Harlem Link 4th Grade Basketball Frenzy

Community Green

Harlem Link Charter School 4th Grade February Frenzy

Community Green www.communitygreen.wordpress.com

Charles Vasser (917) 691-8037

I.

Summary March Madness, the penultimate period before the peak of collegiate basketball pursuit, is frenetic as students, alumni and faculties support their teams in search of being crowned Number 1. Every student, whether a basketball devotee or not, cares about where his/her team is seeded and whether their championship hopes are real or wait until next year. This atmosphere creates incredible bonds between students and cements them loyalty to their respective schools well beyond graduation. This is the beauty of sports and when combines with educational direction, sports programs can turn average institutions into amazing ones.

The Harlem Link charter School 4th Grade February Frenzy Basketball Tournament will use tournament competitiveness and cooperativeness as a vehicle to develop its students.

With the right direction, the lessons learned from sport can be used in the classroom in instructional ways so the proverbial lesson is not lost and team building becomes a natural course of action. Coaches, after all, are Recreational Teachers.

The tournament will focus on the following elements: •

Creating Teams

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Creating and operating a basketball tournament

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Marketing

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Media Coverage

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Fundraising

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II.

Introduction And teachers are coaches. Using the elements above, teachers will discuss the Frenzy with their classes and begin to recruit and assign activities. Discussion about the Frenzy can engender dialog about fitness, food, health, healthy eating, lifestyle choices and any number of related topics. Class projects can be pared down to team assignments i.e., an art period can be spent designing a flyer for the event. A smaller “team” would be charged with creating the final flyer and its distribution. A math period could be spent on understanding percentages and statistics and a “team” would have this function at each game. A writing assignment would be reporting on a sporting event and a “team” of reporters and an Editorial Board would be developed. You see where I’m going with this . . .

III.

4th Grade February Frenzy The Harlem Link 4th Grade February Frenzy is more than just a tournament. It is a real-life reality show with the kids as the stars. The activities will include: •

Creating Teams

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Try outs and drafts

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Skills development

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Tournament play

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A 4th grade Championship

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All Star Team Selections

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Creating and operating a basketball tournament

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Securing equipment

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Securing uniforms

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Securing space

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Keeping score and statistics for games

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Trophy/Prize/Award for willing team

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Marketing

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Flyers & Posters

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Developing an outreach campaign

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Developing mascots and logos

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Penny drive

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Cake sale

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Tickets for the event (Students free. $1 suggested donation for guests)

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IV.

Fundraising (see BUDGET)

Media Coverage

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Newsletter (reporters)

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Blog

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Photography

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Videographer

Goals The 4th Grade February Frenzy creates an ambitious activity, based on team building, literally and figuratively, that will propel the kids into class each day. They will look forward to the day’s “Tournament” discussion or activity and will understand the tournament is only possible through hard work and effort in addition to current class work and homework which must be completed diligently and effectively every day. The Frenzy rests on the shoulders of academic achievement the same as a star player’s eligibility. This cannot be stressed enough.

V. Timetable The table below is a very simple representation of the timeline for the February Frenzy, however, the backbone of this activity is the connection to in-class discussion and activities. Could the tournament exist without it? Sure! But it won’t be as meaningful or as effective an educational experience.

Description of Work

Start and End Dates

Phase One

Planning & Teacher Meetings

January 2011

Phase Two

February Frenzy

February 2011 – 4 consecutive weeks

Phase Three

Educational/Media follow up

March 2011

VI. Budget Community Green Page 4 of 5

Cost is minimal.

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Equipment consists of a couple of basketballs. Half a dozen would be ideal but not necessary. You probably have those.

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Shirts/uniforms are not required, but could be a fun foray into understanding fundraising, conducting a penny drive, cake sale or getting a local vendor or shop keeper involved in the project. But, we can use mesh over shirt and the kids can wear their gym clothes

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A score book.

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Gym time (Is there a score board?)

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Award, Trophy, pizza party??? o

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I think everyone should get pizza after the last game and we can print nice certificates for the winners.

Are there other cost items? None that come to mind, since I am volunteering my time!

VII. Next Steps •

Call me!

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