Is your family looking forward to the Olympic Games this summer? My children are already talking about which events they hope to catch on TV. (My secret hope is that the stations show more sports coverage and less chit-chat, but that’s just me.)
Go for The Gold with this Olympic Games Unit Study!
Even if Olympics fever hasn’t yet hit your house, now is a great time for Olympic Games: A Study of the Olympic Games from Ancient Times to the Present, by Charlene Notgrass and Mary Evelyn McCurdy.
Available from home education publisher the Notgrass Company, this Olympic Games Unit Study provides 40 lessons on:
- Olympic history
- sports education
- notable athletes
What is the history of the Olympic Games? Who is the International Olympic Committee? Which countries compete in the Olympic Games? Where have the Olympic Games been held? Which sports are included in the Summer Olympic Games? Which ones are held in the Winter Games? What is the history of Olympic sports? What does the Bible say about athletic competition? Find out the answers to these questions and much more as you have fun exploring the Olympic Games.
Each lesson contains some sort of written or artistic response, including creative writing, sports vocabulary, mapwork, and puzzles. The puzzles are particularly intriguing and comprise missing letter, crossword, word search, acrostic, and word scramble varieties.
Moreover, the lessons encompass a wide variety of subjects, such as:
- Bible study
- world history
- geography
- language arts
What Impressed Me About This Olympic Games Unit Study
1. Scriptural Tie Ins
I was especially impressed with the scriptural tie-ins. For example, in the section on archery, the directions read: “The Bible often speaks of bows and arrows. One passage is Psalm 127:4. Copy it on these lines. . . . Read about King David, his friend Jonathan, and what they did with arrows in 1 Samuel 20.”
2. The Artwork
The artwork is another highlight. More than mere afterthoughts, the photographs are fascinating and pertinent to the text. Vivid color photographs of events and places of interest, as well as historical black and white photos of people and places, such as Wilma Rudolph crossing the finish line in first place, are integral to the study.
Olympic Games unit study is officially for ages 7-14, and the activities are designed for this age group. But the subject matter, related in a well-written style, is engrossing enough for older students and even adults. I myself enjoyed reading the lessons, especially those covering an Olympic timeline.
Purchasing Olympic Games Unit Study
This fun and engaging study is available as a pdf download. The high quality and reasonable price makes Olympic Games an excellent value. What’s more, it would be a fantastic accompaniment to any of your Olympic games watching endeavors!
More Olympic Games Resources
The Summer Games Homeschool – While many are on break from homeschooling during the summer months, we have found it both fun and educational to engage in some learning activities when it comes to the Olympics. Everything from watching specific events, to learning about the location they are being held at can be a learning experience.
Homeschool Resources for Learning About the Winter Olympics – Enjoy these homeschool resources for learning about Winter Olympics! The Games are a great opportunity for all kinds of hands on art activities and fun around a favorite sport.
How to Draw and Olympic Torch with Chalk Pastels – Learn how to draw an Olympic Torch with chalk pastels and Nana’s homeschool art lesson for The Winter or Summer Games!
Celebrate the Summer Games with Chalk Pastel Art ideas – The Games are back! The Games are a great opportunity to celebrate culture, history, sports, and healthy competition with your kids. Every family has their favorite sport to watch during these events, whether summer or winter. Gather the kids and celebrate the Summer Games with Chalk Pastel Art.
~ Originally posted May 2012, Written by Ellen of The Blue Stocking Belle
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