The Olympics Beijing 2008
A Cyber Mentor TIP
Today's kids are digital. There's no doubt about it....they use digital tools and toys to communicate, to create and invent and to get things done. There's also clear evidence that they learn in different ways ways that are best harnessed by the fast moving and multifaceted nature of technology. Let's work with this and get them doing stuff that enhances their learning in other areas at the same time. For others, go to the Family Treasure Trove section of our Tips Collection.
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The Olympics
The Olympics – Winter and Summer - occur only every two years and grab the interest of people the world over – especially in terms of their own competitors’ performance and involvement. Use these activities to harness this interest and excitement. The use of computers and their applications is important if we are to motivate this generation of children to perform at their best. To harness the skills of a ‘digital generation’, we need to provide them with activities that enable them to use ‘techno tools’ – tools that allow for smart publishing, exciting communication, deep research and creative problem solving. Please note that any word which is marked with an * has further explanation in the appendix of this document. Quick Facts
The values or ‘noble principles’ of the Olympics are: 1. Fun – Everyone should have fun in sports. 2. Excellence – Everyone has the right to try to do their very best. 3. Fairness – Honesty and fair play are important, and everyone should have an equal chance to participate. 4. Respect – Feelings and views of others should be considered and everyone's contribution to sport appreciated. 5. Leadership – Sport participants should set a good example. 6. Peace – Sport should promote understanding and harmony. 7. Human Development – Participation in sport should make us better people The five interlocking rings These rings represent the union of the continents and the meeting of the world's athletes at the Olympic Games. Each ring is a different colour. The colours—black, blue, green, red and yellow— represent the colours included in every flag of every country participating in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
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Links:
Official Site of Beijing Olympics http://en.beijing2008.cn/ Australia’s Official Site for the 2008 Olympics http://www.olympics.com.au/ Official Site of the Olympic movement http://www.olympic.org/uk/index_uk.asp A digital exhibit of the Ancient Games http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/ Olympic Fun Facts http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0771580.html A quiz http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/kids/quizzes/olympicquiz.htm
Commonly Used Software - Activity Software - Microsoft PowerPoint Level One Create a slideshow which has 6 slides. Make the first slide a title slide. On each slide place a letter of the word Olympics using WordArt. Insert a text box placed next to each of these large letters and then type a word that represents something about the Olympics. One suggestion is to use names of sports or athletes or countries that have hosted an Olympic Games. Insert an appropriate picture on each slide. Save your slideshow.
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Level Two Create a slideshow which has 8 slides. Made the first slide a title slide. Copy and paste each of the values or ‘noble principles’ of the Olympics – found in the quick facts from above – one per each slide. Bold the words in each statement that you consider to be the most important. Insert an appropriate picture on each slide that shows or demonstrates this principle. You might need to do some research to do this. Work on the ‘theme’ of the slideshow – the colours, the backgrounds, the font colours etc – so that the colours of the Olympic Rings are represented. Save your slideshow.
Freeware Activity Software - Mind mapping* software You can use Inspiration* or Kidspiration* for this activity. You can also download freeware “Free Mind” at http://freemind.sourceforge.net/. ‘Free Mind’ Instructions: Start at new mind map (File – new) With the first shape that is automatically created for you, double click on the text and type “The Olympics 2008”. Now create several other shapes (Insert - New child node) and in each place the words “Who”, “Where”, “Why” and “When”. Research the answers to each of these using the links on the main page. Answering each box in turn, click on the box and create an area for answers (Insert – New child node) and type the answer in note form. Save this file or export as .jpg.
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Software – Eclipse Crossword Freeware Download the free crossword maker http://www.eclipsecrossword.com/ and install. Before you open the program you need to have a list of 10 - 15 words related to the sports to be included in the 2008 Olympics and their clues. “Eclipse” Instructions: Open Eclipse Crossword Maker and follow the instructions for making a new crossword. Add your words with their matching clues one at a time. After each word and clue, click ‘add word to list’. Click “next” when you have finished. Title your crossword. Print your crossword.
Research Activity Middle Primary Research each of the sports to be included in the 2008 Olympics. Imagine that you and your family are to attend the Athens Olympics with your family. Each of you wants to see a different sport. You must come up with an argument as to why your chosen sport is the best and the most difficult. Upper Primary 1. Vancouver in 2010 and London in 2012. Choose the year and event that interests you the most. It might be because of the host city or because you are more interested in the Winter Olympics versus the Summer Olympics. Through your research, answer the following questions. • Why is this city is particularly suited to hosting the Summer Olympics of 2012/the Winter Olympics of 2010? • What was it about this city’s bid for the Olympic Games that led to their success? • What is the progress made so far in this city with regard to their preparations? • What athletes will be exciting about possibly competing in their home country?
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Write a newspaper report as if you were announcing the successful bid. Make sure you include as many of the answers to the above questions as possible. 2. Compare and contrast today's Olympics with the Ancient Olympic Games. Look at the events, the people who participated, the reasons for holding the games and any other information you can find.
Taking It All Further* To challenge the inspired student: Ask: Today, do the Olympics bring people together or divide them? What makes them think this? Choose your own method of presentation and create a presentation to convince your audience of your view.
Appendix Mind Mapping Mind mapping is a strategy used to visually represent ideas. Visual learning is one of the best methods for teaching students how to think and how to learn. Comprehension skills, writing skills, thinking and learning and data analysis skills are those that can be improved through the use of mind mapping. Combine mind mapping with the use of technology and you have powerful tools that can enhance students’ understanding, their ability to learn and their analytical skills. Inspiration or Kidspiration This is popular software used in schools to enable students to be involved in mind mapping.
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ABC This activity involves the student in working with the alphabet and for each letter, pinpointing a word or phrase or sentence that is on the topic that begins with the particular letter of the alphabet. These words are then written on the same line as the letter. Taking It All Further For students that are particularly inspired by a topic, it is important that ideas are given to them that motivate them to take things even further. Many benefits can result. Deeper thinking encourages a deeper understanding. It is also important that these students are encouraged to choose their own method of presentation. This will allow for them to be working in their own learning style. It is useful however, to encourage them to work in other learning styles occasionally, rather than in their preferred one. This will ensure that they are building skills in ways of thinking that might not come naturally to them.
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