Football School Season 1
Soccer School Series
What’s inside...
The first book in the 'Football School' series, written by Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton, combines humor, true stories, science, and fascinating facts to teach about the world through the lens of football. It answers quirky questions like 'When do footballers poo?' and 'Can you play football on Mars?' among others. With chapters covering various subjects such as history, geography, biology, and maths, and illustrated with hilarious cartoons, this book is designed to entertain and educate both boys and girls who love football.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
208 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What was the most interesting fact you learned about football in this book?
How do the different roles on a football team contribute to the game, and why is teamwork important?
What life lesson did you learn from any of the football player's stories in the book?
If you could interview one football player from the book, who would it be and what questions would you ask them?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts by asking them to describe their favorite chapter and why it stood out to them.
Relate the teamwork found in football to everyday scenarios, such as working on a group project at school or helping out at home, to reinforce the values of collaboration and support.
After reading, ask your child to draw or write about their favorite football player from the book, focusing on the traits that make them admirable.
Use the book as a gateway to discuss the importance of practice, dedication, and perseverance, both in sports and in life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: Through the story, children learn the importance of working together and supporting each other on and off the football field.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson in group projects at school or in community activities, understanding how collaboration leads to achieving common goals.
Example Lesson: Discipline and practice
Explanation: The book demonstrates that consistent practice and maintaining discipline are crucial to mastering skills, not just in sports but in all areas of life.
Real-World Application: Kids learn the value of regular practice, whether it's doing homework, learning a musical instrument, or playing a sport, highlighting that success often comes from dedication and hard work.
Example Lesson: Handling success and failure
Explanation: Football School teaches children how to gracefully handle both success and defeat, emphasizing resilience and sportsmanship.
Real-World Application: This helps children understand that winning and losing are part of life, teaching them to stay humble in victory and resilient in defeat.
Example Lesson: Healthy competition
Explanation: The book promotes healthy competition, encouraging children to always give their best while also respecting their competitors.
Real-World Application: Students can engage in school competitions or sports in a spirit that values effort and fair play, fostering respectful interactions with peers.
Example Lesson: Understanding rules and fairness
Explanation: The importance of following rules and fair play is a recurring theme, instilling a sense of justice and integrity.
Real-World Application: Children learn to apply the concept of fairness in everyday interactions and understand the importance of adhering to rules set in school or at home.