Sports Theme Day

Sports

If your kids like sports of any type they will enjoy this Theme Day but even if they are not big sports fans try this Theme Day to excite their inner athlete.

Print out the Family Theme Day Planner and decide which activities you’d like to do and in what order.

SONGS:

For a song about an actual sport try “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” (Lonestar has a version). Check here for lyrics: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_stmo.shtml

Two great songs to pump up any athlete is “Eye of the Tiger,” by Survivor, or “We Will Rock You,” by Queen.

Lastly, for the winning team try this song: “We are the Champions,” by Queen.

RHYMES:

A great poem about baseball is “Casey at the Bat,” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. Check here for background poet as well as the poem: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_case.shtml

IDEA: Have your children act out the poem or draw pictures to illustrate it.

SCRAPBOOK ACTIVITIES:

COLOURING PAGES:

You can find many free coloring pages online by using your favourite search engine and typing in “Sports Coloring Pages” (or type in the specific sport if your child has a favourite) or print out my “Let’s Play Sports” Coloring Page.

JOURNALING QUESTION PROMPT:

Write out one or more of the following questions in your Family Theme Day Scrapbook or on a piece of paper to glue in your scrapbook: What is your favourite sport? Why do you like that sport the best? What sport do you like to play? What sport do you like to watch? Which sport would you like to learn about? Which sport would you like to try?

Choose the level of your child:

¨ Toddler – discuss the answer(s) out loud first and have your child draw a picture of the answer

¨ Preschooler/Kindergartener – discuss the answer(s) out loud first and write the answer down for him/her leaving one word for him/her to write out himself/herself with your help. You could also encourage him/her to draw a picture as well.

¨ Early Grade School – have your child either write out the answer himself/herself (encourage phonetic spelling) without your help, or offer to help with spelling each word out loud one word at a time.

¨ Grade School – have your child write a sentence or two on his/her own and then read over and discuss the response. (You decide whether to correct the spelling or not)

¨ Older Child – have your child write a longer response (paragraph).

¨ As A Challenge – instead of a question ask your older child to write a poem or a story about sports in general or about a specific sport.

PUZZLES:

Print out a Sports Word Search: Easy Sports Word Search or Difficult Sports Word Search.

Check here for the answer keys: Easy Sports Word Search Key or Difficult Sports Word Search Key.

BOOKS:

Raid your child’s bookshelves to find any books about sports.

Go to the library with your child to find some books on sports or any individual sport that your child may be interested in.

Go to the library on your own to find books on sports from both fiction and nonfiction to have already on hand for your theme day. Many libraries allow you to go online and search for titles based on subject (search for “sports” under “children’s books”). Reserve them if you can to save time.

Try to find some of these nonfiction/learning titles:

· Coaches, by Cecilia Minden, The Child’s World, 2006—Part of the Neighborhood Helpers Series this easy to read book give the basics on what a coach does.

· Hey Batta Batta Swing! The Wild Old Days of Baseball, by Sally Cook & James Charlton and illustrated by Ross MacDonald, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2007—It looks like a picture book and has fantastic old-fashioned illustrations but it is a factual book about the history of baseball and all its changes.

· Know Your Sport: Golf, by Clive Gifford, Sea-to-Sea Publications, 2010 – This book includes information about equipment and etiquette, getting started, different golf swings etc. And has many photographs. There are more books in this series, including Badmington, Basketball, Cycling etc.

· Eyewitness Sports, Written by Tim Hammond, DK Publishing Inc., 2005—This is a super non-fiction book that looks at many different sports with detail and photographs including soccer, hockey, cricket, squash, gymnastics, boxing, fencing, etc.

· How basketball Works, by Keltie Thomas, Maple Tree Press, 2005— Basketball fans will love this thorough book as it examines all aspects of the game including its history , legends, and even rules and regulations.

· Soccer in Action, by Niki Walker and Sarah Dunn, Crabtree Publishing Company, 2000—One of the Sports in Action Series it is both detailed yet easy to read making it a great resource for kids wanting to learn more about their favourite sports. There are many other sports covered in this series of books (Badminton, baseball, Figure Skating, karate, etc.) so choose your child’s favourite sport.

Here are some picture books:

· Crocodiles Play, by Robert Heidbreder and illustrations by Rae Maté, Simply Read Books, 2008—With fun illustrations showing crocodiles playing various sports, the rhymes set up more humour as they appear to lead to one sport but when you flip the page the silly crocodiles are using the equipment for the wrong sport.

· Dunk Skunk, by Michael Rex, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2005—A very simple book, good for preschoolers and younger, with illustrations of various animals performing sports actions (like “Bat Cat” and “Glove Dove” playing baseball).

· Good Sports: Rhymes About Running, Jumping, Throwing, and More, by Jack Prelutsky and illustrations by Chris Raschka, Alfred A. Knopf, 2007—This is a book full of little rhyming poems about different sports with playful illustrations to match.

Here are some easy reader books to consider:

· Sports! Sports! Sports! A Poetry Collection, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and pictures by Brian Floca, Harper Collins Publishers, 1999—A collection of twenty small poems this would be a perfect book for beginner readers.

· Wonder Women of Sports, by S. A. Kramer and illustrated by Jim Campbell, Grosset & Dunlap, 1997—This is a longer reader book and would be great for girls as it highlights four women athletes: Amy Van Dyken, Dominique Moceanu, Rebecca Lobo, and Gail Devers.

Older kids might really like these two Sports Science Books with various activities and experiments to try:

· The Leaping Sliding Sprinting Riding Science Book:50 Super Sports Science Activities, by Bobby Mercer and illustrated by Tom LaBaff, Lark Books, 2006

· Sports Science, by Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone , illustrated by David Garbot, and photography by Stephen Ogilvy, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

CRAFTS:

SPORTS STICKER COLLAGE:

Materials: Coloured paper, an assortment of sports stickers, crayons or markers (optional for embellishment).

Step 1: Let your child choose the colour of paper for the background.

Step 2: Give your child the stickers and let him/her make a collage (stickers everywhere) or a scene with the stickers.

Step 3: If your child wants to have him/her embellish the picture by adding more detail or even drawing people using the sports equipment stickers as my 5 year old son did.

Step 4: Display or glue into your Family Theme Day Scrapbook.

SPORTS STAR CARD:

Materials: Print out my Sports Star Card Worksheet, a pencil, crayons or markers.

Step 1: Have your child draw a picture of him/herself in the first rectangle.

Step 2: Have your child write his/her nickname below the picture. Help younger children to print the letters themselves.

Step 3: Help your child fill out the information on the second rectangle (help them with spelling or have younger children just write one word).

Step 4: Cut out the two rectangles and glue them back to back to make one single Sports Card!

DECORATED CAP:

NOTE: Unlike most of my crafts this one calls for specialty items that you might not have on hand. My boys really liked this craft though. It may be worth the splurge!

Materials: Fabric paint, fabric glue, an old cap, craft felt (purchased from a craft store), and foam stickers.

Step 1: Cover any detailing on the old cap using felt and fabric glue. Cut out a piece of felt that fits the spot you wish to cover. Apply fabric glue and press the felt onto the cap.

Step 2: Let your child decorate the hat using fabric paint (we used the puffy 3 dimensional ones) and foam stickers.

Step 3: Let the cap dry at least 24 hours and then your child can wear it!

PENNANTS:

Materials: Craft felt in the colour(s) of your child’s favourite sports team or perhaps the colour of a team they are playing with (purchased from a craft store—if you made the above craft you will already have this item), foam sticker letters and foam sports stickers. (If you do not want to buy foam stickers you can use regular stickers or have your child draw pictures and glue them on with white glue), sharper scissors (parent use).

Step 1: (Parent step) Cut the felt into a large triangle.

Step 2: Give your child the sports and letter foam stickers to decorate the triangle. You can help them to spell out his/her team’s name!

Step 3: Display in your child’s room or take to the next sports game to cheer the team on!!

POP-STICK ATHLETE IN A JERSEY:

Materials: A craft stick or popsicle stick, a copy of my Jersey Worksheet, markers, pipe cleaners, glue stick, child safe scissors, damp cloth for sticky fingers, sports stickers (optional for embellishments).

Step 1: Have your child draw a face on one end of the craft/popsicle stick with markers.

Step 2: Have your child decorate the Jersey Worksheet with markers to match any sport of his/her choosing. My 5 year old choose soccer. My 9 year old choose tennis. Help them work out what details need to be added—like team colour or logo (use stickers if you have them) or number of a favourite player on the back. The worksheet jersey has the front and back of a jersey on it. NOTE: You can also use it as a template and trace it over coloured paper.

Step 3: Cut out the jersey leave the two sides (front and back) connected.

Step 4: Twist a pipe cleaner (cut in half) around the craft stick to be used as the athlete’s arms.

Step 5: (Parent step) Carefully cut a hole for the “neck” of the pop stick athlete to fit through.

Step 6: Apply glue stick to the uncoloured sides (both front and back to ensure proper sticking) of the coloured paper jersey.

Step 7: Thread the craft stick through the hole in the jersey and arrange pipe cleaner arms in the right spot (parent help) before pressing the jersey together to stick to the craft stick and to each side.

Step 8: Feel free to add an stickers or hand drawn embellishments like sports equipment. My little fellow used a soccer sticker and my big fellow drew his own tennis racquet.

FOOD:

SNACK:

Fresh fruit makes a great snack for this Theme Day as it is the perfect after sport snack. After my son’s soccer games they’d eat either orange slices or watermelon slices. Try also grapes, bananas, and apple wedges (sprinkled with lemon juice to prevent browning).

Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie:

NOTE: The Peanut Butter adds protein to this smoothie making it a good power drink for before sports. If there are nut allergies you could add some silken tofu to get the protein. You may need to add more honey or even a small teaspoon of sugar though.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla or plain yogurt, 1 cup of low-fat milk, 3 tbsp of peanut butter (only if there are no nut allergies in your family), 2 tbsp of oats, 1 tbsp of honey, 1 banana, 5 ice cubes.

Step 1: Put all ingredients in a blender and mix together until smooth.

Step 2: You may need to add more honey if it isn’t sweet enough (especially if you use plain yogurt).

LUNCH:

Whole Wheat Pita Sandwiches: Pita (either small or large) are round like sports balls so stuff some whole wheat ones with cheese, lunch meat and veggies for a healthy lunch.

DINNER:

Whole Wheat Pasta is a good choice pre-game for some needed carbs.

DESSERT:

Sports Cookies: Make your favourite sugar cookie or shortbread cookie recipe and use circle cookie cutters. Then make your own icing and colour it with food colouring or better yet to get better colours buy tubes of black, orange and red icing. Have your kids decorate them to be different sports balls. Baseballs, basket balls, pool or billiard balls, and bowling balls were the easiest for us.

NOTE: Don’t forget to give your kids lots of fluids (preferably water or non-flavoured milk) post-game!

LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

CHART:

Print out my Individual vs. Team Sports Worksheet and either from memory or from reading different books about sports write down, as a family, the names of different sports that fit each category.

WEBSITE:

Older kids might like this website with different information about many different sports:

http://www.factmonster.com/sports.html

FOR FUN:

CHARADES:

Print out a copy of my Sports Charades worksheet and cut out each word. Put the words in a bag, jar or hat and take turns drawing them. Either play charades individually or in teams (if you have children who cannot read yet) and guess what sport was drawn through mimed actions or play follow the leader and have everyone take turns leading the family around the living room or backyard acting like the sport drawn form the jar.

JOKES:

Q: Why is a baseball game like a pancake?

A: Because they both depend on the batter.

Jim: Did you hear the joke about the jump rope?

Kim: Skip it!

Q: What type of martial arts does a pizza do?

A: Kung Food!

EXTENDED ACTIVITIES:

AUDIO VISUAL:

Search through your child’s DVD/ video collection (or visit your local library before hand or the Video Store) to find your child’s favourite shows about sports.

For young children try these titles:

· Sesame Street: Count on Sports, Sesame Workshop, 2008

This is a great cartoon movie about baseball:

· Everyone’s Hero, IDT Entertainment, 2006

Here are some other titles to consider:

· Arthur: The Good Sport, Sony Music Entertainment, 2002

· The Magic School Bus: Super Sports Fun, Scholastic, 2004

· Scooby Doo: Sports Spooktacular, Warner Brothers

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:

Play a favourite sport in your backyard or in a park together as a family.

FIELD TRIP:

Watch a sports team in action like a local team, or a high school team, or a professional team if you want to spend more money.