Fontenelle Falcon Bridge Club
When: Wednesdays 3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
Who: 5th and 6th Graders
Where: Fontenelle Library
The Fontenelle Bridge Club concluded 8 weeks of lessons on November 12. Members enjoyed playing cards while learning that Bridge is a “brain sport.” It teaches logic, reasoning, quick thinking, patience, and partnership skills. The fundamental concepts of Minibridge play and defense were taught. These skills include shuffling, sorting and ranking of cards, counting points, naming the declarer and the dummy hand, counting sure tricks, earning extra tricks through promotion, declaring a contract, drawing trump, leading touching honors, and communicating through the cards played. A tournament was held during the final session with Agha and Zachery tying for first place. They both received a trophy. Other Bridge Club participants this year included: Arlanda, Justice, Aubrina, Gabrielle, and Deanna. Mrs. Stokes and Mrs. Hitt sponsored Bridge Club.
Bridge and Me
By playing Bridge I have learned a lot of new vocabulary including suites, minor and major. The major suites are: spades and hearts and the minor suits are clubs and diamonds. I’ve learned how to rank, sort, shuffle, and other great card skills. I have learned many definitions such as trump, no-trump, dummy hand, declarer, opening lead and contracts. I have learned the value of the cards; 1-10=0 points, Jack=1 point, Queen=2 points, King=3 points, and Ace = 4 points. I know Dr. Peterson has tried to play Bridge and was not completely successful, but maybe we could play a game with her and help her! I was so surprised when our host of the tournament, Mrs. Phillips, said that she teaches adults and they often don’t catch on as quickly as 5th and 6th graders do! Bridge may not be a physical sport, but it is sure a brain sport, because you have to think to count points and keep track of the cards that have been played! I love Bridge and can’t wait to play next year! So, 4th graders next year join Fontenelle’s Bridge Club!
-Gabrielle
Bridge
I love Bridge because it is a thinking sport that you can play at home, at school, or even at your cousin’s house. North is my favorite position, because in our lessons North was often the Declarer. I love to play the game because it is a partnership game. You learn to be nice to everyone and then they are nice to you. It is more fun to win, but you learn to be a good sport even when you don’t win. I love to play Bridge.
-By Arlanda
Bridge at Fontenelle
When I first went to Bridge, I thought it would be a little boring, but as I started learning more about the game, I began to enjoy it. After learning each other’s names, we learned to shuffle, deal, sort, rank and fan our cards. We also learned the names of the suits, Spades, Clubs, Hearts, and Diamonds and which ones are major and minor. There are 52 cards in the deck, which means there are 13 in each suit. If you are able to count the cards played it really helps! Our instructor, the happy and helpful Mrs. Hitt, taught me well and treated me nicely just like she treated the other children in Bridge. Playing Bridge was a great experience and I will always remember it.
-By Cornelius
Bridge Club
I learned many things in Bridge Club. I learned how to shuffle the cards, deal and play the game of Bridge. It was fun learning how to play and I am sorry that I missed the last lesson because that was the one with the tournament! Playing Bridge is fun!
-By Deanna
Bridge
I played Bridge every Wednesday for two months and it was fun. I played and played for a long time and I got very good at it. Matter of fact, I won the trophy at the tournament we had. Bridge is a brain sport, not a physical sport like soccer or basketball. It is a brain sport like chess. You have to focus on the cards played. I think you should really pay attention so you can get more points and have a better chance of winning. Next year, if anyone is interested in playing Bridge they should try it.
-By Agha
All about Bridge
In Bridge I learned a lot of new things. I was surprised when I used math skills and learned new vocabulary. We played cards, got snacks and met new people. Mrs. Hitt, our teacher, was very nice. Our other teacher, Mrs. Stokes was also nice. Bridge was not easy. I had to do a lot of thinking. That’s the number one thing about Bridge-THINKING!
-By Zachery
Bridge
The game, Bridge, is a brain sport. If you like playing cards, this is the sport for you. Dr. Peterson talked me into playing Bridge and guess what-I loved it. Mrs. Hitt taught us how to play Bridge. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you actually get to meet a champion Bridge player like Mrs. Phillips. Mrs. Phillips was Mrs. Hitt’s Bridge instructor. She came to one of our lessons and organized our final tournament. After school activities are fun, so if you like playing cards, you should join Bridge club. You will not regret it!
-Justice