The Dream Team

Imagine if you could create your own hockey line-up? What type of players would you want in each position? Of course they need to be strong and quick, but what else? In groups, create a line-up of Hockey Cards for your Dream Team!

Here’s a fun activity for kids who can’t get enough of sports…and who could talk about their last match for 45 minutes straight. BUT it’s also a good activity to get them thinking about their values while developing vocabulary, arts/crafts skills and maybe even numeracy!

Materials:

Regular or Construction Paper cut into 4 pieces

Scissors

Markers/Pencils/Crayons

Activity:

Start the activity by engaging your kids with the task of having the best possible line-up. Ask them what they would need to look for when building their roster. Expect to here things like “fast!” “a good shooter!” “never lets the puck in!”

But what other things are super important that maybe they forgot? Maybe the goalie needs to be OBSERVANT. The Captain of the team should be a good LEADER. What does “leader” mean?

Show them real hockey cards or ask them to think about them. What other things are on them?

1. Statistics! A perfect goalie lets 0% of the shots in. What does 0% mean? If there were 7 shots on net and the goalie let in 0%, how many did shots did he save?

2. Personal Information! Let the kids get creative. Where is he/she from? What does he/she look like? (draw him!)

Together, make a team the Habs would be JEALOUS of!

My Best Friend, the Superstar

 

In this activity, children will look at what makes a person valuable. They will compare their own values and needs with what the media/society deems important, flashy and sellable.

The activity begins enticingly: students will create the IDEAL superstar. Using paper, crayons, markers, magazines, etc, students in small groups will brainstorm all of the best attributes in making a celebrity. You can expect your students to emphasize good looks, fashion, singing/dancing ability, fitness, money, etc. Let their imaginations run wild. It is your choice whether your students simply brainstorm with words/images or they draw the celebrity him/herself (perhaps they draw a magazine cover).

Then, the students are given a new task: create the IDEAL best friend. Using the same materials, students in the same small groups will brainstorm all of the best attributes of a best friend. The intention is to focus on internal values, so it may be up to you to focus the discussion. Some topics/values may include: trustworthy, funny, kind, caring, fun, sharing, etc. Again, students may simply brainstorm OR draw the best friend him/herself.

To end the activity, lead a short discussion (or, perhaps, ask these questions throughout the activity):

1. What values are mainly about the kind of person someone is?
2. What person has more of these values: the superstar or the best friend?
3. What made you choose the values/attributes that you did for the superstar?…the best friend?
4. What is the difference between beauty on the inside and beauty on the outside? Which is more important? Which can you see in a magazine?
5. Who would you prefer to have in your life?
6. Any questions you deem important.