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76 Reading: The Sport of Champions!
Refreshments
Ask a grocery store to donate hot dogs and veggie dogs and buns that can be heated in a
microwave for the kids and families to eat. Provide cupcakes for the kids to decorate to look like
baseballs. Provide white frosting and plastic knives for the kids to use to frost the cupcake.
Provide tubes of red frosting to draw the baseball lacing. Serve sports drinks, such as Gatorade ®
or Powerade.
Rhymes and Poetry
Read the poems “A Swing And A Miss,” “Synchronized Swim Team,” and “Lashondra Scores,”
from the book Doodle Dandies: Poems that Take Shape by J. Patrick Lewis.
Ten Little Gymnasts
(By Tina Hager. All of the children begin standing in a line, moving to the side of the program
room in turn, as the recitation counts down.)
Ten little gymnasts standing in a line. (All standing)
One touched their toes and then there were nine. (One child touches toes and walks to the side
of the room)
Nine little gymnasts worried they were late. (All children pretend to look at watch on wrists)
One went to check the time then there were eight. (One child walks to the side of the room with
others)
Eight little gymnasts in a line so even; (Children left make sure to stand in even line)
One sat down and then there were seven. (One child sits down with others on the side of the
room)
Seven little gymnasts practicing their kicks; (Children practice kicking air)
One went away and then there were six. (One child walks to the side of the room with others)
Six little gymnasts looking at the floor, (Children left look at the floor)
Two did somersaults and then there were four. (Two children somersault over to others on the
side of the room)
Four little gymnasts acting liking a tree; (Children left raise arms over head)
One shook their leaves and then there were three. (One child shakes arms and walks to the side
of the room with the others)
Three little gymnasts, not sure what to do; (Children left shrug their shoulders)
One turned in circles and then there were two. (One child turns in circles and walks to where
others are on the side of the room)
Two little gymnasts, thinking the day was done;
Both left the floor and then there were none. (The two children who are left walk to the side of
the room with the others)