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A Lesson on The Football Team Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite
A Lesson on The Football Team Grade: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Robert Russell
Lesson Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Keywords/Tags: Reading, Vocabulary, Football, Leadership, Teamwork, Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Discussion, Writing, Opinion
Lesson Description: Students will read the short story called "The Football Team". To show comprehension, they will answer questions with specific vocabulary words, followed by a class discussion of three questions, and ending with a written opinion response.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.3: Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.4: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
 
     
     
 
Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.

The Football Team

A team is a group of people with a common goal. A school’s football team has two goals. One goal is to win. That is what the team wants to do. The other goal is to build character. Character is what a person values, how a person relates to others. That is why schools have football teams. They want to help students build good values. 

There are many character traits that a football player can develop. One is leadership. The quarterback of the team is a leader. The quarterback makes choices—which play to make, who will get the ball. The quarterback has a big job. The quarterback has to inspire the players to work together. If they are losing, the quarterback has to work even harder, to give the players hope they still can win. 

There is another leader, too. The leader of the defensive group. When the defensive group is playing, that means the team may lose points. So the leader has to keep the team members working together to stop that. 

Each team member builds character. They learn to cooperate. They learn to make good decisions. They work hard. They practice every day. They learn to follow the rules. If a team member does not follow the rules, the entire team suffers. 

Each team member has a position. Each position is part of winning. No one player has the ability to win the game for the team. Only if the team works together does a team win. 
People often say, “There is no I in TEAM.” 

Whether the team wins or loses, at the end of the game they congratulate the other team. That is called sportsmanship. While they fight to win during the game, it is just a game. They cannot be angry with the other team. If they are, they’ll hear from their coach. 

The coach makes sure the team reaches the school’s goal. The coach cares about the whole team. The coach gives each player advice. When the team wins, everyone celebrates. And the coach is glad. But after the season is over, the coach is still happy. The coach gets to see the players as they go to school every day. The character they have built is part of their success in school, too. 

Some coaches say that if you go into a classroom at their school you’ll be able to tell the players. It is not that they are bigger than the other students. It is the ones who are helping other students work. Teamwork is part of their lives. 
 
     
     
 
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity (40 points)
Instructions: Please complete the following vocabulary activity by choosing the correct meaning of each word selected from the passage and use of each word correctly in a sentence.
Vocabulary Questions
Word/Phrase: Character | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1 The author refers to building "character" by playing football. In this context, what does character mean?
A. The person a story is about
B. Strong muscles
C. A person's moral quality *
D. A funny cartoon
Which sentence uses the word "character" in the correct context?
A. Bob was the main character in the story.
B. Steve was building strong characters in the gym.
C. Hard work and dedication to the team built character. *
D. Carl is a very funny character in class.
Word/Phrase: Sportsmanship | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q2 Using the text, what does the author mean when they describe "sportsmanship"?
A. Respecting all team members and opponents *
B. Winning the game
C. Running off the field if you lose
D. Someone that plays sports
Which sentence below uses the word "sportsmanship" correctly?
A. All team members had excellent sportsmanship on and off the field. *
B. Alex is on the soccer team. Alex is a sportsmanship.
C. Sally sportsmanshiped at the end of the game.
D. When Tucker scored the winning goal, his team celebrated their sportsmanship.
Word/Phrase: Cooperate | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 The authors states, "They learn to cooperate". What does cooperate mean?
A. Ignore people they don't like
B. Work together for the same goal *
C. Practice everyday
D. Throw the ball
Which sentence below uses the word "cooperate" correctly?
A. Chris learned to cooperate the ball.
B. The team had to meet after school for cooperate.
C. Max would cooperate Louis because he didn't like him.
D. The team learned to cooperate to win games. *
Word/Phrase: Quarterback | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 The author talks about the "quarterback" a lot in the second paragraph. Based on this text what does the word "quarterback" mean?
A. The referee of the game.
B. A special coin that is tossed at the beginning of the game
C. The coach of the football team
D. The leader of the team *
Which sentence uses the word "quarterback" correctly?
A. The quarterback selects who makes the team and runs the practices.
B. The quarterback calls the plays on the field and throws the ball. *
C. The quarterback determines is a team scores a touchdown.
D. Tyler lost the quarterback at the beginning of the game.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.3,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (30 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.
  Topic Title Replies
Message Character
The author talks about how important it is to build character. What are some ways football players build character? Use the text for reference.
Sent on: Feb 18, 2019 by: Robert Russell		 0
Message Teamwork
The author states, "There is no I in TEAM." Describe a time you were part of a team and what it meant to you. 
Sent on: Feb 18, 2019 by: Robert Russell		 0
Message Leadership
In the story, the quarterback is the leader of the team on the field. What responsibilities does the quarterback have on the field and off the field? What does being a leader mean to the quarterback?
Sent on: Feb 18, 2019 by: Robert Russell		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.4,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: In 300 words, utilizing specific examples, describe the positive effects of playing football (or on any sports team) while in school. Try to add in a positive that is not already mentioned in this story.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2,
 
     

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