How to include the AFL in your lesson planning

Friday 16 August 2019
0 Comments

With the Australian Football League (AFL) finals just around the corner, there is no better time to engage those AFL enthusiasts in your classroom by incorporating the finals series into your curriculum planning. Nothing will get an AFL fan more enthused than writing about their team’s thrilling win in the AFL Grand Final or using real-life AFL scores to understand a mathematical concept.

Unsure of how to link AFL concepts to the curriculum? No need to worry, the AFL has got you covered. In their ‘AFL Schools’ initiative, more than 200 cross-curricular lesson ideas on how to celebrate Australian Football in the classroom have been developed. The lessons cover all key learning areas and link directly to Australian curriculum content descriptons.

We have selected a lesson from each learning area that links with the upcoming AFL finals series; however, if you are after more lessons in a particular area, or would just like to see what else they have to offer, check out their website for more lesson ideas: http://www.aflcommunityclub.com.au/index.php?id=1859

English

We are the premiers (Years 1–6)

Australian Curriculum link: Literacy - Creating texts

Ask students to write a hypothetical post to their Facebook friends describing their team’s great win in the AFL Grand Final. Their friends are both familiar and unfamiliar with the game. In their message they should write about the pre-game hype, the fans, the excitement of the first bounce, pivotal moments in the game and how they felt after the final siren. Please note, because of age restrictions, students under 13 should not directly post content on Facebook.

Mathematics

AFL greater than, less than (Years F–6)

Australian Curriculum link: Statistics and Probability - Data representation and interpretation; Number and Algebra - Patterns and algebra

Use AFL scores and player statistics to teach students about the concept of greater than or less than. For example, how many times has a team kicked less than 100 points this season? The past three seasons? Has this affected where they finished on the ladder? Justify your answer.

Science

Predicting AFL (Years 1–6)

Australian Curriculum link: Science inquiry skills – Processing and analyzing data and information

Run an Australian Football goalkicking competition with your class. Have students take one set shot for goal each and then have them predict the accuracy of kicks for the next two rounds. Ask students to record their observations and run a discussion on how well their predictions matched results. They should propose reasons for their findings.

Humanities and Social Science

Geography

AFL grounds - There they are! (Years 3–6)

Australian Curriculum link: HASS – Inquiry and skills – Researching; Communicating

Have students construct a large-scale map of Australia that shows the grounds where AFL is played. Their maps should show the features of the ground and surrounding areas, using basic cartographic conventions including map symbols, scale and north point, and describe their location using simple grid references, compass direction and distance.

History

An MCG Grand Final – a part of our heritage (Years 3–6)

Australian Curriculum link: Inquiry and skills – Questioning; Researching; Analysing; Evaluating and reflecting; Communicating

Using a range of sources, ask students to conduct an investigation on the home of the AFL Grand Final—the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Have them discuss why it and the Grand Final have heritage significance and cultural value for present generations.

Economics and business

Meeting our costs (Years 5–6)

Australian Curriculum link: Inquiry and skills – Questioning; Researching; Evaluating and reflecting; Communicating

Have students create a ‘real-life’ budget for a trip to either the Grand Final, or an AFL football match interstate. What expenses do they expect to incur? How will they get the money to cover these expenses? If they intend borrowing money from their parents, have them devise a repayment plan from any money they have saved or expect to be paid overtime.

Technologies

Design and Technologies

Good nutrition for our team (Years F–6)

Australian Curriculum link: Design and technologies knowledge and understanding; Design and technologies processes and production skills

Tell your students they are AFL nutritionists who have been given the responsibility to devise a good nutrition plan for their school football team. Have them use the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (Source: Australian government) to review the school canteen menu and identify healthy food options for the players and suggest changes to promote future good health for the members of the team.

Digital Technologies

Let me show you (Years 3–6)

Australian Curriculum link: Digital technologies knowledge and understanding; Digital technologies processes and production skills

Tell students that they are AFL coaches who are planning to present this weekend’s game-plan to their players at a very important team meeting. Have them decide which digital equipment—i.e. interactive whiteboard, data projector, cinema screen, iPad®, mobile phone etc.—would be best to make their presentation. Ask them to justify their position.

Health and Physical Education

Why have rules? (Years F–4)

Australian Curriculum link: Movement and physical activity – Learning through movement

Brainstorm with the class the purpose of having rules in Australian Football. Provide them with a list of rules of the game. Select five rules and ask them to discuss why the rules are needed and how they contribute to fair play.

Languages

My footy vocab (Years F–6)

Australian Curriculum link: Translating

Have the class create a bank of words associated with AFL football. Ask them to translate these words into the language they are studying. Have them categorise words into aspects of the game, such as playing, supporting, teams, training, stadiums etc.

How to include the AFL in your lesson planning