THE OLYMPICS:RECORDS

Franklin Watts downloadables for every child’s learning journey

THE OLYMPICS: RECORDS

THE OLYMPICS is a four-book series that gets behind the scenes at the world’s greatest sporting spectacle. In The Olympics: History travel back to ancient Greece where the Olympics began, and learn about the modern Olympics since their revival in 1896. For the facts behind the headlines, read The Olympics: Scandals . For fascinating facts and stats about the events go to The Olympics: Events , and wonder at the record-breakers in The Olympics: Records .

Worksheets There are two photocopiable worksheets and a printable pictogram guide to the London 2012 Olympics for children to complete. They stand alone, but using them in conjunction with the book will offer a more complete learning experience.

The Olympic medals activity develops drawing and design skills. Discuss what a symbol is and how symbols are used in medal or poster designs. This activity could lead on to a classroom discussion about how it must feel to win an Olympic medal for yourself and your country. How are awards used to celebrate achievement in your school?

Use the maths medal activity sheet to produce a bar chart that compares the gold medal haul of the top ten countries in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Discuss how children will plot the information. Will they use coloured bars or pictograms?

They could represent the medal wins by drawing tiny flags of each country.

The pictogram guide lists all 26 official Olympic sports for London 2012 and gives a brief explanation of each. By completing the activity children will have a useful explanatory guide to the Summer Olympics. This activity could be adapted to learn about the sports included in the Winter Games or the Paralympics.

Learning objectives To develop research skills.

To develop design and art skills.

To promote class discussions.

To develop numeracy.

Titles in the series:

Click on the PICTURE below for more information

THE OLYMPICS: RECORDS

published by Franklin Watts © Franklin Watts 2011

www.franklinwatts.co.uk

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OLYMPIC MEDALS

Gold, silver and bronze medals were first awarded at the 1904 Games. A different medal design is created for each Games. The design usually includes the Olympic rings as well as an image that represents the host country. Design your own Olympic medal. It must be at least 6 centimetres in diameter (across its widest part). You will need a separate design for the front and the back.

THE OLYMPICS: RECORDS

published by Franklin Watts Š Franklin Watts 2011

www.franklinwatts.co.uk

Name:

Date:

MATHS MEDAL ACTIVITY

France 7

Italy 8

Japan 9

South Korea 13

Australia 14

Germany 16

Great Britain 19

Russia 23

USA 36

55 — — — — — 50 — — — — — 45 — — — — — 40 — — — — — 35 — — — — — 30 — — — — — 25 — — — — — 20 — — — — — 15 — — — — — 10 — — — — — 5 — — — — — 0 — China 51

Number of medals

The Olympic Creed explains the ideals behind the Games. It begins: The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part... Despite this motto, countries are fiercely competitive about which country will win the largest haul of medals across all events. Using the data here, produce a bar chart comparing the gold medal haul of the top ten most successful medal-winning countries at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Countries and number of medals won

THE OLYMPICS: RECORDS

published by Franklin Watts © Franklin Watts 2011

www.franklinwatts.co.uk

Name:

Date:

Pictogram guide to the 2012 Olympics The sports included at each Olympic Games are agreed by the International Olympic Committee. There are 26 different sports at the Summer Games in London, 2012. Each one is represented by its own pictogram. Design your own pictograms or reproduce the official pictograms in the boxes provided.

Gymnastics – events using equipment, such as a bar, trampoline or rings, as well as floor exercises.

Rowing – team and individual rowing events.

Hockey – team sport played with hockey sticks on a hockey pitch.

Table tennis – sport using bats to hit a light ball across a net on a table tennis table.

Aquatics – diving, swimming, water polo and synchronised swimming events.

Archery – shooting at targets with a bow and arrows.

Athletics – track and field events including running, long and high jump, discus and javelin.

Badminton – sport using rackets to hit a shuttlecock back and forth on a court.

Basketball – team sport played on an indoor court.

Boxing – a fight between two boxers, with strict rules.

Canoe and kayak – sprint and slalom events.

Cycling – BMX, road, track and mountain bike events.

Equestrian – horse-riding events.

Fencing – duel between opponents using fencing swords.

Football – team sport played on a football pitch.

Handball – team sport played on an indoor court.

Judo – martial art.

Modern pentathlon – pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, horse-riding and running competition.

Sailing – one and two person sailing events, and windsurfing.

Shooting – shooting at targets using rifles and pistols.

Taekwondo – martial art.

Tennis – sport using rackets to hit a tennis ball back and forth on a court.

Triathlon – swimming, running and cycling competition.

Volleyball – team sport played on a court. Includes beach volleyball.

Weightlifting – contest to lift heavy weights attached to a bar.

Wrestling – contest where opponents aim to hold each other on the ground.

THE OLYMPICS: RECORDS

published by Franklin Watts © Franklin Watts 2011

www.franklinwatts.co.uk