The Olympics are a perfect way to bring excitement and learning into the classroom or home.
With the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics approaching, here are some fantastic activities to celebrate the spirit of the Olympics, suitable for various grade levels and perfect for fun loving families.
The Olympics offer a unique blend of sports, culture, and history that can captivate students’ imaginations and fuel their desire to learn.
By integrating Olympic-themed activities, you can create an immersive learning environment that highlights the importance of global cooperation and personal achievement.
These activities are designed to be both educational and entertaining, making them an excellent addition to your curriculum or home learning plan.
Discover
Learning about the Olympics can be a great way to introduce students to different cultures, historical events, and the values of perseverance and sportsmanship. These discovery activities will spark curiosity and provide a foundation for understanding the significance of the Olympic Games.
- Learn about the Olympic Flames: Dive into the history and significance of the Olympic flames. This is a great way to incorporate social studies and explore ancient Greece and Greek mythology.
- Olympic-Themed Word Games: Engage in word searches, mazes, Olympics ISpy Pages, and word scrambles with an Olympic twist. This is a fun way to boost language arts and problem-solving skills.
- History of the Olympics: Explore the first Olympic games in ancient Greece, the first modern Olympic games, and how they have evolved. This can be a great opportunity for older students to write short stories or informational essays.
- Learn about the Olympic Rings: Discuss the colors of the Olympic rings and what they represent. Create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the summer games and winter games.
After researching some of these different aspects of the Olympic Games, or their favorite olympic sport, use our blank Olympics fact file pages to fill in some of the new information that’s been learned and create your own informational poster.
Be Creative
Creativity and hands-on projects are fantastic ways to engage children and help them express their understanding of the Olympic Games. These creative activities allow students to explore their artistic talents while learning about Olympic traditions and symbols.
- Make Paper Plate Tennis Props: Use paper plates and other various materials to create fun tennis props. This can be a great craft activity for younger children.
- Create an Olympic Torch: DIY your own Olympic torch using duct tape, pool noodles, and pom poms. This is a fantastic way to learn about the Olympic torch relay and the opening ceremonies.
- Craft an Olympic Wreath: Use paper plates and green construction paper to make your own Olympic wreath, just like in ancient Greece.
- Design Olympic Medals: Make your own gold medals using craft supplies. This can be a fun activity to discuss the different sports and Olympic values of excellence and fair play. You can use our free printable pages to design olympics medals.
- Olympic Coloring: We have a bunch of free printable Olympics coloring pages which you can use, and a set of Gymnastics coloring pages and soccer coloring pages as those are always one of the most popular olympic events.
Do It
Physical activities are a perfect way to bring the excitement of the Olympics to life. These activities are designed to get students moving, encourage teamwork, and simulate the fun and challenge of Olympic sporting events, as you hold your own Olympic Games.
- Backyard Olympics: Host your own backyard Olympics or classroom olympics with activities like javelin throw (using pool noodles), throwing hula hoops, a balance beam with cinder blocks, ball toss, and hurdles. This is a perfect way to engage in physical education.
- Relay Races: Set up relay races, a great way for team members to work together and experience the excitement of the summer Olympics.
- Obstacle Course: Create an obstacle course using hula hoops, pool noodles, and other items. This is a great opportunity for young athletes to develop their physical skills.
- DIY Bows and Arrows: Make DIY bows and arrows for a fun archery event. This can be a great time for older kids and middle school students to practice their aiming skills.
Watch It
Watching movies related to the Olympics can be both entertaining and educational. These films showcase real-life stories of Olympic athletes and events, providing inspiration and a deeper understanding of the Olympic spirit.
- Cool Runnings (1993): A fun film to introduce the Winter Olympics and the story of the Jamaican bobsled team.
- Eddie the Eagle (2015): Perfect for learning about the spirit of the Olympics and perseverance.
- I am Bolt (2016): A great documentary to learn about one of the best athletes in Olympic history, Usain Bolt.
More Olympic Theme Ideas
Incorporating additional Olympic-themed activities can enhance learning and make the experience more comprehensive. These ideas provide a broad range of opportunities to engage students in different subjects and skills, from geography and math to public speaking and arts.
- Opening Ceremony: Host your own opening ceremony with a parade of the different countries represented by the students. Play national anthems and have an Olympic torch relay.
- Medal Count: Keep track of the medal counts from various Olympic games. This can be an excellent math skills activity for upper elementary students.
- Study Olympic Athletes: Learn about famous Olympic athletes from different sports and countries. This can be a great way to incorporate independent work and public speaking.
- Create Your Own Olympic Rings: Use paper plates and colors to make your own set of Olympic rings for a classroom wall project.
- Learn About Host Cities: Study the different cities that have hosted the Olympics. This can be a great way to learn geography and interesting facts about each location. This year’s host city is Paris.
The Olympics offer a great opportunity to blend fun activities with educational content, making it a perfect time to engage students and children in a variety of subjects. Whether it’s through creative crafts, physical activities, or watching inspirational movies, the spirit of the Olympics can be brought to life in many exciting ways.
The Olympics are more than just a series of sporting events; they are a celebration of global unity, perseverance, and excellence.
By incorporating these fun and educational Olympic activities into your classroom or home, you can inspire students to learn about different cultures, historical events, and the values of teamwork and fair play.
These activities not only make learning enjoyable but also provide a great opportunity to develop a wide range of skills, from physical fitness to critical thinking and creativity. Embrace the spirit of the Olympics and create memorable experiences that will motivate and engage children of all ages.
