Let's Play!: Poems About Sports and Games from Around the World
What’s inside...
Featuring a variety of leisure activities from around the globe, these lively poems familiarize children with sports like cricket, soccer, American football, baseball, basketball, running, relay race, tobogganing, skating, swimming, diving, netball, pole vault, shot put, kung fu, judo, boxing, tennis, table tennis, kite flying, hockey, surfing, riding, and horse racing, as well as games such as skipping, swinging, computer games, Scrabble, chess, and Snakes and Ladders. Vibrant illustrations portray children and adults of many different cultures enjoying pastimes from around the world.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-10
Length
56 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What sport or game from the book would you love to try and why?
How do the poems make you feel about playing games and sports?
Can you think of a sport or game that represents our culture? How would you describe it to someone from another country?
What similarities and differences do you see between the games you play and the ones in the book?
Which poem was your favorite and what did you learn from it?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading each poem, ask your child to guess what sport might be featured based on the title.
Encourage your child to describe how each poem’s imagery and words make them feel, fostering emotional connection and understanding.
Discuss the cultural significance of different sports featured in the book, highlighting diversity and global perspectives.
Use a globe or world map to locate the countries mentioned, enhancing geographical knowledge along with cultural.
After reading, engage in a creative activity where your child writes a short poem about their favorite sport or game.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Cultural Appreciation
Explanation: Through engaging poems about sports and games across different cultures, children learn to appreciate and respect the diverse ways people around the world have fun.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to be open-minded and inclusive, fostering a sense of global community and respect for cultural differences in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Importance of Teamwork
Explanation: The book's poems often focus on team sports and activities, demonstrating the value of working together towards a common goal.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson in school during group projects or in sports, learning to collaborate effectively and support their peers for collective success.
Example Lesson: Physical Fitness and Health
Explanation: The activities described in the poems promote the importance of physical activity, highlighting how sports and games contribute to a healthy lifestyle.
Real-World Application: This lesson motivates children to participate in physical activities, helping them develop habits that contribute to their overall health and well-being.
Example Lesson: Fair Play and Sportsmanship
Explanation: Several poems illustrate scenarios where characters demonstrate integrity and fairness in games, teaching children the importance of playing by the rules and being gracious, whether they win or lose.
Real-World Application: Children learn to apply principles of fairness and sportsmanship in all aspects of life, promoting ethical behavior and respect for others.
Example Lesson: Joy of Participation
Explanation: The book celebrates not just winning, but the simple pleasures of participating in sports and games, emphasizing that the act of playing is joyful and rewarding in itself.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to engage in activities for the enjoyment of the experience, helping to foster a love for physical activity and reducing the pressure of competition.