Source: WeAreTeachers.com

P.E. Teacher Uses Astonishing Trick Shots to Teach Students Important Lesson

Phys Ed Teacher Jonathan Hodge, from Barnesville, Minnesota, uses plastic water bottles in his trick shots as a way to help students remember the importance of recycling.

P.E. teacher does trick shots to encourage recycling

Physical education teacher Jonathan Hodge, from Barnesville, Minnesota, decided to trade in his basketball for something different. He now uses plastic water bottles in his trick shots as a way to get kids excited about recycling. Since only three out of every 10 plastic bottles actually make it into the recycling bin, Jonathan thought using plastic water bottles in his trick shots would be a great way to help students remember the importance of recycling. Scroll down for a video of the five recycling trick shots. 

This one seems easy at first. Once you get into it, though, you quickly realise it’s actually pretty challenging. “I tell my students to start small: Toss the plastic bottle just a few feet in the air. Get the rotation of the bottle right, practicing until you feel really confident. Then once you master that, go higher and higher until you can throw it 20 or 30 feet in the air and have it land right in the recycling bin.”
#1: Touch the Sky This one seems easy at first. Once you get into it, though, you quickly realise it’s actually pretty challenging. “I tell my students to start small: Toss the plastic bottle just a few feet in the air. Get the rotation of the bottle right, practicing until you feel really confident. Then once you master that, go higher and higher until you can throw it 20 or 30 feet in the air and have it land right in the recycling bin.” Source: WeAreTeachers.com
Before you even start “bouncing” the water bottle, you need to get your walk and rhythm down. You might even want to count your steps to figure out how many it’ll take you to get alongside the bin. Once you’re ready to start bouncing, make sure to give your wrist a strong flick. This will ensure that the bottle has enough momentum to land in the recycling bin. You’ll see in the video that Jonathan goes between his legs, but this is an advanced move. Master the basic walk-by first!
#2: Bounce Pass Before you even start “bouncing” the water bottle, you need to get your walk and rhythm down. You might even want to count your steps to figure out how many it’ll take you to get alongside the bin. Once you’re ready to start bouncing, make sure to give your wrist a strong flick. This will ensure that the bottle has enough momentum to land in the recycling bin. You’ll see in the video that Jonathan goes between his legs, but this is an advanced move. Master the basic walk-by first! Source: WeAreTeachers.com
This is a good one that almost anyone can do. Start with your feet together and pinch the bottle between the arches of your feet. Then as you jump up, kick up and out. You’ll want to have your knees slightly bent before you jump. It’s almost like you’re trying to touch your toes as you explode into the air. At the peak of your jump, “toss” the plastic bottle into the recycling bin.
#3: No Hands This is a good one that almost anyone can do. Start with your feet together and pinch the bottle between the arches of your feet. Then as you jump up, kick up and out. You’ll want to have your knees slightly bent before you jump. It’s almost like you’re trying to touch your toes as you explode into the air. At the peak of your jump, “toss” the plastic bottle into the recycling bin. Source: WeAreTeachers.com
A student favorite. Try standing about a step behind the bottle at about a 45° angle. Be sure to point your toe and kick through with your stronger foot. Understand that the kicking part is easy, but aiming is a bit more challenging. You want to kick the bottom of the bottle. As you kick, make sure the laces of your shoe are aimed at the recycling bin. This will make your kicks more accurate.
#4: The Field Goal Kick A student favorite. Try standing about a step behind the bottle at about a 45° angle. Be sure to point your toe and kick through with your stronger foot. Understand that the kicking part is easy, but aiming is a bit more challenging. You want to kick the bottom of the bottle. As you kick, make sure the laces of your shoe are aimed at the recycling bin. This will make your kicks more accurate. Source: WeAreTeachers.com
“This is definitely my trickiest water bottle shot to date.” says Jonathan. It’s the most difficult to control because you have to work with the spin of the basketball to give your bottle the momentum to make it land in the recycling bin. You’ll first have to master balancing the bottle on the ball, which is a challenge in and of itself. Then, you’ll want to drop the ball so that it has some front spin, propelling your bottle forward toward your target. Once you’ve figured out where your bottle usually lands, adjust your recycling bin placement.
#5: The Assist “This is definitely my trickiest water bottle shot to date.” says Jonathan. It’s the most difficult to control because you have to work with the spin of the basketball to give your bottle the momentum to make it land in the recycling bin. You’ll first have to master balancing the bottle on the ball, which is a challenge in and of itself. Then, you’ll want to drop the ball so that it has some front spin, propelling your bottle forward toward your target. Once you’ve figured out where your bottle usually lands, adjust your recycling bin placement. Source: WeAreTeachers.com

Recycling lessons made fun

“My students definitely love practicing these trick shots, and they’ve even impressed me by inventing their own. I never thought trick shots would have such an amazing, positive impact on my P.E. class—and recycling—but I’m sure glad it has!” — Jonathan Hodge

P.E. Teacher Does Trick Shots to Encourage Recycling Check out these five tricks shots, and see if you can come up with some new ones of your own. Source: Facebook/WeAreTeachers

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