Good Sport Lesson Plan
Pre-K & Kindergarten 30 Minutes
Good Sport Champs Lesson Plan
Focus Area SEL & Sportsmanship
Big Goal
Play hard, stay calm when losing, and say "Good game!"
Chant of the Day
"Win or lose, smile & cheer—we are all champions here!"
Prep & Props
10-12 beanbags, 2 laundry bins, scoreboard & stickers
Success Signal
Two hands up, big smile, saying "Congratulations!"
The 3 Champ Rules:
1 Try Your Best 2 Win Kindly 3 Lose Calmly
01
Hook & The Champ Stance
00 - 05 min
Gather learners on the circle carpet. Teach physical regulation with the "Champ Stance" (feet planted, chest proud, big friendly smile).
Teacher Dialogue Prompt: "Athletes, freeze like champions! Hands on hips, proud smiles! Today we are playing a game with points! But before we play, I want to teach you the secret power of super athletes: being a good sport! Repeat after me: Do your best!"
02
Direct Instruction: "Losing the Right Way"
05 - 12 min
Directly address the feelings of winning and losing. Model the contrast between whining and celebrating friends.
Word-For-Word Coaching Script Read with high dramatic energy
"Now we’re going to play the real game! In the real game, you get to keep track of your points! It’s a lot of fun, but in the real game, we are going to have a winning team... and some people might not win. You might lose! And you know what? It’s okay if you lose! Winning and losing are both okay—you just do your best!"
"Eyes on me! I want to show you an example of how you lose the right way. If your team doesn't win today, are we going to whine and complain? (Students: NO!) Are we going to cry baby? (Students: NO!) If my team loses, here is what a champion does: I smile, look at the other team, and say: ‘Congratulations guys! Nice job over there!’"
03
The "Oops, We Didn't Win" Rapid Rehearsal
12 - 15 min
The Wrong Way (Teacher acts silly)
Teacher stomps feet, pouts, folds arms: "Not fair!" Ask class: "Is this a champ?" Class responds: "NO WAY!"
The Champ Way (Whole class practice)
Teacher calls: "You lost the game, y'all!" Entire room claps and chants: "Congratulations guys! Nice job over there!"
Early Childhood PE & SEL • 30-Minute Format Page 1 of 2: Instruction & Modeling
04
The Main Event: "Beanbag Bucket Bonanza"
Structured Two-Round Play • 15 Minutes (15 - 30 min)
Gamified SEL Action
Round 1: Practice Round 3 min (No Points)
- Divide class into Team Blue and Team Gold.
- Take turns tossing beanbags into team tubs from 5 feet away.
- Teammates practice cheer: "You can do it! Nice try!"
Round 2: The Real Game! 7 min (Real Points)
- Each basket = 1 point drawn visibly on the whiteboard.
- One team WILL have more points at the buzzer.
- The Real Test: Immediate trigger of the Champ Celebration!
Live Sideline De-Escalation: What To Do In The Moment
If a child starts crying:
Get down to eye level. Validate: "It feels hard not to win! Take a big breath. You gave it your all!"
If a winner brags/gloats:
Remind gently: "Champs win with kind words. Can you give your teammate a high-five and say 'Good game'?"
If someone refuses to clap:
Give a lower-stakes alternative: Offer a thumbs-up or gentle fist bump instead of speaking out loud.
05
The "High-Five Highway" & Victory Ritual
25 - 28 min
Line the two teams up facing each other in two parallel rows. Walk past each other giving gentle high-fives or knuckles while shouting the master phrase.
Winning Team Says: "Great game, friends! You played hard!"
Runner-Up Team Says: "Congratulations guys! Nice job!"
06
Cool-Down & "Good Sport Champ" Stickers
28 - 30 min
Bring children into a seated circle for 3 belly breaths. Award EVERY student a gold star or sportsmanship badge sticker for demonstrating the courage to play, cheer, and shake hands!
Early Childhood PE & SEL • 30-Minute Format Page 2 of 2: Game Execution & Reflection
