USA: Olympic dreams, Olympic gold. (Lesson Plans).

OBJECTIVES

Students should understand:

* the emergence of Winter Olympic Games;

* the preparations in Salt Lake City, Utah;

* the excitement of new events and top stars.

SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS

Grades 5-8: * winter sports * athletic competition * international harmony

TEACHING STRATEGY

Next month, millions of people around the world will watch the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. What competitions do you plan to watch?

BACKGROUND

How did the Winter Olympic Games evolve? (When the first modem Games were held in 1896, the events were mostly track and field. In 1908, three figure-skating competitions were introduced. Ice hockey came along in 1920. This led to a desire for separate Winter Games. In 1924, before the Summer Games began in Paris, Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France.)

THINKING SKILLS

EXPLORING ROOTS: Why did Baron Pierre de Coubertin revive the Olympic Games after an absence of about 1,600 years? (He wanted to give world athletes a chance to excel and compete against each other.)

MAKING CONNECTIONS: What personal qualities do you expect in Olympic athletes? (Answers may include skill, stamina, perseverance, competitive spirit, and sportsmanship.)

NOTING COSTS: What sacrifices are made to reach the Olympics? (Athletes give up time with friends and family for intense training. Families make financial sacrifices to pay for equipment, travel, and trainers.)

RESEARCH AND DISCUSS: Why is security a major concern? (The terrorist attacks of September 11 raised anxieties. But they increased the urge to make the Games a shining example of international harmony.)

ACTIVITY

List competitions that have been added to the Winter Olympics since 1992.

RESOURCES

Print

* Kristy, Davida, Coubertin's Olympics: How the Games Began (Lerner, 1995) Grades 5-8.

* Wallechinsky, David, The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics 2002 (Overlook Press, 2001)

Video

* Winter Olympic Highlights (separate videos for 1992, 1994, and 1998)

CBS Fox Video

1330 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019

1-800-800-2369

Web Sites

* 2002 Winter Olympic Games

www.saltlake2002.com

* Olympics 2002 (CNN& Sports Illustrated)

www.cnnsi.com/olympics

* The Ancient Olympics

www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics

RELATED ARTICLE

Write the letter of the correct answer on the line before each sentence.

___ 11. On February 8, 2002, the Olympic flame will be lit in (A) Mount Olympus, Greece; (B) Nagano, Japan; (C) Salt Lake City, Utah.

___ 12. The first Winter Olympic Games were held in (A) 1896; (B) 1924; (C) 1936.

___ 13. Security will be a major concern at this year's Winter Olympic Games because of (A) the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; (B) protests over having the Winter Games in Utah; (C) predicted bad weather.

___ 14. In what first-ever Olympic event will Jean Racine and Jennifer Davidson compete? (A) figure skating; (B) two-woman bobsled; (C) snowboarding.

___ 15. A new competition this year is called the Skeleton. It involves (A) downhill skiing in a metal harness; (B) headfirst belly sledding; (C) paragliding down a deep slope.

ANSWERS

11. C

12. B

13. A

14. B

15. B