LESSON PLAN – UNIT 1 PROSE: SPORTS STARS
Subject: English
Genre: Prose
Topic: Sports Stars
Main Characters: Mithali Dorai Raj, Usha Rani, P. V. Sindhu
Theme: Women empowerment, determination, hard work and following one's passion
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the teacher expects the students to:
understand the lives and achievements of Mithali Dorai Raj, Usha Rani and P. V. Sindhu.
identify the different sports associated with the three sports stars.
understand the importance of hard work, dedication, determination and commitment.
appreciate the achievements of Indian women in sports.
understand that women can succeed in fields traditionally considered suitable only for men.
learn and use the new vocabulary from the lesson.
develop reading and comprehension skills.
recognise the importance of balancing education and personal passion.
develop a positive attitude towards sports and physical activities.
understand the message: “Believe in yourself and follow your passion.”
2. Learning Outcomes
After learning the lesson, students will be able to:
identify Mithali Raj as a famous Indian cricketer, Usha Rani as a kabaddi player and P. V. Sindhu as a badminton player.
describe the achievements of the three sports stars in their own words.
apply the values of determination and hard work in their studies and daily activities.
respect and encourage girls and boys to participate equally in sports.
overcome difficulties without giving up easily.
set personal goals and work towards achieving them.
understand that success comes through regular practice and commitment.
use words such as inspiration, passion, determination, commitment and privilege in appropriate situations.
understand the importance of balancing studies, sports and other responsibilities.
become motivated to follow their own talents and interests.
3. Introduction
The teacher may show pictures of a cricket bat, kabaddi player and badminton racket and ask:
General Questions
Do you like sports?
What is your favourite sport?
Who is your favourite sportsperson?
Can girls and boys play the same sports?
Can you name any famous Indian woman sportsperson?
What qualities are necessary to become a successful sportsperson?
Is talent alone enough to achieve success?
What should we do when we face failure?
Leading Questions
Can you name a famous Indian woman cricketer?
Have you heard of Mithali Raj?
Do you know any famous Indian kabaddi player?
Have you heard of Usha Rani?
Who is India's famous badminton player who won an Olympic silver medal?
What do you know about P. V. Sindhu?
Teacher introduces the lesson:
“Today we are going to read about three inspiring Indian women who achieved great success through sports. The lesson is titled ‘Sports Stars’.”
4. Reading and Understanding
The teacher reads the prose with proper pronunciation, intonation and pauses. Students read the lesson silently and then aloud.
New Words – Section I: Mithali Raj
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Recognised | Known |
| Acknowledged | Accepted |
| Privilege | Honour |
| Consecutive | One after another |
| Identity | Who or what a person is |
| Inspiration | A person one looks up to |
| Passion | Strong desire |
New Words – Section II: Usha Rani
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shanty town | A poor area |
| Unfulfilled | Unrealised |
| Prominent | Noticeable / important |
| Determined | Having strong will power |
New Words – Section III: P. V. Sindhu
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Correspondent | Reporter |
| Commitment | Dedication |
| Never-say-die | Never stop trying |
| Civilian | Ordinary person |
Reading Activities
Students:
underline unfamiliar words.
find the meanings from the glossary.
read important sentences aloud.
identify the names of sports and sportspersons.
answer simple comprehension questions.
use selected new words in their own sentences.
5. Mind Map
SPORTS STARS
SPORTS STARS
│
┌───────────────────┼───────────────────┐
│ │ │
MITHALI RAJ USHA RANI P. V. SINDHU
│ │ │
CRICKET KABADDI BADMINTON
│ │ │
Started at 10 Practised daily Started at 8
│ │ │
Indian Team at 17 National Player International
│ │ │
6000+ ODI Runs Gold Medal Olympic Silver
│ │ │
Padma Shri Police Force Padma Shri
│ │ │
Women's Cricket Role Model Arjuna Award
Inspiration │ Khel Ratna
│ │ │
└───────────────────┼───────────────────┘
│
HARD WORK + DEDICATION
│
DETERMINATION
│
FOLLOW YOUR PASSIONComparison Table
| Sports Star | Sport | Major Achievement | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mithali Raj | Cricket | Leading Indian women's cricketer; 6,000+ ODI runs | Confidence |
| Usha Rani | Kabaddi | National-level player and Gold Medal winner | Determination |
| P. V. Sindhu | Badminton | Olympic Silver Medal | Commitment |
6. Consolidation and Presentation
Summary of the Lesson
Sports Stars presents the inspiring stories of three successful Indian women sportspersons – Mithali Dorai Raj, Usha Rani and P. V. Sindhu.
Mithali Raj is a famous Indian cricketer. She started playing cricket at the age of ten and was selected for the Indian team at seventeen. She became one of the greatest run scorers in women's cricket. She broke the traditional belief that cricket was mainly a man's game. Her achievements and contribution to cricket earned her the Padma Shri Award. Her story teaches us to respect women's abilities and encourage them to follow their passion.
Usha Rani came from a poor background and faced many difficulties. She practised kabaddi regularly while also helping her family by selling flowers. Her hard work and sporting ability helped her enter the Karnataka State Police Force. She became a successful kabaddi player and won a Gold Medal. Her life teaches us that poverty and difficulties cannot stop a determined person from achieving success.
P. V. Sindhu is one of India's most successful badminton players. She started playing badminton at the age of eight and was inspired by Pullela Gopichand. Through regular practice, commitment and determination, she reached the international level and won the Olympic Silver Medal in 2016. She also balanced her education with her sporting career.
Central Message
The three stories teach us that success requires hard work, dedication, determination and commitment. We should believe in ourselves, overcome difficulties and follow our passion.
7. Reinforcement
The teacher gives the following additional information:
Mithali Raj
She is one of the most important figures in Indian women's cricket.
Her career helped increase the visibility of women's cricket in India.
The lesson highlights her desire to be recognised for her own identity, rather than merely being compared with a male cricketer.
The Women's Cricket World Cup began before the Men's Cricket World Cup.
Usha Rani
She came from a financially difficult background.
She practised kabaddi regularly despite hardships.
She worked hard both as a sportsperson and as a responsible member of her family.
Her journey demonstrates that one's background need not determine one's future.
P. V. Sindhu
She began badminton at a young age.
She was inspired by Pullela Gopichand.
She travelled a long distance regularly for training.
She continued her education while developing her sporting career.
Her story demonstrates the importance of time management and commitment.
Values to Reinforce
Hard work → Practice → Determination → Confidence → Success
The teacher explains:
“Success does not come overnight. Regular practice and determination help us achieve our goals.”
8. Evaluation
The teacher asks three questions at different cognitive levels.
A. Lower Order Thinking Question
1. Who are the three sports stars discussed in the lesson, and which sports do they play?
Expected answer: Mithali Raj – Cricket; Usha Rani – Kabaddi; P. V. Sindhu – Badminton.
B. Middle Order Thinking Question
2. How did hard work and determination help Usha Rani and P. V. Sindhu achieve success?
Expected answer: Both worked continuously despite difficulties. Usha practised kabaddi and overcame poverty, while Sindhu travelled long distances for training and remained committed to badminton and education.
C. Higher Order Thinking Question
3. Mithali Raj, Usha Rani and P. V. Sindhu faced different challenges. What lesson can you learn from their lives and apply to your own life?
Expected answer: We should believe in ourselves, work hard, remain determined when we face difficulties, and follow our passion without giving up.
9. Remedial Teaching
For slow learners, the teacher may:
divide the lesson into three small sections.
teach one sports star at a time.
use pictures of the three sportspersons and their sports.
provide a simple name–sport–achievement chart.
explain difficult words using simple English and Tamil where necessary.
conduct repeated reading activities.
use matching exercises:
Mithali Raj → Cricket
Usha Rani → Kabaddi
P. V. Sindhu → Badminton
ask simple Who? What? Where? When? questions before moving to higher-level questions.
encourage peer learning by pairing slow learners with supportive classmates.
provide sentence frames such as:
“Mithali Raj is a ______.”
“Usha Rani plays ______.”
“P. V. Sindhu won an Olympic ______.”
appreciate every small improvement to build confidence.
10. Writing
Main Writing Task
Write a paragraph about any one of the three sports stars you admire.
Students may use the following points:
Name
Sport
Early life
Difficulties faced
Achievements
Awards
Qualities
What you learn from the person
Suggested Topic
“My Favourite Sports Star – P. V. Sindhu”
Students should write approximately 100–120 words.
Additional Writing Activity
Complete the table:
| Name | Sport | One Achievement | One Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mithali Raj | |||
| Usha Rani | |||
| P. V. Sindhu |
11. Follow-up
Homework / Activity
“My Sports Hero” Activity
Students should:
choose a sportsperson whom they admire.
collect or draw a picture of the sportsperson.
write 5–8 sentences about them.
mention their sport, achievements and qualities.
write one sentence explaining what they learned from that person.
Optional Classroom Activity
Organise a “Sports Stars – Inspiration Wall” in the classroom.
Students can display pictures and short profiles of Indian sportspersons and write inspirational words such as:
HARD WORK • COURAGE • DETERMINATION • DISCIPLINE • COMMITMENT • CONFIDENCE • SUCCESS
Final Takeaway
Mithali Raj teaches us to break barriers.
Usha Rani teaches us to overcome difficulties.
P. V. Sindhu teaches us commitment and perseverance.
Together, their stories teach us: Believe in yourself, work hard and follow your passion.
