Go for Gold: 3 Ways to Teach the Olympics

Friday, 2/12/2010

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Once every two years, the whole world stops to watch the Olympics. Using this cultural event in the classroom is a no-brainer, but how to integrate it into pre-established curriculum units leaves some teachers scratching their heads.

Fortunately, there are truly fantastic, standards-based lessons on the web this year. Whether you’re looking to use figure-skating to explain a physics principle, or have an insightful discussion about how technological advances in sports are affecting athletes, there’s something here for you.

Take a look at the three very extensive resources; we’re sure you’ll find something you and your students will love:

NBC Learn and Lessonopoly’s The Science Behind the Sport

NBC, the home of the Olympics, has partnered with Lessonopoly to create nearly 40 standards-based lesson plans around the different Olympic sports.

Each science lesson begins with a 3-5 minute video that explains the scientific principles behind the sport, then it builds upon that foundation with an in-depth and engaging lesson that will align with your state’s standards.

These lessons are designed for 6-12th graders, but can be adapted as necessary. We suggest selecting two or three lessons, and teaching them while that sport is being played. Students can create a direct link between what they watch at home and what they are learning in school.

The Learning Network’s Winter Olympics Teaching and Learning Extravaganza

The New York Times Learning Network has put together an extensive list of discussion topics and lesson ideas by subject: language arts, history/social studies, media studies, fine arts, geography, mathematics, science and health.

While the ideas are not strictly standards-based, many integrate lesson plans that are aligned to national standards. As with all Learning Network resources, they reference fantastic New York Times articles, current and historical, to help engage students in the “story” surrounding what they are learning.

The Learning Network has also promised to update their Olympics lesson plans and resource pages as the Games progress, so check early and often.

Education World’s Countdown to Vancouver

Education World has some great lesson plans for younger students, grades K-5.Their lessons are all inter-disciplinary and aligned to national standards.

From character education to history, there’s a lesson plan for every topic here.

Posted by » walden
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