KEY INFORMATION

Recommended age group: 12–14
Time required: one 45–60 minute session
Equipment: Be a Good Sport activity sheets.


ACTIVITY IDEA

This practical lesson is all about young people being the best they can be as an individual or as part of a team. Top class athletes live according to values and beliefs which help them be the best they can be and respect other competitors or team mates. This activity will challenge young people to display the values or excellence, determination and courage.

Young people will improve their fitness, strength and endurance during this lesson and it is recommended that it is be repeated over again throughout the year to monitor improvements. This enables children of all abilities to have success when competing against themselves and not others.

The All Star Challenge requires young people to complete different fitness activities in 20 seconds, 40 seconds or 60 seconds. They must count how many repetitions of the activity they can complete in the time. This activity can be completed as a large circuit-style activity and each station can have a team of five. Young people can record their individual scores and their accumulative team scores. Young people can complete the All Star Challenge for each time category.

  1. Divide young people into small groups and ask them to discuss and feed back to the class why athletes need to show the values of excellence, determination and courage.
  2. Explain to young people what the challenge is, distributes copies of the sheet and explain that they can complete it as an individual or as part of a team.
  3. Print out and give each young person an All Star chart. This is for young people to record and log their All Star Challenges and progress so they can track improvements over time. Young people can also take their chart home to complete activities in their own time.
  4. Set up the All Star Challenge and make sure young people are responsible for counting their own scores. This requires them to play fairly and be true to themselves and respect that others will do the same.
  5. Encourage young people to help each other throughout this activity through motivation and support. Achievement badges/stickers may be printed onto sticker templates and distributed accordingly.
  6. Encourage young people to be determined and show courage even if they are struggling or face set-backs.

Lesson summary

  1. Announce to the class the winning teams or individuals for the All Star Challenge. Highlight the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams or individuals and allow pupils to show respect for each other's achievements by congratulating each other, clapping, shaking hands, saying "well done" etc. This will allow young people to draw on all of their previous sessions and act in a positive sporting manner.
  2. Based on the results of the challenge or by observations throughout the lesson, award Achievement badges/stickers to young people who you think have shown any values of friendship or respect.
  3. Should this lesson be repeated throughout the year, on completion of it three times, a summary discussion should focus on any changes that appear to their scores. How do the improved scores make young people feel? What personal attributes or values have they displayed throughout this period?

Extension

  • Young people can create their own All-star Challenge using the All Star Challenge blank template.
  • For older groups and if you have time, get young people to add in new challenge activities. These can be noted on the blank template. Ensure these new activities are explained to the rest of the group.