Online Learning Resources for the Olympics

The Summer Olympics have come around at last! Somehow the Olympics always gives me more questions than answers: Why do divers make such tiny splashes? How do gymnasts flip so high? What in the world is “Breaking”? We have a list of resources, some paid and some free, to help you find the answers to these questions and so many more. So let the learning begin!

1. Olympic History and Culture Mini Unit Study

FundaFunda Academy offers a web-based mini unit study all about the history and culture of the Olympics, from Ancient Greece up through the present day and beyond. It will also cover the difference between the Winter and Summer Games, where the Olympics have taken place in the past, as well as when they have been cancelled, boycotted, or postponed.

Explanations of Olympic symbols, mascots, and logos are also included. There are even activities for making your own Olympic torch, mascot, and more! Additionally, FundaFunda Academy has a fun summer Olympics bingo containing things you could see or hear while watching the Summer Olympics.

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2. The Boys in the Boat Online Book Club

Literary Adventures offers online book clubs for middle schoolers and high schoolers featuring The Boys in the Boat, the story of an Olympic rowing team from the early 20th century. These book clubs come with instruction on spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. They also offer ideas for hands-on activities and engage students through critical thinking questions and writing projects.

3. Music of the Olympics

Music in Our Homeschool has a free fifteen-minute music lesson on the music of the Olympics. The lesson covers four Olympic classics: Bugler’s Dream, Olympic Fanfare and Theme, The Olympic Hymn, and When You Believe. Once you’ve taken the course, you’ll be able to recognize the pieces when you hear them in the Olympics!

4. Summer Olympics Digital Breakout

Digital breakouts are like online escape rooms, and this one is all about the Summer Olympics! It works through Google Forms, a platform that many people are already familiar with. It’s aimed at late elementary or middle school-aged children, but it can provide fun for all ages. Additionally, it comes with an answer key, so you won’t be left frustrated!

5. Official Olympic Resources

The Olympic Museum offers PDFs on a wide variety of topics from Olympic history to overviews of past games to fun activities. These PDFs are all free and are available on their website. They are a great way to get excited about the Olympics, and learn something too!

6. The Science Behind the Olympics

The U.S. National Science Foundation offers a number of videos on some of the science behind the Olympics. From the forces required in weight-lifting to the fluid dynamics behind swimming events, these videos can spark curiosity and answer the questions of eager observers.

7. Fanschool

You’re already making predictions about which countries will win which events, so why not make it official? By joining the Summer Olympics Fanschool, you can do just that! Enter your predictions before the opening ceremony, and receive points each day based how well your picks do. The top three winners in the U.S. will receive a Chromebook prize! This is completely free to participate in!

Hopefully, these resources will put you well on the way to finding answers to all of your Summer Olympics-related questions. If you have more questions that these resources do not answer, post them in the comments below and we’ll take a look. Happy learning!