The Reframing Game
The Reframing Game
Marco loved basketball more than anything. Every day after school, he'd race to the court, dribbling his ball all the way. He dreamed of making the winning shot in the championship game.
This year, Marco's team, the Wildcats, made it to the finals. The gym was packed with cheering fans. Marco felt the energy surge through him. He played his heart out, but it wasn't enough. The buzzer sounded, and the other team, the Eagles, won by a single point.
Marco felt crushed. He slumped onto the bench, tears welling up in his eyes. He felt like he had let his team down. Coach Thompson knelt beside him. "Hey, Marco," he said gently. "Look at me."
Marco looked up, his face streaked with tears. "I messed up, Coach," he mumbled. "We lost because of me."
Coach Thompson shook his head. "That's not true, Marco. You played great. But more importantly, losing this game doesn't have to be the end of the world. We can reframe it."
Marco frowned. "Reframe it? What does that mean?"
"It means we can change how we look at it," Coach Thompson explained. "Instead of seeing it as a failure, we can see it as a lesson. What did you learn from this game, Marco?"
- Reframe:
- To change the way you think about something.
- Championship:
- The final game or competition to decide the winner.
- Defense:
- Actions taken to protect your own goal or space.
- surge:
- A sudden, strong rush of energy or feeling.
- slumped:
- Sat or fell down heavily with a drooping body, often because of feeling sad or tired.
- motivated:
- Feeling excited, hopeful, and driven to work hard toward a goal.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why was Marco so upset after the game?
- 2What does it mean to 'reframe' something according to Coach Thompson?
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About this fiction passage for Upper Elementary
“The Reframing Game” is a fiction reading passage about Sportsmanship, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (350 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.