Teachable Moment: The Winter Olympics
Really, what about the Olympics can’t be made into a lesson? There’s history, athletics, mathematics, geography, measurements, distance, arts, public speaking, coloring/drawing, graphs, reports, research, languages, foreign cultures, etc.
For me, as an educator, the biggest frustration I had with graduate school was that my professors wanted me to bring more to my lessons and give my students more; but never gave me the direction on how to do that. By taking this long-term option of integrating the Olympics – a teacher has a great opportunity to do more with the lessons they are already teaching.
For elementary school:
– find a map of the world and locate the countries that are participating in the Olympics on it
- coloring: the flags of the different countries could provide fine motor skills functions lessons for pre-k -3rd grade
- biography reports
- reading stories from other countries or stories about the Olympics
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/MathOlympicsMedalsGraphIdea35.htm
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/PEMDOlympicOpeningCeremoniesAndGameDaysK6.htm
For middle school:
- Book Reports about athletics, athletes, biographies, history of the Olympics, countries, using the country and creating a personal family history timeline
- listen to music and national anthems from various countries
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/gk2/olympic.html
For high school:
- Reports about athletics, athletes, biographies, history of the Olympics, countries, using the country and creating a personal family history timeline. The same idea as the middle school lessons, but more indepth and have them include resources
- Pick a country and discover their journey to the Olympics
http://www.vancouver2010.com/
http://eduforum.vancouver2010.com/
These are just a few ideas I can think of off the top of my head. Here are some additional links that should support your work academically. I’d like to know if you have any other ideas or lessons that have worked for you in the past.
And families — don’t be afraid to get in this action yourself!
