Yao Ming
Awesome Athletes ~ Set 3 Series
What’s inside...
A biography of Yao Ming, the Chinese basketball player who is a star with the Houston Rockets.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What challenges did Yao Ming face and how did he overcome them?
How did Yao Ming's height both help and hinder him in his basketball career and personal life?
Why is perseverance an important quality depicted in Yao Ming's story?
In what ways did Yao Ming inspire others, both on and off the basketball court?
How do you think Yao Ming's cultural background influenced his career in the NBA?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the hurdles they've faced and relate them to Yao Ming’s experiences.
Discuss the concept of perseverance and ask your child about a time they had to persist through difficulty.
Highlight the importance of embracing our differences by discussing how Yao Ming’s height played a unique role in his life.
Explore the topic of inspiration and ask your child how they can inspire others around them.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: The story of Yao Ming showcases his journey from a young basketball enthusiast to a professional NBA player, emphasizing his consistent efforts and determination.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of practicing regularly and persisting through challenges in any field of interest, whether it’s sports, music, or academics.
Example Lesson: Cultural Appreciation
Explanation: Yao Ming’s story provides insights into his Chinese heritage and how he balanced it with his career in the United States, promoting cultural understanding.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to learn about and respect diverse cultures, enhancing social harmony and enriching their own lives.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the book, Yao Ming's interactions with his teammates illustrate the power of collaboration and supporting one another to achieve common goals.
Real-World Application: Children can apply the concept of teamwork to group activities at school, sports teams, and family projects, learning to value everyone’s contribution.
Example Lesson: Handling Success and Failures
Explanation: The biography covers both the highs and lows of Yao Ming’s basketball career, teaching kids how to gracefully accept success and cope with failures.
Real-World Application: This equips children with the resilience to face their own successes and setbacks in a balanced manner, fostering emotional intelligence and growth.
Example Lesson: Setting Goals
Explanation: Yao Ming’s achievements are highlighted as results of setting clear, achievable goals, which helped guide his career path.
Real-World Application: Children can be inspired to set their personal and academic goals, learning the importance of planning and having ambitions.