Storyline: Consider using the Summer Olympics as a learning opportunity for children. Learning can be fun, too. There are multiple resources–digital and hard copy–to draw on.
Children can learn a great deal from the Olympic Games, as exemplified in a speech given many years ago: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle.” Those are the words of Ethelbert Talbot, who once served as the Episcopal Bishop of Central Pennsylvania. “The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well,” he continued.
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Children can learn from the Olympic Games. The first step is to learn about the Olympics though the Internet. Along with parents, children can find information about the Summer Olympics, Rio, the history of athletics, and background information about Olympic champions. This site provides excellent information about the games, past and present athletes, and the host city Rio.
And there’s more. The official website of the Olympics includes stories and information about the athletes and upcoming events. Activity Village has crafts, printables, worksheets, coloring pages, and puzzles.
A second step to being part of the games is to host a “reading Olympics.” “In this activity, family members go for the Gold (or whatever other color they choose) by entering books they have read in a fun series of Olympic reading events,” said Ruth Graves, author of The RIF (Reading is Fundamental) Guide To Encouraging Young Readers. “As a family, brainstorm a list of book games and competitions. Keep contests of skill to a minimum, and make them fun. For most events, the books themselves should be the contenders.”
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As Graves explains, the list of events could include the following:
• Most number of pages read in seven minutes
• Longest list of characters in a single story
• Fastest oral reading that the family can still understand
• Longest word on a page, and
• Book with the most pictures.
Parents can help children design medals out of poster board and paint them gold, silver and bronze.
A third and final step is to organize a back-to-school Olympics. “With your children’s help you can sponsor an in-house Olympics anytime your family is in the mood for some engaging play,” said Steve Bennett, author of Back to School Olympics. “‘Events consist of any or all of the activities your kids will regularly do each day to get ready for school – laying out clothes for the next day, packing notebooks and other supplies in a knapsack. When you call ‘Go,’ your kids begin the designated activity.
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Players try to achieve their personal ‘bests’ as the games proceed. After each event, congratulate everyone for their achievements, say, for the quickest time, the neatest job, or the most creative plan for getting the task done. If you don’t have medals on hand, a special dessert might do.
And don’t forget to visit the Rio mascot website. Kids can meet Vinicius and Tom, the official mascots of the Olympics.
