Role models in sport – Write a biography of an inspiring athlete

What's included?

PDF teacher notes and worksheet, plus images

Key Stage

KS2

Age

Years 3-6

Subjects

This resource pack has been created by double Paralympic gold medallist and award-winning author, Danielle Brown MBE, to bring incredible role models to the classroom and help pupils find different ways to engage with sport.

The resource pack contains an extract from Danielle’s book, Run Like a Girl, alongside a pupil worksheet, teacher notes and other resources.

Run Like a Girl features the biographical stories of 50 incredible sportswomen, from boxing superstar Nicola Adams to record-breaking yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur.

Starter activity

Watch Danielle’s video, above, and read the extract from the book, before asking these discussion questions:

Is this fiction or non-fiction? Why do you think that?
Confidence was a very important skill for Danielle. What other skills do you think athletes need to perform at their very best?
World-class athletes aren’t always brilliant at their sport from the very start. What sport (or other activity) would you like to be really good at? What might help you get better at it?

Questions about role models in sport

Watch the above video. In it, Danielle explains that she didn’t have many female role models in sport growing up. Why is it important to be able to see people like yourself achieving?
Who is your favourite athlete in Run Like A Girl and why? Can you think of any other awesome athletes? Why do they inspire you?
What challenges have some of these athletes faced and how have they overcome them? How can these skills be applied in challenges we might face in everyday life?
What does the phrase ‘run like a girl’ mean to you?
Why is it important that everybody gets an equal opportunity to take part in sport?

Worksheet

The included worksheet provides a framework for pupils to research and write their own story about their sporting role model.

Danielle Brown MBE represented Great Britain at Archery and won Paralympic gold medals in Beijing and London. She is five-time World Champion. Browse more Olympics teaching resources.