English Hobbies & Sports as Elementary Activities

England has a rich history of sports and hobbies that dates back centuries. Many of these activities, such as soccer or cricket are still played today. These sports and hobbies may not be familiar to elementary students in America. Help to expand your students' cultural understanding by using simple classroom games and activities.

Word Searches

Word puzzles are a simple way to introduce elementary students to English sports and hobbies. Make a list of English hobbies and sports, including cricket and fishing and use them to make a word search. Use graphing paper and a pencil to create your puzzle. Write each of the words, one letter to a graphing square. Place the words in places inside your puzzle square and then fill up the rest of the grid squares with random letters. Write a title and a word list on the paper and copy it on a copy machine a few times to remove the graphing lines. Discuss British sports and hobbies and give your students the word searches.

Board Games

Turn your classroom into a British board game zone. Find a board game that is popular with the British. The list on the website Independent.co.uk website has 50 popular board games, including "Snakes and Ladders" and "Othello." Discuss the games with your students and have them pick a game they want to play each day. Teach your students the rules of the game and play it with them. Encourage them to speak in an English accent while they play. Serve ice tea and cookies to students who want a snack.

Soccer Day

Teach your students about the long English tradition of soccer. Teach them about the history of the sport, important players and the rules of the game. Hold a "soccer day" event the day after you teach them about the game. Bring in snacks such as soccer ball-shaped cupcakes as well as small toy "foosball" tables that emulate soccer. Let your students have tournaments using the game tables. Take your students outside to play soccer, if the weather is warm enough. Hand out kid-sized soccer jerseys to each students, if possible. Use these jerseys to indicate teams.

Cricket Crafts

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in England. Teach your children about cricket, including the basic rules and when and where it was invented. Find cricket sporting goods, if possible, and show them to your students. Play the game if you have a helper to guide your students through the process with you. After you're done playing, tell the students its craft time. Students can paint or sculpt different cricket items such as the ball, wickets or their helmets. Use the cricket sporting goods as a guide. Use pictures from the Internet if you can't find these items.