What Makes Someone a Champion? A Primary School Assembly and Classroom Discussion

Explore the latest Picture News resource here This week’s Picture News poster and big question exploring the Winter Paralympic Games and what makes someone a champion I n many primary schools, sport is part of everyday life . It might be a PE lesson, a lunchtime game or a race to the other side of the playground. Some children enjoy competition , others enjoy taking part, and many are still working out what they feel confident doing. These moments often raise quiet questions about success. Is being the fastest or strongest what matters most, or are there other ways to think about what it means to do well? This week’s Picture News story uses the Winter Paralympic Games as a starting point for exploring those ideas. For many children, this may be their first introduction to some of the sports and athletes involved. Winter Paralympics in the news: a primary school assembly discussion In assembly, children learn about the Winter Paralympic Games, an international sporting event for athletes with disabilities, which took place in Italy this year. Athletes from around the world competed in a range of sports, including para-alpine skiing, para-biathlon, para-cross-country skiing, para-snowboard, para ice hockey and wheelchair curling. Many of the athletes trained for years to reach this level. Some had overcome injuries or health challenges, while others were born with disabilities. Using specialised equipment and determination, they competed for medals, with athletes from different countries taking part. The assembly also introduces the mascots, Tina and Milo, which represent values linked to the Games, including friendship, determination and overcoming challenges. This provides a starting point for thinking about the preparation, resilience and commitment involved in sport, and what it might mean to be a champion. Assembly resource used to support discussion about the Winter Paralympics PSHE and classroom discussion in primary schools This story may lead children to feel inspired - by the athletes, their determination and what they have achieved. Taking time to explore that feeling more closely can deepen the discussion. Using the emotion response grid, children can begin to think about what inspired might really mean and how it can be experienced in different ways. The Emotion Response Grid which can be used with children to support further discussion about feelings and emotions Developing this language helps children describe their own responses more clearly, while also recognising that others may feel differently or use different words to express similar ideas. Questions to support classroom discussion Teachers might explore questions such as: What makes someone a champion? Do you think a champion always has to win? What qualities help people succeed in sport? How do athletes show determination or resilience? What can we learn from people who overcome challenges? Teacher planning pages includes further questions and prompts to support discussion about the Winter Paralympics and what makes someone a champion. Using current events in primary school assemblies and lessons What makes someone a champion? Exploring this question allows children to think beyond medals and results, and instead reflect on effort, determination and personal achievement. It also creates space to consider how different experiences shape people’s journeys, linking naturally to British Values and children’s rights, particularly around respect, inclusion and recognising what people can achieve. A current event like this helps children connect what they see in the wider world with their own understanding of challenge, success and what it means to keep going. The reflection page supports the final part of the assembly, helping to draw together learning and reflection. Explore the latest Picture News resource here