The Olympics

Introduction

By Tracie Gaughf, Grand Canyon University

 

A social studies and literature webcast created for 2nd graders

Introduction

Do you ever wonder what the ancient Olympics were like? Where were they held and where is it on the map? Jack and Annie have visited the Olympics once before in Magic Tree House series by Mary Pop Osborne and Natalie Pop Boyce The Hour of the Olympics but they still have many questions that were left unanswered. This time after reading The Magic Tree House Fact Tracker series Ancient Greece and the Olympics Jack and Annie discover the answers to many of their questions as well as learn through many fun activities along the way.

 

 

Task

Task

You are about to travel back in time to ancient Greece to learn about what the early Olympics were like as well as the culture and lifestyle of the people that lives in ancient Greece. Identifying Greece and other places on the map will help you see where the Olympics all began.  You will also see how the Olympics differ from today and write a letter to the President of the Olympic Committee to telling him why your city should be the next host of the 2024 games.

Process

Process

Read Chapter 1

Click on the link to print out a map of ancient Greece. Color in and label the country of Greece, the cities of Athens and Sparta and label the Mediterranean Sea.

http://fivejs.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/ancient-egypt.pdf

Read Chapter 2

Click on the link below to explore about the Greek God’s and Goddesses.

http://greece.mrdonn.org/greekgods/index.html

 

Read Chapter 3

After reading chapter 3 click on the link to read about what kind of toys children in ancient Greece played with.

http://greece.mrdonn.org/toys.html

Click on the link to see an example of the Greek alphabet that the children learned at home or school.

http://edsitement.neh.gov/greek-alphabet

 

 

Read Chapter 4

Culture of Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece had a rich culture that included many great thinkers, writers, artists and builders as well as those who made discoveries in science and medicine. Many of these early discoveries are still used throughout the world today.

Click on the link to learn more about achievements from the Greeks:

http://greece.mrdonn.org/achievements.html

 

 

 

Read Chapter 5 and 6

Chapter 5 talks about the early Olympians and what the atmosphere was like during the early Olympic Games.

Chapter 6 describes the events that the Greek men were able to take place in during the Olympic Games.

On a piece of paper write down five events that you would choose to participate in if you were at the Olympics and answer the following questions about each event:

  • What is the name of the event?
  • Why would you choose to do this event?
  • What would you need to do for this event?
  • How would you train for this event?

 

Chapter 7

The Olympics Today

Learn about how the Olympic torch arrives at the stadium and the path it takes to make it there.

Click on the link below:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/olympics/printouts/Torchsydney.shtml

Click on the link below to explore a site that compares the modern day Olympic Games with the first games:

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/

 

You have done a great job learning about Greece and the Olympic Games! I hope  your city is choosen for the 2024 Olympic Games!

Below is a link to a quiz about Ancient Greece

Good luck!

Quiz:

http://ask.mrdonn.org/greece/51.html

 

After you are finished with your quiz here is your reward