and unique opportunity to participate in their own version of the Winter X-Games, an annual competitive sporting event that focuses on extreme winter sports such as snowboarding, skiing and snowmobiling.
Spearheaded by physical education teachers Christopher Mocera and Teresa Carrozzo, the Nathaniel Woodhull X-Games were designed to raise awareness about the Winter X Games and also to promote other sports such as skiing and snowboarding that may be less familiar to students. Lessons included geography, mathematics (degrees of a circle and half circle) including 180 and 360 degree squat jumps as taught by former Olympic hopeful and William Floyd student Joey Mensch and more.
Students also focused on agility as they tossed beanbags to fellow students and into bins while remaining steady on balance boards, attempted a snowboard simulation by balancing on a board while being pulled across the floor, used an agility ladder and a balance beam and performed the 180 and 360 degree squat jumps used in snowboarding.
In preparation for the Nathaniel Woodhull X-Games, students were tasked with researching the Winter X Games and to list the five most interesting facts they could find. Students who completed this assignment were entered into a raffle to win a snowboard signed by Joey Mensch. Fourth grader Madison Cizan was excited to take home the grand prize.
“We wanted to make the connection of the activities in the gym with the training that snowboarders like Joey Mensch use to train for the Olympics,” said Mr. Mocera. “It was a great experience and the excitement level of the students was extremely high.”