MHSchool: McGraw-Hill Health 2005

Web Link Description
Students will undoubtedly recognize some of the emotions described in I Stink!, an article about self-esteem originally written for Sports Illustrated for Kids: Sports Parents magazine. Invite students to read the anecdote-filled article that offers advice for parents and young people on how to maintain self-esteem when faced with a personal setback or disappointment. The anecdotes reflect real experiences and include the story of how Michael Jordan handled disappointment when he failed to make the tenth-grade basketball team.

Before Online Activity
Ask students to think about the physical, social, or academic activities that they do well. Encourage them to share accomplishments by describing how they have succeeded at a difficult task. Then, ask students to describe situations when they have been disappointed. Answers may include not making a team or not being invited to a party. Explain that disappointments happen to everyone in life at one time or another, and that there are ways to handle them without feeling discouraged.

If you are using Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Health & Wellness, have students read the suggestions for improving self-esteem on pages 66-69. Invite students to visit the I Stink! Web site where sports psychologists share strategies for keeping disappointments in perspective. Tell students that both parents and young people can learn from the stories at the site.

Online Activity
I Stink!
URL: http://www.sportsparents.com/psychology/istink.html
Distribute student activity sheets and help students navigate the Web site if necessary. Before students read the article, have them look at the questions on their activity sheets. Tell students they may fill in the answers as they read. Then have students write a letter of encouragement to Michael Jordan about his failure to make the school basketball team.

Student Activity Sheet
Print the online student activity sheet to create a blackline master.

Sharing the Activity
Collect student letters and post them on a bulletin board along with a picture of Michael Jordan, if possible. You may also want to ask volunteers to read their letters aloud.

Assessment Idea
Have students role-play the encouraging words they would say to a friend who didn't make the team or get a part in a play.

Curriculum Connection
Social Studies
As students study successful political leaders, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and other famous people, ask them to investigate what these people did to avoid becoming discouraged in times of disappointment. Your school or public library should contain age-appropriate biographies.

Home School Connections
Print the online family activity sheet to create a blackline master. For best results, be sure that your browser's font size has been set to "12" and that your browser has been set to print in "portrait mode."