4-H Sportsmanship Activity: Good Sports Greeting Cards

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March 29, 2017

Audience:

All ages

Topic:

Defining sportsmanship

Objectives:

Identify the qualities and behaviors that reflect good sportsmanship

Time required:

45-60 minutes

Materials required:

  • Computer with Internet access
  • Plain paper
  • Art supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc.)
  • Sample greeting cards
Activity:

Looking at row after row of greeting cards in a store, you might think there’s a card for every possible occasion. Not so, says Good Sports Greetings Company. So Good Sports Greetings has hired you to design a line of greeting cards to promote good sportsmanship among kids.

As a group, create a list and discuss qualities that reflect good sportsmanship.

Sample List:
  • Humility
  • Respect for other competitors
  • Patience
  • Helpfulness
  • Compassion
Now you’re ready to create your first card to congratulate someone for demonstrating good sportsmanship. Fold a plain piece of paper in half to create your card, then use art supplies to write words and draw pictures to decorate it. You could also create a card to encourage someone who was disappointed with his or her performance at a competition.
Variation:
Participants can use a graphic design program, such as www.canva. com or Microsoft Publisher to make greeting cards on computers and then save and print them. 
Reflection Questions:
  • How do you feel when you receive a greeting card?
  • What words of encouragement have you heard in the past?
  • Do you think stores should offer sportsmanship greeting cards?
  • What do you think is the most important quality of a good sport?
  • While creating your card, did you think of any other sportsmanship qualities that should be recognized?

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Accessibility Questions:

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