From Whif Whaf to Champions: Exploring the World of Table Tennis

With the central idea “Exploration leads to discoveries, opportunities, and new understanding,” the Grade 3 students embarked on an exciting exploration into the fascinating world of table tennis. Together, we uncovered its origins, witnessed its evolution, and experienced the thrilling excitement of this historic and enjoyable sport.

Table tennis began as a simple pastime in households and has since become a dominant force, leaving a lasting impact on the world of athletics. The sheer excitement and spectacle of table tennis have catapulted it to the prestigious stage of the Olympics, where the world’s finest athletes display their skills, agility, and strategic prowess. From its humble beginnings to its global fame, this is a sport that knows no boundaries.

During our Tuning In, students were introduced to fascinating facts about the sport. They learned that the game was initially called “whif whaf” before it became ping pong and eventually table tennis. This prompted them to ponder the reason behind this unique name. One student suggested that it might be because of the distinct sound made when the ping pong ball is struck.

In addition to this discovery, the students explored the historical practices of table tennis. They discovered that in the past, a cigarette box was used as a makeshift paddle, a golf ball served as the ball, and books were cleverly positioned as boundaries in the middle of the table. Interestingly, matches were played on dining tables after dinner. The lesson stimulated engaging discussions and provided valuable insights, making it an enriching experience for all the students involved.

LEARNING THE SKILLS

In our exciting journey through the world of table tennis, we practiced holding the paddles correctly and bouncing the ping pong ball with control. We spent almost 2-3 weeks mastering the challenge of bouncing the ball, but it was so rewarding! We also learned how to find the sweet spot in the middle of the paddle to bounce the ball easily and enhance our eye-hand coordination and focus.

Moreover, we discovered cool techniques like backhand drives and forehand loops, feeling like we were unlocking a secret language of moves and strategies!

THE GAME

The long-awaited day is finally here! It’s time to put our table tennis skills to the test and demonstrate what we’ve learned. We’re extremely excited to play and impress everyone with our abilities. Despite the challenges we faced, we never gave up. Learning with our friends has been an absolute blast and has brought us immense joy. We’re determined, committed, patient, and enthusiastic, and we truly believe that one day we will become champions in this sport.

This is just the beginning of our journey, and we can’t wait to discover all the amazing things that await us in the future!

Mr. William Gumayagay

Physical Education Teacher

william.gumayagay@montesiennaschool.com

Sekolah Monte Sienna

Batam City, Indonesia