Today is soccer star, Edson Arantes Do Nascimento's, birthday. ¿Quién? Oh! Sorry, I meant to say that today soccer star, Pelé, turns 70! (Okay, maybe his birthday is on the 23rd. There seems to be some confusion on this topic...)
I think that probably most people have heard of the famous Pelé. I know I was just a kid when I first heard his name. But I've never really known why he is such a big deal. I mean, why do Latinos the world over smile and nod at the mere mention of his name? He's just some Brazilian guy that is really good at soccer, no? He doesn't even speak Spanish, does he?
Articles about Pelé
Well, today I did some digging and the information is impressive. Even if you don't like soccer, it is easy to see, after reading this article, why
So for those of you interested in sharing more about this incredible athlete with your students/children, here are some resources and activities that shed some light on this amazing man's life or that can be incorporated into a lesson plan.
FIFA Classic Player: Another great article on the life of Pelé.
Pitara Kids Network also has a short biography in their Biographies for Kids section.
And check out My Hero Project's Sports Hero: Pelé by Bryan Stillwagon
Lesson Plans and Printables
The Black Pearl: Pelé A free downloadable lesson plan for grades 5-8
Reading is Fundamental offers these printable guides for families and educators.
Here is a free coloring page that I put together after the legendary soccer player died.
I also have a reading passage dedicated to Pelé that can be found in my Reading Comprehension Passages: Famous Afro-Latinos
Videos on Pelé for Kids
There's also many videos posted on YouTube. Check out some of his fancy moves here:
Children's Books About Pelé
And, of course, you can't ignore the fantastic children's book, Pelé, King of Soccer/Pelé, El Rey del Fútbol, by the talented Monica Brown. She even has a curriculum guide to accompany the book free for download on her website. Here's a great read aloud of it on YouTube by Mr. Alicea's Arcade of Knowledge:
Have fun!
Last Updated: 12/29/222
Con mucho cariño...
