World languages activity
Sports Commentator
Play a simple game and practice being a sports announcer! Describe what is happening using action words: run, jump, throw, catch, kick.
Materials and setup
- paper
- pencil
- ball or simple game equipment
How this changes by age
Pre-K (ages 3–4)
Play a simple game and practice being a sports announcer! Describe what is happening using action words: run, jump, throw, catch, kick.
Steps
- Play a simple game like catch or an obstacle course.
- Take turns being the announcer: 'She throws the ball! He catches it!'
- Practice using action words: run, jump, throw, catch, kick, bounce.
Learning objectives
- Use action verbs to describe physical activities in real time
- Practice speaking in complete sentences with enthusiasm
- Build vocabulary related to sports and movement
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Be a sports commentator during a family game! Practice describing the action as it happens using exciting language.
Steps
- Play a simple family game (tag, kickball, or an obstacle course).
- Take turns commentating: describe each play as it happens using full sentences.
- After the game, write down your 3 best commentary lines.
Learning objectives
- Narrate live events using descriptive language
- Use exciting adjectives and adverbs in spoken language
- Transcribe spoken sentences into written form
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Write a sports news article about a game you played or watched. Include a headline, play-by-play description, and player interviews.
Steps
- Play or watch a game and take notes on key moments.
- Write a news article with a catchy headline, a description of the best play, and a quote from a 'player.'
- Read your article aloud like a news anchor.
Learning objectives
- Write a news article with headline, body, and quotes
- Use past tense to recount events accurately
- Practice journalistic writing style
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
Write a full sports journalism piece: pre-game preview, play-by-play recap, and post-game analysis with statistics.
Steps
- Write a pre-game preview predicting what will happen in a game you plan to play or watch.
- After the game, write a play-by-play recap with key moments and a final score.
- Write a post-game analysis discussing what went well, what could improve, and include simple statistics.
- Real-language extension: with a parent, watch a 5-minute sports clip in your target language (a Spanish-language soccer highlight reel, a French rugby segment, a Mandarin basketball clip). Take notes on 5 new sports vocabulary words. Use those 5 words in original sentences in the target language and read them aloud to a family member.
Learning objectives
- Write in multiple journalistic formats: preview, recap, and analysis
- Use data and statistics to support written analysis
- Develop a consistent journalistic voice across multiple pieces
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
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