The Last Game from Nike - Animated Football Dystopia

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. 

So much to do and so little time!! 

The world cup is coming...

The world cup is coming and this video has been produced to advertise it and show off what Brazil has to offer and how the stadiums and infrastructure were put into place. 
Children could write an advert promoting one of the host cities and it's stadium. 
What does this advert show about Brazilian culture?  What are Brazilians proud of?

I am Brazuca

The Brazuca is the official ball of the world cup. 

Children could write an advert for the football, showing how it is different to balls which went before it. 

There are many site which show the science behind the ball and the testing that it went through in it's creation. 

Maths Link: Show the shape of the panels the ball is made of - can the children make their own ball using different shapes, which shapes make the roundest ball?


Useful article about the ball
The Brazuca ball according to Adidas
  • The Brazuca ball has six polyurethane panels that are bonded to keep the ball the same weight and roundness in even the heaviest of rain.
  • The never-before-seen panel shape revolutionizes the game by producing faster flight speed and maintaining true roundness.
  • The bladder of the Brazuca ball is made of latex and provides the desired rebound.
  • The ball is textured and feels more like the adidas’ Finale 13, the official UEFA Champions League ball, than the adidas Jabulani used in South Africa four years ago.
  • The adidas Brazuca ball, in a bold white/night blue/multicolor colorway befitting Brazil, is the most colorful ever for a FIFA World Cup.


Click here to see Brazuca writing by Inglewood Junior School

The Dream - all or nothing

Lionel Messi is in bed and he is dreaming about the World Cup.  Children could write a diary from Messi's point of view, what are his hopes and fears?  
Write a narrative as if they are in the England football team and they score the winning goal.  How does it end?  Do they wake up and it was all a dream?  
An advert for a bank - although you wouldn't know it.  Something is happening, something mysterious and no one knows what it is.  This advert would be great to use to inspire a piece of narrative writing, a 1st person recount of what is happening, the unusual weather phenomena, the cracks in the street, people unsure what is happening.  Use long descriptive sentences punctuated with short ones to build tension.  Alan Peat's 'Show not tell' method could be used to great effect. 
Ask the children to compare the two images.  What is different about the children playing football in Brazil and those playing in England.  There are many e,g, boots, kits, 'proper' ball, grass.  
Activities:
  • Produce a persuasive campaign for a charity to send football equipment to Brazil, 
  • Write a discussion piece about the differences between children in the UK and Brazil. 
  • This could lead to work discussing the value of the world cup in Brazil, millions of pounds have been spent on the infrastructure and hosting the world cup but who is going to benefit from this?  Would it have been better to spend the money in other ways. 
  • Children could write a letter to FIFA encouraging them to support children in the Favelas, perhaps sending them free tickets etc. 
  • The image below (from @matteitelsmith via twitter)  could be used in the same discussion.
  • Ask how is the boy feeling?  He is poor and there has been so much spent on the world cup.  
  • How would he spend the money?

Deforestation in the amazon

Great for learning about the Rainforest.   Facts to aid persuasive writing about deforestation.  Write a letter to governments urging them to stop this. 
Children could perhaps create a charity advertising campaign to stop the deforestation. 

Some useful images 

Click on the image to enlarge and then right click to save it. 

Skills from Brazil by Dan Freedman

A great book by Dan Freedman to complement any World Cup themed lessons. 

Download schemes of work here:
Primary Scheme of work 
KS3 Scheme of work 
Provided by Susan Rickard at Hamworthy Park Junior School, 


See reviews and blurb on amazon here