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Mark Dennehy’s World History classes didn’t have to wait two years for the excitement of the Olympics. On Nov. 3-4, Dennehy’s students participated in a simulation of the Greek Olympics.
Dennehy has hosted the Greek Olympics in his World History classes for the past four years.
“Initially, it (the activity) was my idea,” said Dennehy, “but it’s been adapted about three times.”
Classes divided up into two groups, representing the city-states of Sparta and Athens. Each team was expected to behave in a manner consistent with the people of that geographic area.
“I like Sparta because they can lie and cheat and steal,” said Dennehy. The Athenians, on the other hand, showed their strong work ethic and excelled in the liberal arts.
This year’s events included the broken pushup, wall sit, straw javelin, pencil balance, rubber band shoot, tongue twister, music appreciation, thumb wrestling, and Dennehy’s own version of boxing.
“I liked to watch the straw javelin because it was funny to see the different techniques people would try to use to throw it,” said sophomore Megan Smith.
Sophomore Ryan Kettinger discovered his favorite event during the wall sit. “I was doing awesome at it,” he said.
Kettinger managed to achieve a time of 23 minutes, but his record was shattered by fellow competitor junior Shane Parker, who endured for an additional seven minutes.
Unlike Kettinger, Parker favored a verbal event.
“(My favorite event was the) tongue twister,” said Parker. “People pretty much put one foot in their mouth, after they got the other one out.”
Both students and teacher thought the simulation was a good experience.
Said Smith:
“I thought it was worthwhile because we got to experience what the Greeks experienced, even though it was on a completely different level.” |
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