Julia Platt, CAFOD's Youth Resources Coordinator, is looking forward to a summer of sport, and sharing CAFOD's new resources for the World Cup.
Summer 2014 is going to be one of those moments; do you remember where you were when..? During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, I was dancing to Shakira’s Waka Waka in an assembly at College, and now I’m at CAFOD looking forward to the Brazilian beats of Brazil 2014 World Cup. Hold the carnival costume for now though!
World Cup energy is going to be flooding the globe and young people in particular throughout June and July this year. We want to celebrate alongside our friends in Brazil and give young people the opportunity to think deeper about some of the global justice issues surrounding this major sporting event.
CAFOD has produced a collection of resources for teachers and youth leaders to explore development, fair trade, fair housing , faith and young leadership in the context of football around the world. Each activity has English, RE and PE KS3 curriculum links to help you work out where it fits into your schemes of work.
If you have half an hour and want a lively informal introduction to the justice issues around the World Cup, use our Fair Play World Cup quiz (Activity 1) and Beautiful game? Debate (Activity 5) which includes a video featuring actress Jo Joyner (formerly Tanya Branning in Eastenders) exploring the housing issues in São Paulo and the impact of the World Cup preparations on the city.
If you have a bit longer and want to dig deeper into fair trade and sport, try Fair play (Activity 2) with a card-sort including average salaries in the football industry and discussion questions. Follow this with Show poverty the red card (Activity 6) which challenges young people to write their own rules for the football industry, having analysed Christian teaching through short Bible and Catholic Social Teaching quotes.
If you want to give your young people a creative challenge, try Players profiles (Activity 3) where they meet Paulo and Rodrigo, two young footballers who work with CAFOD’s partners in Brazil and see retired Premier League Footballer Fabrice Muamba in a new light! Use these stories as inspiration for role-play or artwork on the benefits of playing football. For English and Drama teachers I recommend Poetry in motion (Activity 4) where again you hear the voice of Brazil in a beautiful poem, also on a Prezi, then challenge your young people to become performance poets, considering what their own dreams are.
If you want to inspire young people to make a difference, use Take the lead! (Activity 8), watch Maristely’s story video for inspiration and then discuss what makes a good leader. Then give them the opportunity to campaign in solidarity with CAFOD partners in São Paulo who are calling for good quality housing or organise a Mini World Cup football fundraiser.
And if you just want to have fun and get ‘All in one rhythm’ with those in Brazil, try out the World Cup-song (Activity 7) with your group.
We hope you have a fabulous summer, wish England the best of luck, and stand by our friends in Brazil.
CAFOD World Cup resources for teachers and youth leaders >>>
CAFOD resources for young people >>>
Teachers could follow @cafodschools on Twitter for daily resource updates.
More information on World Cup and football-related teaching resources on this website:
- see our FIFA World Cup feature
- have a read through our feature article on football