HISTORICAL OLYMPICS

This lesson is designed to introduce students to the Olympics by briefly studying the history of them. Students will use the Internet to answer questions about the Ancient Olympic Games.

IRPs COVERED:
GRADE 4:
SOCIAL STUDIES:
It is expected that students will:
-demonstrate understanding of timelines
LANGUAGE ARTS:
It is expected that students will:
-read, listen, and view for specific purposes
-describe and recount key ideas or information from various media

GRADE 5:
LANGUAGE ARTS:
It is expected that students will:
-read, listen, and view for specific purposes
-locate and interpret details to answer specific questions or to complete tasks

GRADE 6:
LANGUAGE ARTS:
It is expected that students will:
-use questioning, predicting, summarizing, inferring, skimming or scanning, and graphic organizers to accomplish specific purposes for reading, viewing, and listening
-organize details and information they have read, heard, or viewed using a variety of written and graphic forms, including charts, webs, and maps

GRADE 7:
SOCIAL STUDIES:
It is expected that students will:
-describe daily life, work, family structures, and gender roles in selected ancient cultures
-identify connections between current cultures and ancient cultures
-demonstrate understanding of events as part of a chronological series
LANGUAGE ARTS:
It is expected that students will:
-use text and electronic media features, including indices, tables of contents, and keyword searches, to locate specific information or material
-use information they have read, heard, or viewed in a variety of written or graphic forms, including written notes and charts

COMPUTER SCOPE AND SEQUENCE OBJECTIVES COVERED:

• Network operations (log-on, log-off) if appropriate.
• Combine information from multiple sources for presentation.
• Launch browser to access the World Wide Web, FTP sites, Gopher.
• Access information files and search sites.
• Observe appropriate etiquette at all times.
• Identify, define/locate sources of electronic information (e.g. CD-ROM, Internet).
• Select relevant information
• Evaluate suitability of info for use in specific contexts.
  
  LESSON:

1. In class you may wish to talk about the Olympics before you go to the computer lab. Ask your class what they know about the history of the Olympics: Where were the first Olympics? What sports did the athletes compete in?

2. Click here to download the worksheet that students can use in the computer lab.

3. In the computer lab have students open the Internet and either click on the Olympics on your main page and then click on the History Webpage or type in the following address:

www.perseus.tufts.edu

4. Students can now follow the instructions on the worksheet and answer the questions in the spaces provided.

5. After the students have had time to complete the sheets discuss the answers in class.

EXTENSIONS:
-Students could design a timeline showing when the Olympics first began, when they were revised and then add the places where the Olympics have taken place. This is a difficult project as far as filling out the historical sites. For information about the Ancient Olympics you may wish to use this site: www.fhw.gr/projects/olympics or use this site for quick information about the Ancient Olympics and a timeline of when and where the summer Olympics have occurred: CBC Sports History of Olympics

-After learning more about the modern Olympics, students could go back and do an in-depth study of how the Ancient and Modern Olympics are the same and different.