THEME: Go for YOUR Gold TYPE: Reflective writing MATERIALS .... Activite… · By 16 she was not...

EXCELLENCE ACTIVITY 126

THEME: Go for YOUR Gold LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Self reflection as a Goal setting strategy

TYPE: Reflective writing MATERIALS: Worksheet, pen/pencil

People who achieve excellence have a vision of the kind of future they want. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, dreamed of getting everyone involved in physical activity. He believed that people should do their very best in everything they took part in and that sport was a good place to practice this ideal. He presented his ideas to revive the Olympic Games to representatives from thirteen countries and thus began the modern Olympic Movement ACTIVITY: Your personal dream of excellence can be any aspect of your life and does not have to be sport-related. Write it in the space below, cut it out and paste it somewhere that you can see everyday. Share it with a friend or your entire Olympic Club.

. MY PERSONAL DREAM OF EXCELLENCE IS: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________


THEME: Becoming an Olympian – Motivation & Obstacles to Success LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Self reflection as a goal setting strategy

TYPE: Reflective writing MATERIALS: Pen/pencil

How does one become an Olympian? It takes a lot of hard work, great sacrifices and many disappointments. A young athlete who wants to become an Olympian must prepare for a long time, both physically and mentally. This requires a tremendous commitment on the part of the young athlete and his or her family. You may not reach your dream, but by striving toward your own level of excellence in sports, you will lean valuable lessons about health, self-discipline, determination and achievement. By participating in sports you will learn more about your self and other people, teamwork and cooperation. You can apply these lessons to everything you do in life. Motivation is the drive or reason behind the desire to accomplish something. Olympians must have tremendous motivation to train for as long and as hard as they do. ACTIVITY: Spell out the word MOTIVATION in a column and beside each letter, write three words that begin with that letter and that are related to motivation.

M _____________________________________ O _____________________________________ T _____________________________________ I ______________________________________ V _____________________________________ A _____________________________________ T _____________________________________ I ______________________________________ O _____________________________________ N _____________________________________ Obstacles to success: There are many different types of obstacles that an athlete may have to overcome in order to be an Olympic competitor. They may be physical, emotional, political or financial. ACTIVITY: Pick an athlete from any country and for any sport, and list any obstacles that athlete has overcome or may have to overcome on the road to success. Physical _______________________ Political __________________________ Emotional _____________________ Financial _________________________


THEME: Inspirational Stories of Excellence LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To gain inspiration from others in your writing

TYPE: Creative/Expository writing MATERIALS: Pen/pencil

Most great Olympic athletes overcome discouragement and disappointment, injury and physical handicaps, to achieve their dreams. They show not only great ability but also great heart. Read about two such Olympians below. WILMA RUDOLPH For Wilma Rudolph, the struggle for life began as a premature baby. She was 2.2 kg at birth – very small! Her childhood continued to be difficult. She was one of

eighteen children in a very poor family. After a series of illnesses, including polio, pneumonia and scarlet fever she lost the use of her left leg. She had to wear a leg brace and was unable to walk. Her mother, however, was determined that one day Wilma would walk. The whole family participated in a program to massage her leg regularly and took turns to stimulate the circulation. Wilma had spirit and determination. When she got a little older her brace was replaced with a special medical shoe. Wilma continued to walk and

walk and walk, faster and faster. At age 11, to her mother’s amazement, she threw away her brace and her special shoe to play basketball. By 16 she was not only a star in basketball, but also in track. In the 1960 Olympics she won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4 X 100m relay races. Until her death in 1993, Wilma continued to tell students about how hardship, the love of her family and being a successful athlete helped her become a happily married woman, mother and successful business person. SHUN FUJIMOTO In the floor exercise of the men’s team gymnastics competition in 1976 in Montreal, Shun Fujimoto injured his knee. He knew however that he had to compete in the rings, his best event, if his team wanted to beat the Soviet Union team and win a gold medal. He refused to take pain killers because he might have been disqualified, “I made myself forget what might happen when I landed” he said later. High over the spectators, he twisted, turned and balanced. Then he performed his landing -a double somersault with a full twist – landing heavily on the floor with both feel. He stood for the required three seconds, and then collapsed from the pain of his now shattered leg. Fujimoto’s pain and endurance won his team their gold medal. Was it worth it? He would say yes. ACTIVITY: Write a story or play about an Olympic at hlete (real or fictional) who had to overcome great challenges along the way to great success. Present it to your Olympic Club.


THEME: Seychelles EXCELLENT Olympians LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To research and compile biographical information about a successful person

TYPE: Biography research project MATERIALS: Paper, pen/pencil, pictures, news clippings

Each of the more than 10,000 athletes that compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games has their own story to tell about how they achieved their own level of excellence. Like all of us, they have good days and bad, triumphs and defeats, and likes and dislikes. ACTIVITY: Create a profile of one of Seychelles 47 Olympians, or an aspiring Seychellois athlete. Collect information about the athlete from newspaper clippings, television coverage, magazine articles, books in the SNOC resource centre, or by talking to them in person.

• Create a poster profile of the athlete • Place a photo or drawing of the person on top of the poster • Place to poster in a visible place so that everyone can learn about the athlete

Include the following in your profile:

1. Athlete’s name 2. Sport 3. Event or events in which the athlete competes or competed in 4. Birth date 5. Coach 6. Occupation 7. What the athlete says is his/her recipe for achieving excellence 8. Hobbies/interests 9. Any other additional information your think is impo rtant to include!

Fracis Labrosse Celine Laport Allen Julie


THEME: Personal Best LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To use personal performance as a means of recording progress

TYPE: Sport MATERIALS: pen/pencil

Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, believed that the most important thing was not to win, but to take part. He applied this principle to the Olympic Games, where all the top athletes compete, but he also believed that everyone should participate in sports, regardless of their level. Developing a healthy, active body is as important as a healthy active mind. For him, the main thing was to pursue excellence in sport, but this does not necessarily mean winning. The most important thing is taking part, and always achieving your personal best. If you do your best, you are a winner! ACTIVITY: Pick a sport that you like and plot your progress. For example, if you like to do the long jump or the 200 metre race, try to do a little better each time. Each time you do the event write down your distance or your time. The next time, compete against yourself by trying to do a little better. You can use the chart below to record your entries and see your progress. EVENT RESULT 1 RESULT 2 RESULT 3 BEST RESULT


THEME: Winning and losing…What’s Important? LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To use reflective thinking for self evaluation. To compare results in a group.

TYPE: Comparative study MATERIALS: Pen/pencil

ACTIVITY: It can really help in your performance p rogress to self-evaluate your beliefs. Fill in the chart below. How much do you value……. Very

little Little Much Very

much Winning Having Fun, playing the Game Friendship Exercise Fair Play Uniforms Competition, being my best Being part of a team Coaching Refereeing Each person in the club should complete this survey. As an entire club, it might be of interest to compare the results. Make graphs of the results to compare:

1. Each category 2. Girls and boys

3. Class average in each category

Discuss as a group:

1. What values do we demonstrate by our choices in this survey? 2. State these values we want to demonstrate? Why or why not?

3. What actions would we need to take to show that we are changing our values?


THEME: What Makes a Champion? LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To consider qualities that help make a champion.

TYPE: Word scramble MATERIALS: Pen/pencil

An athlete does not become a champion without a great deal of effort. ACTIVITY: Unscramble the letters in the following sentences to find out what qualities an athlete needs to be a champion.

1. S/he must be EIPSTRESNEC ______________________ , and always trying to improve. 2. S/he must show a great deal of MEERTDNATIION _____________________ since s/he

has spent many years practising. 3. S/he must be a part of his/her country’s team. In order to win a place on the team, s/he

must show a certain amount of ETLACITH _________________ ability. 4. A champion must be an IPMOITTSM __________________, always looking on the

bright side, always expecting the best. Write the unscrambled words from above that best describes the following quality. 1. Emma has a serious injury but works hard to get back in shape for the next race.

______________________________________ 2. Jonathon tried a new jump shot over and over again until he gets it right.

______________________________________ 3. Maria is sure that in spite of a 15th place finish in cross country running she will be in the

top 10 next year. __________________________________ 4. Daniel started swimming at age 8 and his coach quickly realized he had talent to be a

champion. ___________________________


THEME: You are a Champion! LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To use reflective thinking to answer posed questions.

TYPE: Role play MATERIALS: None

Today, a mighty spirit says you can become a star in any sport or activity you wish. You are being interviewed by a reporter. How would you respond to the following questions? ACTIVITY: Get into pairs and act out the role play below. Share your answers with others when you are finished.

1. Will you please describe some of the skills involved in your activity? 2. Will you please tell us what you had to do to reach your goal?

3. Is there anyone you’d like to mention who helped you? How did they help?

4. Your young fans would like to know what advice you would give to them so that they

can do what you did.

5. What does it feel like now that you have reached your goal? How has your life changed?

6. How can you share your experience with friends and the community?


THEME: What Makes a Champion? LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To use group discussion to gather a list of champion qualities.

TYPE: Group discussion/Art MATERIALS: Paper, coloured pencils

ACTIVITY:

1. Want Advert – In a small group, brainstorm what you thinks it takes to be a champion.

2. As a group, write up a WANT AD for “a champion”. Mount your advert on

the bulletin board in your classroom.

THEME: Star Chart LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To be reflective and selective in self-evaluation. TYPE: Language Arts/Art MATERIALS: Personal Photographs, paper, pen/pencil, card ACTIVITY: Identify one activity that you do really well, or that you really enjoy. Bring a photograph or an illustration of yourself doing the activity. With other members of your Olympic Club, create a group STAR CHART which includes your pictures and activities, and post it somewhere you can all see. Teach your club how to do the activity!


THEME: Great Quotations for Inspiration LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To understand and discuss famous quotations.

TYPE: Reflective thinking, group discussion, writing and research MATERIALS: Research materials, pen/pencil, paper

ACTIVITY: Read the following “Great Quotations”. “As you grow older, you’ll find the only things you regret are the things you didn’t do.” (Zachary Scott) “Those who cannot forgive others break the bridge over which they themselves must pass.” (Confucius)

“Failure is often that early morning hour of darkness that precedes the dawning of the day of success.” (unknown) “If you want your eggs hatched, sit on them yourself.” (Haitian proverb) “Solitude is a silent storm that breaks down all our dead branches; yet it sends our living roots deeper into the living heart of the living earth. (Kahil Gibran) “The worst of all deceptions is self-deception.” (Plato) “Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.” (Sarah Bernhardt)

1. Speak about the meaning of one of these quotations to your class or to a small group

2. In your own words, list the important lessons about life and striving for

excellence that are communicated in these quotes 3. Find other quotes – from the poets and writers of Seychelles.


ACTIVITY: The Best that I Can Be LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To understand the meaning of the Olympic Message and how to apply it to your own life

TYPE: Discussion, Art MATERIALS: Pens, paper

You can be an Olympic Champion for life. An Olympic champion is not only the athlete who wins a medal; Olympic champions celebrate when they have done their best. They celebrate when they have achieved a personal goal. They understand their strengths and their weaknesses. They take care of themselves. Enjoy the thrill of victory when you try something different or achieve a personal goal. Share the sadness of a loss or a defeat with family or friends. Joy and sadness are a part of everyone’s life. Each of these challenges contributes to a better understanding of all of us. When we understand ourselves better, we understand others better. This includes the many ways in which we are all similar and different. In the classroom there are daily opportunities to grow in this understanding, and to build individual self respect.

“The most important thing in the Olympic games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.”

ACTIVITY: Understand the following and discuss.

1. Read the quotation above. During every Olympic Games it is written on the big scoreboard in the Olympic Stadium. Rewrite the message in your own words.

2. Make a banner for your school using your own words for the quotation

above as your theme. 3. What sadness or defeats would you like to overcome in your life today? What

is one thing you could do to create some joy in this situation? 4. Why should you do your best even if you are “losing”?


THEME: Down, Down, Down LEARNING OBJECTIVE: To understand that excellence is a not just a great result!

TYPE: Physical Activity/Game MATERIALS: None

It is important to remember that striving for our own personal level of excellence is not only about trying to achieve great results. “Being excellent” means playing fairly, taking turns, including as many people as possible, helping others etc. Sometimes the winner of a game is not the most excellent player! Organize a game for your club and ask everyone to play as best as they can, making sure that everyone practices being “Excellent” sports people. Try the following game, played by children in Australia, to practice your excellent ball catching skills & behaviour – or choose any game you already know and play it to the best of your ability!

ACTIVITY:

1. Everyone needs to find a partner. Each pair is given a ball (or something you can throw)

2. You start off with the ball and throw the ball continuously back and forth until somebody drops the ball.

3. When someone drops the ball you say "Down on one knee" then say the same person drops it a second time then you say "Down on two knees" then if the same person drops the ball again you say "Down on one elbow” and again you say "down on two elbows" and then chin.

4. At this point you're out but remember you have to stay in the position you're in to catch the ball and throw the ball.


THEME: Training for Excellence LEARNING OBJECTIVE: What it takes to achieve one’s goals

TYPE: Problem Solving, creative thinking MATERIALS: Worksheet

Olympic athletes have a tremendous amount of skill, and make their sports look simple and effortless. It’s easy to forget the hours, days, weeks, months, and years of training they endure to compete for only a few minutes and sometimes only seconds! Training involves a nutritious diet and a carefully planned exercise routine. An athlete’s trainer or coach will help him/her to create the perfect balance between resting, stretching, endurance training, cardiovascular activities, eating, and sleeping to ensure peak performance on the day of competition. ACTIVITY: Look at the list of trainer’s tips on the left and match them to the reason statement. Cut the chart into individual sections and match the correct letters (tips) and numbers (reasons) by pasting them side by side on a blank sheet of paper. A. Drink a large glass of water first thing in the morning ... B. Eat a small breakfast including orange juice and high-energy cereal ... C. During physical training, be sure to drink at least one litre of a non-carbonated sports drink ... D. Eat plenty of healthy snacks throughout the day ... E. Enjoy a hearty meal early in the afternoon that includes proteins and only a little fat ... F. Be sure to include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet ... G. Be sure to stretch all the muscle groups before training ... H. Never consider using illegal "performance enhancing drugs" such as steroids ...

1. ... because it contains water, carbohydrates and sodium, which re-hydrates the body more effectively then water. 2. ... because proteins repair the body after all that hard work. 3. ... because this is not only cheating, but also dangerous to your health. 4. ... because it will re-hydrate the body after a long night without fluids. 5. ... because that will help warm them and prevent injury. 6. ... because they contain anti-oxidants, which help to prevent illnesses such as colds. 7. ... because an athlete requires more than three meals. 8. ... because vitamin C will help your body absorb the iron in the grain. (A lack of iron can lead to anemia!)


THEME: Survivor LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Importance of keeping focused and overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of excellence.

TYPE: Physical Activity/Game MATERIALS: Cones, balls (bean bags)

ACTIVITY: Line up all the players on the sideline of a designated area, except for one, who is at one end of the playing area. This player is to be the survivor (the one to be tagged) He or she begins at the opposite end of the area with ten bean or sandbags (or any other objects you have) in one arm. The other arm must be free to deflect the attacking balls. The free hand should be on the same side the balls are being thrown from. Set up a course using cones in a straight line Spaced about 3—4 meters apart, The object of the game is for the survivor to make it through the course to the last-cone, attempting to keep as many of the beanbags as possible. The other players throw the softballs at the survivor, trying to hit him -or her with the balls. The players have one ball each to tag with and they stand on one side of the field; The ”taggers” are only allowed to take one step a they try to tag. Every time the ball touches the survivors body, except for the deflecting free arm, the survivor must drop one of the bean bags. The balls can only hit the survivor when he or she is moving between the two cones (between stations) and not when he or she is at the station (around the cones). Once the survivor finishes or goes through the course to the end, the remaining bean bags are counted and a new survivor is chosen. Repeat the game until all have had a chance to be a survivor Discussion: How does this activity relate to Excellence? (Consider things like – distractions, other people trying to prevent you from being excellent, obstacles)

THEME: Go for YOUR Gold TYPE: Reflective writing MATERIALS .... Activite… · By 16 she was not...

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