By Emlen Healthy Roar reporters | A Healthy Roar survey of 15 Emlen fourth-grade reporters showed that most students participated in group activities that are sports. Football, basketball, track, soccer, and dodgeball were mentioned by reporters.

Of the 15 students, 10 participate in a sport. Three students do online gaming in a group, and one takes a drawing class in a group. Two students, although they don’t participate in a sports team outside of school, enjoy the group activities they do in PE class. Fourteen students said they would recommend their activity; one student answered “maybe.”

Reporters shared that group activities are more fun than doing things alone, so students have more fun and want to participate in them.

According to students, group activities and team sports give them the opportunity to work with a team to accomplish a goal.

Cliffari Joseph gets excited to participate on a team because the people he’s playing with make him feel safe. “My team makes me happy and inspires me to do my best for my team,” said another reporter. A third said, “I feel calm and safe when I do gymnastics with a group.”

Students shared that working on a team makes their team start to feel like a family because they’re working together. One reporter said she enjoys the time she spends with friends. Another said even when his team loses, it’s still fun because he still gets to play with friends.

Illustration by Khaniya, fifth grade, Eleanor C. Emlen Elementary School, 25-26.