Physical Education Resources by CYNTHIA MORENO

Book: My Name is Jorge: On both sides of the river By Jane Medina

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 05:59:54 UTC

This book has poems written in both English and Spanish by Jorge, who recently moved from Mexico to the US. The poems reflect Jorge’s emotions and experiences leaving his home and coming to a new place where he does not know the language that well. I think this book represents multiple students in my classroom who have come from other countries and are having difficulties adjusting. I like that the poems are in Spanish as well. I can use this book in my 5th grade class to teach point of view, perspective, compare and contrast, poetry, cultural differences, and immigration.

Book: Pele: King of Soccer; El Rey de Fútbol

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 06:01:04 UTC

This bilingual (English/Spanish) book tells the story of how a poor boy from Brazil who loved soccer more than anything else became the biggest soccer star the world has ever known. I chose this book because as a physical education teacher I feel that books or materials about sports are essential for student learning. Soccer is a popular sport in my community so I feel students would be excited about it and easy to relate to. I can use it on a rainy or inclement weather day or simply prior to starting our soccer unit.

Book: I am a Promise

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 06:02:08 UTC

The story charts how Shelly Ann’s commitment to hard work as well as the encouragement of loved ones helped her achieve her dreams against great odds and challenging life experiences. Most importantly, I Am a Promise encourages young readers to believe in themselves and to maximize their own promise to the world. I chose this because I feel that it would help encourage all of my students, but it will also give my students of color someone to relate to and make them feel valued in my classroom. I can use it during Black History Month as well.

Book: The Floating Field

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 06:03:29 UTC

After watching the World Cup on television, a group of Thai boys is inspired to form their own team. But on the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. The boys can play only twice a month on a sandbar when the tide is low enough. Everything changes when the teens join together to build their very own floating soccer field. This inspiring true story is illustrated with vibrant colors. It’s perfect for fans of sports, beating what seem impossible odds, and places and cultures not often shown in picture books. Using this book will add more diversity to the reading selection plus highlight Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month (May). As with Pele, my students love soccer so this book would bring excitement to their hearts.

Book: La Frontera, El Viaje Con Mi Papa

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 06:04:19 UTC

This book is based on a true story where a young boy and his father go on a tiring journey from Mexico to the United States to find a new life. They’ll need all the courage they can find to safely cross the border, la frontera, and to make a home for themselves in a new land. Inspired by the childhood immigration experience of co-author Alfredo Alva, this story of perseverance is told in both Spanish and English to empower language-learning. I chose this book because I feel that it is a story that may hit close to home for a majority of my students. I know it personally hits home for me as I come from a similar situation. I can use this book during Hispanic heritage month. I feel this book will help build relationships with students and be an eye opening experience for others.

Book: A Little Piece of the Ground

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 06:05:26 UTC

A Little Piece Of Ground explores the human cost of the occupation of Palestinian lands through the eyes of a young boy. Twelve-year-old Karim Aboudi and his family are trapped in their Ramallah home by a strict curfew. In response to a Palestinian suicide bombing, the Israeli military subjects the West Bank town to a virtual siege. Meanwhile, Karim, trapped at home with his teenage brother and fearful parents, longs to play football with his friends. When the curfew ends, he and his friend discover an unused patch of ground that’s the perfect site for a football pitch. One thing I need to improve on is educating myself with what is going on in the present day world. I think this book would help students understand what some of their peers may be going through. Through these different types of reads my goal is to not only build awareness in my students, but to grow as an individual as well.

Book: Building A Dream

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 06:06:36 UTC

A tale of persistence and problem-solving, based on the amazing true story of a Thai soccer team who made their own place to play. In Thailand’s Phang Nga Bay, floats the village of Koh Panyee, where a group of boys loved soccer but had nowhere to practice. The boys looked out at the water and started gathering tools. Even while their neighbors laughed, the team worked for weeks to build Koh Panyee’s first floating field, a place to practice, and a place to transform their community. This inspiring book follows a group of boys who became a team long before they had jerseys or even a field. Plank by plank, they built their dream. I think this is a great story (soccer tends to grab a lot of my student’s attention) that will inspire students to never give up no matter what obstacles may be thrown their way all while integrating cultural inclusivity.

Moving More, Everyday

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 06:22:05 UTC

Resource on ways to encourage more movement and getting more steps. Not multicultural, but incorporating movement is part of physical education and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Stretching Routine

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 06:23:50 UTC

Resource on ways to encourage more movement and increase overall flexibility. Not multicultural, but incorporating movement is part of physical education and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Stretching in our soccer unit is important as it helps aid in injury prevention.

Book: Mina vs. the Monsoon

cynthiasmoreno — 2025-04-12 06:28:36 UTC

Mina loves to play soccer all year round. Nothing comes close to it. But when the monsoon arrives, Mina is stuck indoors and she can't help feeling restless and bored. Her ammi doesn't understand. The doodhwalla doesn't understand. That's when Mina decides she'll find ways of chasing away the clouds herself. In doing so, she makes an unexpected discovery. Soccer will never be the same again for Mina!

In a charming story that any kid who loves a sport will relate to, soccer-mad Mina tries just about any trick to stop the monsoon clouds from raining on her game. In doing so, she shows us glimpses of her life in a village in eastern India, highlighting the important role played by monsoon rains in this part of the world. The heart of the story, however, is the bond forged between a mother and her daughter on a gray, gloomy day.