Unite the Olympics with Learning

The 2008 Olympic Games continue to hold the world's attention as superior athletes break records and compete at the highest level. But beyond the medals and unbelievable athleticism, educators can use the Olympics to reach out to and educate their students. A variety of Web sites have posted ideas on how to tie the Olympics into learning.

• TeachersFirst offers a database of different Web sites that contain a history of the Olympics and conveniently lists what grade levels are appropriate on each link.
• Educator Megan Sheakoski talks about how teachers should use the Olympics to motivate their students. She suggests using the Olympics to get students excited about math, reading comprehension, and writing.
• TeacherVision gives several suggestions including: having students study the history of the Games, re-creating events in the classroom, and teaching about China and some of the controversies surrounding the country hosting the Games.

How are you using the Olympics to connect your students to coursework?

Comments

[Carey Cook]

The vocabulary of the Olympic competition is a great way to involve students in Olympic "excitement." Go to the fr*ee website at www.vocabulary.com and click on the Olympic Sports Thematic Puzzle to use seven different activities. Students can learn the Latin & Greek roots of Olympic-related vocabulary and become better readers.

[c christensen]

Here's how I motivate my students using the Olympics.
I teach in a master's degree program for teachers and often give workshops or inservice presentations. I like to use the Olympics theme as a way to start a class or open a workshop.
First, I ask the participants to consider that we view athletes as heroes and treat them as such at the Olympics with accolades and cheering as they march in and as they perform. They get respect and awe for their abilities; they invite lucrative endorsement contracts; they have media attention, with interviews, public recognition, and news articles. I try to make connections to more current Olympic games.
Next, I ask the participants to think of teachers as heroes, too. And then I play the Olympic theme music, and either have them march around the room with cheering and waving and clapping (this can be great fun), or simply visualize themselves marching into the arena on opening day - their school or place of work - with the students, parents, administrators, board of education, public figures, all honoring the teachers with cheering and clapping for them as they march into the front door of the building. I have them vigorously clap and cheer for each other and I do the same.
It is a great pump-up activity and lets teachers know that their work is valuable. Plus it starts the workshop or class with a positive energy, and makes any presentation more enjoyable.