This school year, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Union Free School District began offering E-Sports (electronic sports) lessons to students in grades 4-6. Led by technology integration specialist Jeanine Laurino, the students are immersed in a social-emotional learning curriculum centered on gameplay.
Each class receives four E-Sports lessons, which are focused on an introduction to E-Sports, discussing valuable screen time and purposeful play, how to manage emotions while playing video games, and an overview of all the skills learned.
Through each lesson, the students also learn the importance of communication, teamwork and good sportsmanship. After the SEL component, the students are paired in groups to play Mario Kart 8 on Nintendo Switch.
The lessons promote a responsible use of technology, while also encouraging creativity and critical thinking.