Incorporate the excitement of the Summer Olympic Games into your teaching and learning, with lessons, activities, and resources for all ages.
While the modern spectacle was revived in the late 19th Century, the Olympic Games can be traced back almost 3,000 years to a single event: a footrace. Examine the history, people and significance of the Games, including global efforts to improve inclusiveness through the Paralympic and Special Olympics International Sports Program, with these lesson ideas.
Browse rights-cleared Olympics images on Britannica ImageQuest
Learning Activity
Thinking Critically: Visual Media Literacy
Encourage your students to think critically when analysing images of important historical moments and cultural events. Start by inviting them to answer the questions below:
- What do you wonder about this image?
- What is being communicated in this image? Provide evidence.
- Does anything in the image surprise you? Explain.
- What is the motivation behind this image?
- Whose perspective does the image represent?
See more: Visual Learning – Capturing the Olympics
Discover more noteworthy Olympians on Britannica School
Learning Activity
Athlete Spotlight
Explore the official Olympics website and ask students to select an athlete that sparks their interest. Take a look at their sport and their story. Then, answer the following questions:
- Why did you choose this athlete, and in which sport does this athlete compete?
- Where is this athlete from? What are some of their biggest achievements so far?
- What are some of the challenges they faced, and how did they overcome those challenges?
- Was there anything that surprised you or anything new that you discovered?
- What notable qualities does this athlete have (e.g. persistence, dedication, etc.), and how have these qualities helped them reach the Olympic Games?
Ready, set, search!
Try your luck with the Britannica Summer Olympics word search – the perfect activity for students to enjoy in the classroom or at home.
Download Word Search