Researching Sporting Events

Overview

This is lesson 3 of 12 in the "Celebrating UK Sports Stars" unit. The lesson lasts 45 minutes, catering to Year 5 students (ages 9-10). Pupils will research specific sporting events, focusing on their origins, evolution, and societal impact. They will work in pairs to create brief multimedia presentations showcasing their findings.

---

Curriculum for Wales Alignment

Area of Learning and Experience (AoLE)

Health & Well-being and Humanities (History) integration

Relevant Statements of What Matters (SoWMs)

• Humanities: Humans are curious and participan in exploring their past to understand the present and influence the future.
• Health & Well-being: Participation in physical activity supports health, well-being, and social skills development.

Progression Steps & Learning Objectives (Year 5)

• Understand how historical and social contexts influence sporting events.
• Develop research skills using different sources including digital media.
• Share and communicate findings effectively to peers.
• Work collaboratively with peers respecting different viewpoints and roles.

Cross-curricular Skills

• Digital Competence: Use digital tools to gather, organise, and present information.
• Literacy: Use spoken and written language to communicate ideas clearly.
• Numeracy: Interpret simple data (e.g., event dates, attendance figures) in research.

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

1. Investigate the origins and evolution of a given UK or international sporting event.
2. Identify the societal impact of the sporting event (e.g., cultural, economic, or health-related).
3. Collaboratively create and deliver a short multimedia presentation highlighting key findings.

---

Success Criteria

• I can find and record important information about a sporting event using books, videos, or online resources.
• I can explain how the sporting event has changed over time and why it is important to society.
• I can work well with my partner to create a multimedia presentation.
• I can speak clearly to share what I have learned with others.

---

Resources

• Laptops/tablets with internet access (pre-approved websites and media)
• Printed fact sheets about various sporting events (e.g. Wimbledon, The Grand National, The FA Cup, Commonwealth Games)
• Presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint, Google Slides) or alternative multimedia tools (e.g., video editing apps)
• Headphones for watching short video clips
• Whiteboards and markers for planning
• Projector or interactive whiteboard for presentations

---

Lesson Structure

Starter (5 minutes)

• Engage with a short video clip showing highlights of iconic UK sporting events (e.g., Wimbledon tennis match, FA Cup final).
• Recap last lesson’s key points about UK sports stars to anchor prior knowledge.
• Pose reflective questions:
  • "What makes a sporting event important to people?"
  • "How do you think sporting events have changed over time?"

Main Activity (35 minutes)

Step 1: Pair formation & event assignment (5 minutes)

• Pupils are organised into pairs and assigned or choose a sporting event from the prepared list.
• Each pair receives a fact sheet and access to digital resources.

Step 2: Research and note-taking (15 minutes)

• Pupils use laptops/tablets and printed resources to gather information:
  • Origins and history of the event
  • How it evolved over time
  • Its impact on society (culture, economy, health)
• Provide graphic organisers to assist note-taking.

Differentiation:

• Support pupils with scaffolded notes or sentence starters.
• Provide more detailed resources for advanced learners.
• Allow use of text-to-speech software or reading support as needed.

Step 3: Presentation planning and creation (15 minutes)

• Pupils collaborate to create a short multimedia presentation (3-4 slides or 2-minute video):
  • Use images, bullet points, short videos, or narration.
  • Focus on clear, concise information delivery.

Extension Activity:

• Advanced learners can include a simple timeline showing the evolution of the sporting event or compare its impact with another event.

---

Plenary (5 minutes)

• Pairs deliver a quick 1-minute summary of their research to the class.
• Use a rubric or thumbs-up/down to assess engagement and content clarity.
• Reflect together on:
  • "What surprised you about your sporting event?"
  • "How do you think these events bring people together?"

---

Assessment for Learning

• Teacher observes pair work to check engagement and research skills.
• Review presentations against success criteria.
• Use oral feedback during plenary to identify understanding and areas to develop in future lessons.

---

Differentiation Strategies

• Mixed ability pairing to provide peer support.
• Visual and auditory resources for diverse learning styles.
• Graphic organisers and sentence starters for those who need language support.
• Alternative presentation formats (e.g., oral only) if writing or digital skills are limited.
• Enrichment challenges for advanced learners (timeline creation, comparative impacts).

---

Reflection and Next Steps

• Reflect on how researching sporting events helps understand cultural importance.
• Prepare students for Lesson 4: "Celebrating UK Sports Stars’ Achievements" where they will connect events with athletes’ stories.

---

This lesson plan embraces Wales’s Curriculum’s holistic approach to learning by developing research, collaboration, and communication skills alongside health and humanities knowledge. The combination of digital and traditional resources ensures engagement for all learners, helping them appreciate the deep social and historical roots of sports celebrated in the UK.