Athletic Inquiry in PreK

Stray Balls Spark Months-Long Athletic Inquiry in PreK



 

After weeks of finding stray balls on the turf outside their classroom and wondering which games they were used in, Prekindergarten students launched into a deep exploration of sports following spring break. Following the students’ curiosity, teacher Jessica Vigliotti developed a Reggio Emilia-inspired unit focused entirely on athletics, with unique provocations offered over the course of the spring semester.

“In a Reggio-inspired classroom, we follow the children’s interests,” Vigliotti said. “This was the first time we’ve done a sports unit, but the students were clearly drawn to it.” From that initial curiosity came a robust curriculum grounded in exploration, creativity, and standards-based learning. Students strengthened number recognition while studying sports jerseys, practiced pre-literacy skills through letter identification, and learned scientific thinking by comparing the size, shape, and weight of different balls. Crafting their own jerseys and manipulating items in sensory bins developed fine motor skills. Flexing their creativity and engineering skills, they used paint-dipped golf balls to design miniature golf courses and built bowling alleys together. Vigliotti said the team-building element was woven throughout.“We had jersey-matching games, made spin-art bowling balls, and even wove on tennis rackets,” she said.
 

Everything had a purpose, and a lot of fun built in.

The connection between school and community became a cornerstone of the experience. Associate Head of Upper School and Upper School Dean of Students Jonathan Coulombe helped to coordinate classroom visits with older student-athletes to talk about baseball, tennis, and lacrosse. Vigliotti said the interaction left a lasting impression. “The children were thrilled,” she said. “Seeing the ‘big kids’ talk about their passions and equipment helped our students see themselves as athletes, too. It was especially meaningful during the King of Spring games, many of our families attended together afterward.” Parent involvement deepened the experience. Gladys Torres P’39, whose daughter is a PreK student, led a tennis clinic on the playground using a portable net and equipment borrowed from Athletics. The class also ventured to Chelsea Piers in Stamford, where coaches led a custom clinic introducing students to soccer and basketball.

Vigliotti was moved by the children's enthusiasm and growth throughout the unit. “Even students who didn’t show initial interest in sports fully embraced it,” she said. “Whether it was during our sink-or-float experiments with sports balls or the teamwork it took to build bowling lanes, their joy and determination were incredible to witness.” As the year winds down, the final project will be a wire trophy sculpture depicting each child in a favorite athletic pose. “We’ll wrap the unit with those personalized trophies,” Vigliotti said. “Then we’ll reflect on everyone who makes King such a special place.” The students may have started as curious onlookers behind a classroom window, but by the end of the unit, they were not only athletes but teammates, scientists, artists, and engineers.