Some resources to inspire writing whilst the European Football Championships are on. 

The Switch - Featuring Cristiano Ronaldo 

In this advert for Nike we see Cristiano Ronaldo clashing heads with an English ball boy whilst playing for Portugal against England.  When they wake up the next day both of them feel a little different. Charlie and Ronaldo have swapped places. The story is one of hard work as the teenage boy in Ronaldo's body works hard to play as well as his hero.  A story that shows anything is possible with persistence and determination. 
Writing opportunities. 
  • Create a news report for the first game, detailing the clash between Ronaldo and Charlie. 
  • Write an internal monologue for the characters when they wake up in the morning.  What do they think as they look at them selves in the mirror etc. 
  • Write a biography for Charlie, once he has swapped bodies with Ronaldo. 
  • Watch the second match without the sound and create a football commentary.
  • Write dialogue between two of their team mates discussing the changes in their team mates. 
  • Rewrite the film as a narrative in the 3rd person. 
  • Rewrite the story in the 1st person, allow students to choose the football they would like to 'switch' with. 
Our World Cup shed has some films that can be used for this topic too. Click here 

The last game 

A stunning animation set in the near future, any soccer mad child would love to recreate this narrative.  Watch the clones take over the world of Sport will Ronaldo and Co be able to bring back the excitement of the game.  
Writing opportunities:
  • Discussion text: Safe v taking risks, 
  • Can we take all the danger out of sport?
  • Narrative - retell the story. 
  • Diary entries - for one of the players when their career comes to an end. 
  • A commentary piece on the different styles, clones v humans. 
  • A news report of the final game. 

For more sporting films and activities click here

The Official Tournament song - David Guetta. 

We're born to fly
So let's keep living 'til it all falls down
Let's close our eyes
And let the moment drive the whole world out


We're in this together
Hear our hearts beat together
We stand strong together
We're in this forever
This one's for you
This one's for you

[Breakdown]

[Verse 2: Zara Larsson]
Waving colored flags
We won't surrender, there's no standing down
There's a playing field
It's full of winners, we're breaking new ground

[Chorus: Zara Larsson]
We're in this together
Hear our hearts beat together
We stand strong together
We're in this forever
This one's for you
This one's for you

[Breakdown]

[Bridge: Zara Larsson]
In this together
Woah, woah
Oooooh

[Chorus: Zara Larsson]
We're in this together
Hear our hearts beat together
We stand strong together
We're in this forever
This one's for you
Discuss the lyrics with students and debate their meaning. 

Think about who is 'in it together' is it just the players? 

Children could write poems that show how they feel about winning or standing together. 

You might just want to play this in your classroom on a hot day with the windows open to chill out whilst the children are completing their writing tasks.