Being a good sport is a vital life skill that lays the groundwork for lifelong positive social interactions. Teaching this skill to elementary school students equips them with the tools to handle wins and losses in life. The journey towards being a good sport is a blend of empathy, calming strategies, and positive self-talk, which are all encompassed in Everyday Speech’s Elementary Good Sportsmanship Goal Poster.

The Importance of Teaching Good Sportsmanship in Elementary Schools

Elementary school is an integral phase in a child’s emotional and social development. Teaching them good sportsmanship cultivates qualities like respect, fairness, and empathy, building a solid foundation for their future. Good sportsmanship lessons help children understand the value of collaboration, perseverance, and resilience, shaping them into self-aware individuals.

The Role of a Goal Poster in Teaching Sportsmanship

A goal poster is a visual tool that can visualize the concept of being a good sport for young learners. The “Elementary Good Sportsmanship Goal Poster” includes three main steps:

1. Thinking about others’ feelings
2. Using a calming strategy, and
3. Practicing self-talk

Lesson Plan: How to Implement the Good Sportsmanship Goal Poster

The Elementary Good Sportsmanship Goal Poster should be displayed in a common area, ensuring constant visibility. Each aspect of the poster should be explained thoroughly, illustrating real-life situations for clarity.

1. Think about others’ feelings: Emphasize empathy by asking students how they would feel in various scenarios. Encourage them to express their feelings and respect others’ emotions.
2. Use a calming strategy: Teach students to manage their emotions when they’re frustrated or upset. Techniques can include deep breaths, counting to ten, or thinking of something happy.
3. Use self-talk: Self-talk can guide students’ behavior and emotions. Encourage positive self-talk phrases like, “I can handle this,” or “Winning isn’t everything.”

Activities to Reinforce Good Sportsmanship Lessons

There are numerous no-prep activities you can implement to reinforce these lessons:

1. Role-Play: Create scenarios where students can enact both good and bad sportsmanship behaviors. Discuss these instances, allowing students to understand the difference.
2. Sportsmanship Charades: A fun-filled game where students enact different sportsmanship scenarios and others have to guess whether it reflects good or bad sportsmanship.
3. Sportsmanship Discussions: Regularly discuss play activities (i.e., playground or physical education), focusing on students’ sportsmanship behaviors. Analyze positive actions and ask students to share their views.

The Importance of Being a Good Sport

Teaching good sportsmanship in elementary schools fosters emotionally intelligent and empathetic individuals. The Elementary Good Sportsmanship Goal Poster, coupled with interactive activities, makes this learning journey enjoyable and effective. As elementary educators, our aim should always be to guide our students in becoming not only great learners but also kind human beings.

Sample Video

Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video-modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here!

Related Blog Posts:

Lesson Plan: Being a Good Sport

Teaching Good Sportsmanship: An Essential Social Skill for Students

Developing Empathy: Understanding Others’ Feelings – A Guide for Educators