No, these boys are not practicing for the circus. Plate spinning is part of the juggling unit taught last month by gym teacher Michael Robel at Hilburn Drive Elementary School. Robel, better known as "Coach," started the students out tossing and catching one scarf, then two scarves, working up to juggling three scarves. When students were able to juggle the scarves three times in a row, they moved on to juggling cubes. If students mastered the cubes, they were able to move on to rings. The last activity in the unit was the plate spinning -- probably the most popular activity with the kids. Robel said he teaches the juggling unit because it increases hand-eye coordination and forces students to cross the midline of the brain. Most people are only comfortable using their right side or their left side, but activities like juggling and cup-stacking help train the brain to use both sides of the body. Janice Ryan snapped the photo of Dustin Nea, left, Tyler Cox, Gerardo Lopez, right, and Conner Inman, seated.