I played no games today, did no running, did no teaching and yet I am so sore and tired.  It doesn’t help that I’m not in the greatest shape, but there’s something about helping set things up for field day, getting rained on and standing out in the heat all afternoon that completely wears me out, all for kids to have an hour and 45 minutes of fun.

They were excited all day, beginning as they sat in the gym before school started.  Apparently it was difficult to get their attention and keep it even before class began.  We then spent about an hour setting up games before the 5th graders came out to run through everything as they were going to run them for the younger students.  I have to admit that there’s something a bit magical watching 5th graders on their way to middle school, thinking they’re “all that”, become little kids again as they play limbo and run a water relay.   I watched as kids cheered each other on, gave each other high fives and hugs.  I couldn’t help but smile.

Then the thunder began, we began looking at the skies for lightning.  The drops began and before we knew it the heavens opened.  Adults were running equipment under the porches, electronics for music, parachutes, chalk in boxes, and kids were scurrying into the building.  It wasn’t supposed to rain after 9:00 this morning, so how was the rest of the day going to go?  After the rain stopped, I remembered that the burlap sacks for the sack race had been left in the rain, so I went out to bring them under the porch and hoped they would dry out before we actually needed to use them this afternoon.  I had forgotten how nasty and smelly wet burlap can be.

After lunch and lunch duty, we began resetting some equipment and it was looking like the rain would hold off.  However, now it was hot and steamy.  I’m already looking very attractive having been rained on earlier, but now I don the hat and sunglasses so that I can sweat under both.  The kids come out of their pods covered in sunscreen, some carrying water, all excited to begin and for the next hour and 45 minutes they rotate through the games and contests.

The 5th graders, some of whom have difficulty in the classroom, are doing an amazing job of running the games and helping the younger students.  One of the boys was being very particular in terms of what passed for doing the limbo correctly and the other boy working with him said, “give them a break – they’re little!” What a great opportunity for them to be responsible for running something and serving other students and they seemed to love it.

As for me, I spent the afternoon walking the length of the games, applying bandaids to skinned knees, elbows and fingers.  After all, tug of war and sack races can be brutal.  Despite the wounds, the kids had a great time, with lots of squealing and laughter.  As we spend days trying to cram things into their brains and keep them as well behaved as possible, sometimes we forget that they are are just kids, kids who want to play and laugh in the sunshine and eat popsicles afterwards.  Kids who yell “mommy, did you see what I did?” from underneath the parachute.  Kids who play in the buckets of water for the sponge relay, kids who cheer each other on during the obstacle course.  It warmed my heart as a class cheered on a classmate who struggles physically, completely patient with his halting step, not caring that he was last.  The big smile on his face said it all as every child had their time to shine.

And after it was all over, and the kids had picked up all of the equipment and had their treats, the bell rang and they cheerfully walked, rode their bikes and caught their rides home.  And I, sore, sweaty and tired, dashed home to participate in a virtual meeting where I tried not to fall asleep.  So why do we do this type of activity year after year with our kids?  Well, despite all of the work and interruptions to the school day, the payoff is watching these kids in a different light, bringing new insight for us as teachers so that we get to know these kids just a little bit better.  It’s to provide a memory for us to grab hold of when they’re misbehaving in class next year and we remember the smiles and sportsmanship they showed during this crazy day.  In the meantime, I’m going to finish up here, grab some Tylenol and crash.