Good Sports! - a Bag of Sports Stories
What’s inside...
There are parrots, planks and eye patches aplenty in this treasure chest of pirate tales. Included are stories by Joan Aiken, J.M. Barrie, Colin McNaughton, Margaret Mahy, Arthur Ransome, Tony Robinson and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Age
6-10
Length
128 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Which sport from the book would you love to try and why?
How do you think the characters felt when they won or lost their games?
What lessons did the characters learn about teamwork and fairness?
Can you think of a time when you had to work with others to achieve a goal, like the characters did?
Why is it important to be a good sport in games and in life?
Tip: Role play these questions
Highlight the importance of sportsmanship by discussing both winning and losing scenarios in the stories.
Emphasize the character traits like perseverance, fairness, and teamwork illustrated in the book.
Ask your child to relate the stories to their own experiences in sports or group activities.
Encourage your child to describe their favorite story from the book and what they liked most about the character’s approach.
Discuss the diversity of sports covered in the book and explore any that might be new or unfamiliar to your child.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Cooperation
Explanation: The stories in 'Good Sports! - a Bag of Sports Stories' showcase characters who learn the importance of working together to achieve common goals during sports games.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in team activities at school or in sports, learning to cooperate and collaborate with peers to accomplish tasks or win games.
Example Lesson: Perseverance and Resilience
Explanation: Characters in the book face challenges in their respective sports but learn to persevere and not give up, demonstrating resilience.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to persist in the face of challenges, whether it be in academics, sports, or personal goals, understanding that setbacks can be overcome with determination.
Example Lesson: Fair Play and Sportsmanship
Explanation: Each story emphasizes the importance of playing fair and showing good sportsmanship, regardless of whether one wins or loses.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to apply these principles in real life by treating others with respect and fairness in both competitive and non-competitive situations.
Example Lesson: Handling Success and Failure
Explanation: The book portrays how different characters deal with both success and failure in sports, teaching emotional management and humility.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand that both success and failure are part of life, teaching them to handle achievements with humility and setbacks with grace.
Example Lesson: Importance of Practice
Explanation: Stories highlight how consistent practice leads to improvement in sports skills, instilling a strong work ethic.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of regular practice to hone their skills not just in sports, but in academic and artistic pursuits as well.