Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

Teachers' Notes

Resource created by: Leeds United Football Club with contributions from Fans and Supporters.

Leeds United Mens Football Club celebrates its 100 birthday in 2019.  This resource looks at the history of the club and its role in the city of Leeds.

 

Curriculum Links

  • KS2 History:  A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
    - Leisure and entertainment in the 20th Century.
  • KS2 Geography:  Key human features | Geographical skills and fieldwork.
  • KS2 PSHE:  To realise the nature and consequences of discrimination. | To recognise and challenge stereotypes.
  • KS2 & KS3 Maths, KS2 Design & Technology, KS2 Computing: See 'Design a Stadium' activity

 

Discussion Ideas

  • A lot of effort was made during the World Wars, to keep football teams going and continue to play matches.
    • Why do you think this might be?
    • How do you think this affected:
      • Players that were away fighting
      • Guest players drafted in to play on teams
      • Fans and the communities they come from
      • The wider ‘Home Front’?
  • Do you think that sports teams from the UK should travel to compete and play in countries that do not treat all their citizens equally?  (E.g. countries that criminalise homosexuality or do not give women full rights).
  • Discussion activity: Find or create an open space where everyone can move about and stick around circle of coloured paper to the centre of the floor.  The first volunteer stands on this circle and make a statement about the topic (see below for examples) and the rest of the class move to stand in relation to how much they agree with the statement.  If they agree 100%, then they join their classmate on the circle.  The further away from the circle they choose to stand, the less they agree with the statement.  Ask pupils to explain their choice of standing position to encourage discussion.  Sample Teamwork and Leadership statements:
    • Good team members always do what the leader says.
    • A good leader leads by example
    • Being a good leader is easy
    • A good leader treats everyone the same
    • You don’t need good communication skills to be a team member.
    • Small teams work better than large ones.

Sample Sports statements:

    • Everybody should have the opportunity to play sport if they want to
    • Children should be made to do more sport at school.
    • Footballers are worth the money that is spent on them
    • Women’s sport should have the same TV coverage as mens.
    • Female players should be paid the same as male players
    • Our council should invest more in things like helping the homeless than in sport

 

Activity Ideas

  • Download the cross-curricular  'Design a Stadium' activity pack featuring a powerpoint of different stadiums and a planning sheet.  
  • Using the information on Significant LUFC Players for inspiration, list 5 attributes, characteristics or behaviours that make someone a good team player.  This could be done as a scaffolded activity, with pupils first compiling a list on their own, then discussing in pairs, and finally in small groups to agree on the five.
    • Do the same for team leaders. 
    • Are there any similarities and differences between the two lists?
    • Choose one list and put the 5 characteristics in a continuum from most important to least.

 

  • Use the data in ‘100 Years of LUFC’ which gives how much the Leeds City players were sold for in 1919. Use an inflation calculator to work out how much would this be today.
    • Compare this with the latest selling figures for Leeds United players / players from other teams in the FA Cup.
    • Are footballers are worth the money that is spent on them in today’s game? Why / why not? 

  • Look at the utility boxes that local school teacher and artist, Andy McVeigh has painted around the Elland Road stadium.  The designs reflect the history of the club, and feature club slogans.  They are on the streets around Elland Road and help to create a club atmosphere outside the stadium.

    • What symbols, designs and slogans would communicate your schools’ history, values, and sense of community?

    • What features of your school architecture could you decorate to share these messages with local people?  Maybe you have a fence or school gate that you can paint, or put banners up on?

    • Contact the local council and see if you can decorate a lamp-post or your own utility box if you have one nearby.

      • If you don’t have any existing structures you could use, consider making some!