Losing isn't any fun. It is, however, a part of competing. Two activities encourage middle schoolers to consider what good sportsmanship is, how they can be a good sport, and ways to handle situations when some are acting unsportsmanlike. For the first activity, groups draft and perform a skit about sportsmanship. Individuals then research a professional athlete to determine if he or she is a good sport. The final discussion centers on whether professional athletes have a responsibility to be good sports.

Concepts

sportsmanship, anger management, competition, cheating, social-emotional learning, casel, self-awareness

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

health

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Divide the class into five expert groups, assign each a different article to examine, and then jigsaw the groups and have experts report

Classroom Considerations

• Requires access to computers equipped with internet and copies of the "Sportsmanship in Action" and "Respect for the Game" handouts

Pros

• The seven-page packet includes links to reading articles, discussion questions, templates for the handouts, and a comprehension check with an answer key

Cons

• None