Bellerose Avenue first graders are learning about perseverance through yoyoing as part of their participation in the “Ned’s Mindset Mission” assembly. The assembly, which focuses on “never giving up, encouraging others and doing your best,” uses yoyoing as a metaphor for how to practice persistence and do your personal best.
Following a larger lesson on “Ned’s Mindset Mission,” physical education teacher Kathleen Catania taught yoyoing to further enforce the message of persistence. The yoyos, which were purchased for students by the school’s PTA, were handed out and used in class. Students spread out as they focused on the various steps of yoyoing, such as rolling up the yoyo, keeping the string taught and getting the hand of holding the yoyo correctly. As students started struggling with using the yoyo, they learned about doing their best and focusing on one small task at a time. Each student’s yoyo was also customized to their height to help with the practice.
Students will continue learning their new yoyoing schools and applying the lessons to other school projects as well.