· TOO SMALL FOR THE TEAM

'Being a good team player'

Lesson Plan
Film Synopsis
Little Sister wants to join the school soccer team. She practises hard and even tries to get into the team.
However, Coach thinks she still has some growing up to do before she is ready to compete. Seeing
Sister's determination to be a part of the team, Coach offers her the role of the team manager. It is a
tough job and at times Sister wants to quit. However, Sister soon learns to enjoy her work and have fun
with everyone in the team. Coach really likes Sister's perseverance and team spirit. One day, she gets a
chance to actually play. Sister scores a jubilant goal and the team wins. Then Sister realises that being a
part of the team no matter what role you play is important and what matters in the end is helping the
team out, not giving up and being a good team player.

Life Skills : Communication, Problem Solving, Interpersonal Skills

Values : Perseverance, Respect, Altruism, Support, Cooperation
Attitudes : Team Work, Optimism, Openness

Questions to be asked after the film

l Which sports team did Sister want to join?
l What did the Coach think about Sister?
l Which job did the Coach offer Sister?
l Do you think Sister liked her job?
l How do you think Sister felt when the Coach asked her to substitute?
l If you were doing the job Sister did, what would you have done? Would you have quit?

Topics of Discussion
l Ways to be a good team player
l What is team work/team spirit and its importance?
l What is the role of everyone in the team and its importance?

Workbook Section
Q1. Team Player Or Not - Guide the students to answer all the questions and help them imagine the
situation mentioned. Explain to them what are the important qualities to be a team player and let
them shade or colour the qualities they think are necessary for the same.

Q2. What Would You Do-Help students imagine that particular situation and ask them to complete the
comic strip.

l Bearlock Holmes:
Help the students rearrange the letters and fill the right words in the blank spaces to make a
meaningful sentence.
Answers: Player, Team

l Bear Act:
Balloon Soccer
l Divide the class into 5 groups and give each group one balloon filled with air
l The objective is to keep the balloon in the air without letting it touch the ground. Tell students to
be careful not to burst it

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 l Give the students a start signal, and ask them to keep the balloon in the air without using their
hands or head, and work as a group. They can only use their legs
l The group which can keep its balloon in the air the longest will win
l Observe all the groups to understand different group dynamics. Discuss the importance of team
work

Suggested Activities
1. Chunnel
l Divide the class into two groups
l Each group will stand in a single line facing one direction
l At the sound of a whistle all the players will spread their legs to form a tunnel underneath them.
l The player at the back of the line crawls through the tunnel to the front of the line and stands with
his legs in the tunnel position. When he gets to the front of the line, the next player at the back of
the line crawls through all the legs to the front of the line.
l The team continues until everybody finishes
l The first team to finish wins

Note: Please ensure all students are wearing appropriate clothing for the activity and pay attention to
the way groups are formed. If need be you can form more than two groups.

2. Minefield
l Divide the students in pairs or teams, one blindfolded and the other/s giving instructions
l Place a collection of objects in the center of the room. Give it a defined boundary, say rope
l Blindfolded students start on the outside of a rope circle, go into center, get an item ("treasure",
e.g., a small ball), then return to the outside (all based on the instructions of their team members);
continue to see who can get the most objects within a time period
l This activity could become chaotic when 3-4 teams are playing at the same time, thereby creating
confusion and making it more fun.

End Notes
All children do not possess the same skills, talents and knowledge. But irrespective of individual
differences, team work is important at any level. Learning to work with other individuals and adopting
different skills can take any child to great heights. Some children have difficulty in interacting with
others and lack team spirit. Fortunately, these skills can be developed and anyone can become a good
team player.

For children who lack these skills, it is important that parents and teachers do not confuse or scare them
by involving them in big, puzzling events. Begin simple, have interactions with smaller groups and then
move on to bigger ones. Any group game can act as a team building exercise and while children are
involved in such activities, they can be taught the necessary skills and traits of a good team player. As
long as everyone in the group is involved, it boosts team spirit and also helps in building mental growth
and self-confidence.

“I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it,
because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion”
- Mia Hamm

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