NMS Grammar Olympics

By Eliza Hallabeck

Cluster 8 Blue at Newtown Middle School had its own Olympic winners named by the end of its Grammar Survivor Olympic games on Friday, March 5.

The Grammar Survivor Olympics was a new challenge for students this year thought up by language arts teacher Jennifer Sinal and social studies teacher Phil Cruz.

Students were placed into groups randomly, and the groups then chose a country and a sport. From there, the groups were assigned grammar rules to create a game around using the sport.

For example, the Jamaican team chose bobsledding to base their game on, which asked other groups to solve questions regarding wordy sentences to move their “bobsled” (a small skateboard on a handmade table-sized game board) further down the slope.

The Irish team used curling as the base of its game, and groups had to solve questions around the use of commas. Each player had to shove a gold coin, in place of a curling stone, onto a target across the table. The number the coins reaching the target represented the level of challenge the grammar question the challenger would be asked to gain points in the game.

“It came together because of the Olympics last month,” said Mr Cruz.

The game and rules were introduced to the students on Thursday, March 4, and Friday was spent setting up and playing.

Mr Cruz said the exercise taught self-directed skills, time management, and self-study to the students.

“It’s about getting kids truly engaged,” said Ms Sinal.

Every student had a chance to test themselves at each of the grammar rules as the students rotated groups. The four classes in the cluster were paired in teams to create more tables and more games for the students.

“It’s bringing grammar to life,” said Ms Sinal, “and they are all about it. It is awesome.”

Ellen Atkinson said she was enjoying the Grammar Survivor Olympic games.

“I think it’s fun,” she said. “It’s a good way to learn something and still have fun.”

Student Nick Kopcik also said he was having fun, adding, “It makes it easier to learn.”

From the A and B class match up, Ireland group members Hope McMorran, Patrick Rowley, Nick Kopchik and Sarah Craig took the gold. In second, with silver, Maggie Kost, Chris Mottola, Emily Davis, and Kayla O’Leary made up the Japan team. And Finland, made up by group members Ryanne Duffy, Nate Brown, Olivia Hoffman, and Anna Pasacreta, took the bronze.

From the C and D class match up, Italy, made up of group members Thom Floros, Jordan Salvensen, and Ashleigh Teetsel, received the gold medal. The silver medal was earned by Maddie Woodard, Alex Hassinger, Matt Janco, and Pauline Fitzgerald, with the United States of America group. Jamaica, comprising Emily Clark, Mattie Kelly, Hayden Savoia, and Harry Solaski, received bronze medal placement.