THE OLYMPICS:SCANDALS

Franklin Watts downloadables for every child’s learning journey

THE OLYMPICS: SCANDALS

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, a page from the book 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.

Cheating is a regrettable side-effect of competitive sport. Use this activity sheet to focus on cheating at the ancient Greek Olympics and now, the differences and the similarities. A class discussion about how people react to revelations about cheating would enrich this activity.

The Jesse Owens activity sheet develops non-fiction writing and research skills.

Reading the photocopiable page from the book could lead to a class discussion about Adolf Hitler’s ideas of racial superiority. You could introduce the fact that the two world wars of the 20th century prevented the Olympics from taking place in 1916, 1940 and 1944.

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 non-fiction writing skills, especially writing a biography.

To develop history skills by using a range of sources of information.

To record, select and organise historical information.

To develop design and art skills.

To promote class discussions.

Titles in the series:

Click on the PICTURE below for more information

THE OLYMPICS: SCANDALS

published by Franklin Watts © Franklin Watts 2011

www.franklinwatts.co.uk

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ANCIENT CHEATS Part of the punishment for cheating at the ancient Olympics was a fine. This was used to make a bronze statue of Zeus, called a Zane, inscribed with the name of the guilty athlete and his offence. One inscription read: An Olympic victory is to be won not by money but by swiftness of foot or strength of body .

Make up your own inscription covering the type of cheating that occurs in sport today, such as bribery or the use of performanceenhancing drugs, and write it inside the statue of Zeus below. Colour in the statue to complete your picture.

THE OLYMPICS: SCANDALS

published by Franklin Watts Š Franklin Watts 2011

www.franklinwatts.co.uk

THE OLYMPICS: SCANDALS

published by Franklin Watts Š Franklin Watts 2011

www.franklinwatts.co.uk

Name:

Date:

JESSE OWENS

Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party in Germany, intended to use the Berlin Olympics in 1936 to show how superior white-skinned athletes were to those from other racial groups. Then the African-American athlete, Jesse Owens, won four gold medals at the Games. Research Jesse Owens’ life and write a biography of this world-famous athlete who caused a stir in 1936.

You could start by finding out answers to the questions in the table below.

Questions: When and where was Jesse Owens born?

What was his real name?

Where did he go to school?

When did he first discover he was a good athlete?

What about his wife and children?

Which events won him gold medals at the 1936 Olympics?

What happened next?

When did he die?

THE OLYMPICS: SCANDALS

published by Franklin Watts Š 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.

Taekwondo – martial art.

Triathlon – swimming, running and cycling competition.

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

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

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.

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

Handball – team sport played on an indoor court.

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

Judo – martial art.

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

Rowing – team and individual rowing events.

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

Shooting – shooting at targets using rifles and pistols.

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

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

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

THE OLYMPICS: SCANDALS

published by Franklin Watts © Franklin Watts 2011

www.franklinwatts.co.uk