Key Learning Area
English
The Arts
Go for the ball!
Year levels
Years 3–4
Activity overview
These activities aim to assist students to develop their use
of descriptive language in their sentence structure. Drama
is used to explore different emotions and feelings and how
these can be conveyed and interpreted.
A creative writing task is used to assess students’ ability
to effectively use descriptive words and correct sentence
structure.
Time required
Activity 3: 2 sessions of 60 minutes
Materials
•
Worksheet 1: Describe it
•
access to an appropriate space for Activity 2
•
Worksheet 2: Play of the day
Preparation
Locate, view and select appropriate video segments provided in the Resources
section of the AFL CD-ROM. Organise an appropriate method of viewing, such as
data projector and computer for a whole class or computers for small group viewing.
Photocopy Worksheet 1: Describe it (one copy per student) and provide a suitable
area such as a whiteboard or large sheets of paper to record student’s responses.
Prior to Activity 3, ask students to select the creative writing task from the three
available options. If required, photocopy Worksheet 2: Play of the day (one copy
per student choosing this task).
© 2008 Australian Football League
Go for the ball!
Activity 1 and 2: each session 45–60 minutes
Activity steps
Conduct a brief discussion with the class about a time they were playing a ball
sport – such as Australian football – describing how they felt and the types of
actions or movements involved when trying to capture the ball, pass the ball
or score.
View selected videos provided in the Resources section of the AFL CD-ROM
as a stimulus for writing, with the aim of improved use of adjectives, adverbs
and verbs. Suitable video segments include:
•
Go for the ball
•
Bounce ball bounce
•
Extreme weather
Prior to viewing the video segment, orientate students by discussing what actions
they expect to see, the types of weather and what player feelings they might
recognise. After viewing the video segments students brainstorm relevant words
which may be classified as adjectives, adverbs or verbs.
Provide students with Worksheet 1: Describe it!. Organise them to work with
a partner to brainstorm describing words for the key words. Each student creates
and writes their own descriptive sentence using selected words from their list.
Share students’ descriptive sentences and create a class display of the
descriptive words organised under suitable headings. They describe the effect
of using the descriptive words in their sentences.
2. In a large open space, where they can move without bumping into the person
next to them, students act out some football actions with appropriate expressions
and gestures. Divide the class into two groups; one does the actions while the
other group watches and interprets the actions and expressions. After several
actions, swap groups.
Describe to the performing group only, an example of general football play and
the way they are to react without using words. Actions and feelings may include:
•
you mark the ball (happy, elated, relieved)
•
you kick to another team mate but it’s intercepted by the opposition
(initially happy but then disappointed)
•
you drop the mark (mad, annoyed)
•
chase the ball but cannot reach it (determined, tired, out of breath)
•
get caught holding the ball (embarrassed, sorry)
•
you get a free kick for a light push in the back (surprise).
© 2008 Australian Football League
Go for the ball!
1. Set up a modified football game so that students could reflect on the experience
for the following discussion.
Give students time to formulate their actions, expressions and gestures related to
the description given. Ask students watching, what clues they use to work out the
action and feelings.
Discuss the importance of dealing with your emotions when playing sports.
Students draw themselves involved in a sporting moment, such as in a football
game, and consider how to depict an appropriate response or expression. They
can add a caption in a speech bubble and/or a sentence to describe the action.
Discuss the use of descriptive words and ways of improving sentence structure.
Provide students with several options for a writing task to demonstrate their
improved use of descriptive words.
The writing tasks may include:
•
Writing a script for a 20 second television advertisement or poster titled
‘10 reasons why you should watch AFL Football’.
•
Describing the ‘Play of the Day’ using Worksheet 2: Play of the day.
•
Writing and presenting a passage of play as commentary on a ball sport
of your choice such as AFL Football. Create an interesting passage of play
that describes an unexpected ending.
Ensure students follow a process of writing which may include planning, writing
a draft, reading and self correction, gaining peer feedback, editing and
modifying, teacher feedback, final draft and sharing completed texts.
Assessment ideas
•
Use Worksheet 1 as evidence towards students’ understanding of descriptive
words and actions. Ask students to read out their descriptive sentence and
another sentence they can create from their word list.
•
Assess students’ ability to participate in discussion after viewing video segments
and after viewing performances.
•
Assess the creative writing task and students’ ability to effectively use descriptive
words and correct sentence structure.
Optional extension
In small groups students create a simple storyline based on a sport of their choice
and create a series of actions and moves to act out the brief passage of play. The
audience interprets the action and describes the play.
© 2008 Australian Football League
Go for the ball!
3. Writing task
Worksheet 1: Describe it!
Name: _____________________________________________________
Write descriptive words for the words in bold.
Use the words to create interesting sentences, for example:
The player nimbly ran across the lush grassy surface and gathered in the bouncing
football with ease.
player feels
bouncing
elated
tackled
dodged
nimbly ran
player
actions
marked
surface
weather
hot and
humid
lush
© 2008 Australian Football League
Go for the ball!
ball
Worksheet 2: Play of the day
Name: ____________________________________________________
_________________________
_______________________
________________________
_________________________
_______________________
________________________
_________________________
_______________________
________________________
_________________________
_______________________
________________________
© 2008 Australian Football League
Go for the ball!
Draw and describe your imaginative play of the day.