Comic of Addie and Ben preparing to race at recess
Art By Elio
Mini Graphic,

No Fair!

Enjoy a mini graphic novel about good sportsmanship.

By Katie Mach
From the February 2025 Issue

Learning Objective: Children will discuss good sportsmanship.

Lexiles: 340L
Featured Skill: Main Idea,
Topic: SEL,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.1 Features of print RL.1.1 Key details RL.1.4 Identify feeling words RL.1.10 Read grade-1 prose SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative discussions with peers and adults
TEKS Standards
  • Health
    (3) Mental health and wellness—social and emotional health. The student identifies and applies strategies to develop socio-emotional health, self-regulation, and healthy relationships. The student is expected to: (A) identify their own feelings and emotions; (E) describe ways to build and maintain friendships; (F) identify ways to respectfully communicate verbally and nonverbally; (G) identify feelings and emotions expressed by others; (H) identify and practice ways to solve conflicts with friends and peers.

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No Fair!

By Katie Mach

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About the Story

English Language Arts Focus

Genres of literature

Social and Life Skills Focus

Sportsmanship

Self-regulation

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

  • Whole group

Pairings and Text Connections

  • Suggested book: The Way Champs Play by Naomi Osaka

Before-Reading Resources

  • Video: What Is a Comic? (5 minutes) Explore how comics use pictures, thoughts, and dialogue to tell a story.
  • Video: Be a Good Sport (5 minutes) Build background knowledge on how to be a good sport.

Suggested Reading Focus

Self-awareness/persistence (20 minutes)

  • Ask students what it means to be a good sport. Why is it important to be a good sport? What are things you can do to be a good sport?
  • Read the comic with expression. Check children’s comprehension after each panel. Children can also turn and talk to discuss.
  • Using the Talk It Out questions, discuss the comic. Encourage children to make personal connections. Can they think of a time it was hard to be a good sport? What did it feel like? Brainstorm ways to remind yourself to be a good sport.

Text-to-Speech