The Hockey Sweater: questions to ask and activities to try
Every boy in Roch's town wears a Montreal Canadiens sweater, until the catalogue sends Roch a Toronto Maple Leafs one by mistake. A funny Canadian classic about embarrassment and fitting in.
What age is The Hockey Sweater for?
The Hockey Sweater is best for ages 5–9.
The Hockey Sweater (Roch Carrier and Sheldon Cohen)
- Age
- 5-9
- Best for
- Embarrassment, fitting in, and the funny side of disasters
Only 50pThe Hockey Sweater activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Talk about why the sweater mattered so much to Roch. Ask whether his mum was right, and how he could have handled it.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 5–9 (Year 1 to Year 4)
- What they'll enjoy
- Every boy in Roch's town wears a Montreal Canadiens sweater, until the catalogue sends Roch a Toronto Maple Leafs one by mistake. A funny Canadian classic about embarrassment and fitting in.
- Helps with
- Embarrassment, fitting in, and the funny side of disasters
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Embarrassment
- Wanting to fit in
- Disagreeing with a parent
- Sport and heroes
Comprehension and discussion questions for The Hockey Sweater
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Why did all the boys wear the same sweater?”
- “What went wrong with Roch’s new sweater?”
- “Why wouldn’t his mother send it back?”
- “How did the other boys react?”
- “Have you ever felt embarrassed by something you had to wear?”
- “Who is your hero, and why?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for The Hockey Sweater
All 6 questions for The Hockey Sweater on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Design a sweater
Design a team shirt for your family. What colour and number will it have?
Hero card
Make a card about someone your child looks up to and what they admire about them.
The Hockey Sweater activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to The Hockey Sweater, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about embarrassment.
A 20-minute session for ages 5–9 (Year 1 to Year 4), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Talk about why the sweater mattered so much to Roch. Ask whether his mum was right, and how he could have handled it.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Why did all the boys wear the same sweater?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Design a sweater. Design a team shirt for your family. What colour and number will it have? Children who finish early can try Hero card.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The The Hockey Sweater activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
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- Best for
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- Age
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- Best for
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- Age
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- Best for
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- Age
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.