Olympic Activities for Kids

 Olympic
Activities for
Kids
Summer 2012
www.icanteachmychild.com
About the Author
Jenae is a former first-grade teacher turned stay-athome mother to two boys (ages 4 and 2). She graduated
with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, with
an emphasis in Early-Childhood Education. While
teaching full-time, she then went on to get a Master’s
Degree in Education. After the birth of her first child,
she made the decision to stay home and be a full-time
mother.
She started her blog, www.icanteachmychild.com, in
July of 2010 as a way to hold herself accountable to
being intentional in the time she has with both of her
children. It is also her hope that her blog can be
beneficial for other parents and caregivers wishing to
enrich the development of their young child! At www.icanteachmychild.com, you
will find activities for young children, resources for parents, some crafts, and an
occasional parenting tip or two!
Copyright, Legal Notice and Disclaimer:
This publication is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other
applicable international, federal, state and local laws, and all rights are reserved,
including resale rights: you are not allowed to give or sell this Guide to anyone
else. If you received this publication from anyone other than
ICanTeachMyChild.com, you've received a pirated copy. Please contact us via email at [email protected] and notify us of the situation.
Please note that much of this publication is based on personal experience.
Although the author has made every reasonable attempt to achieve complete
accuracy of the content, she assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
Also, you should use this information as you see fit, and at your own risk. Your
particular situation may not be exactly suited to the examples illustrated here; in
fact, it's likely that they won't be the same, and you should adjust your use of the
information and recommendations accordingly.
Any trademarks, service marks, product names or named features are assumed
to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference.
There is no implied endorsement if we use one of these terms.
Finally, use caution and common sense when implementing these activities with
your child(ren). Nothing in this eBook is intended to replace legal, medical or
other professional advice, and is meant to inform and entertain the reader. So
have fun with these Olympic Activities!
Copyright © 2012 I Can Teach My Child, LLC. All rights reserved worldwide.
2 Table of Contents:
Materials You’ll Need
Books about the Olympics & Olympians
Gold Medal Interactive Map
Olympic Oath
Olympic Crafts
Tissue Paper Torch
O is for “Olympics”
Olympic Flag Craft
Baking Soda Modeling Clay Medals
Olympic Olive Wreath
Swim Goggles
Olympic Games & Activities
Olympic Ring Toss
Balance Beam
Javelin Throw
Balloon Badminton
Hurdle Run
Shot Put
Olympic Snacks
Olympic Cookies: Gold Medals & Olympic Rings
Olympic Ring Pretzels
Olympic Sports Sandwiches
4
5
6
6
7-14
8
9-10
11
12
13
14
15-18
16
16
17
17
18
18
19-21
20
21
21
2 3 Materials You’ll Need:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Paper Towel Roll
Tissue Paper in Red, Yellow, and Orange
Foil
Glue Stick
Stapler
Package of Baking Soda
Cornstarch
Gold Metallic Paint
Ribbon
Construction Paper
Paper Plates
Glue Stick
Bottle of Glue
Scissors
Froot Loops® Cereal
Baking Soda
Corn Starch
Ribbon
Straws
Clear Enamel Spray or Clear Nail Polish
Ingredients for Sugar Cookies (this recipe is delish)
Circle Cookie Cutters
Gold sprinkles
Regular food coloring
World Map
Permanent Marker or push-pins
Jumbo Craft Sticks
Pipe Cleaner: Blue, Yellow, Black, Green & Red
Cardstock
Diving Rings
2-Liter Bottle Filled with Sand, Water, or any other liquid
2x4 Piece of Wood
Smaller Pieces of Wood
Skewer Sticks or ½ to ¼ inch dowel rods
Pool noodles
Bread
Fillings: Peanut Butter, Jelly, Cream Cheese & Cucumber, etc.
Balloons
Ingredients to Make Pretzels (see page 21)
Craft Foam
Pipe Cleaners
4 Books about the Olympics and Olympians:
o Hour of the Olympics (Magic Treehouse #16) by Mary Pope Osborne
If you are a fan of Magic Treehouse chapter books, you’ll
enjoy this book. Jack and Annie travel to Ancient Greece
where they find out various facts about the very first
Olympics: Only men were allowed to compete, chariot races
were one of the main events, and the events were dedicated
to Zeus, the (false) god the Grecians worshipped at the time
(I was particularly uncomfortable with this chapter as I
don’t want to confuse my son on which gods are and are not
real). Like all Magic Treehouse books, the chapters are short (although
there are fewer illustrations in this compared with the others) and are
great for read-alouds.
o G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet by Brad Herzog
From Ancient Greece to Opening Ceremonies to
Water Sports and everything in between, travel
through the alphabet while learning about the
Olympics! This alphabet book is great for all ages—
the short, rhyming captions on each page can be
read in less than 10-minutes total (which is great
for young children). Every page also has a few
paragraphs explaining each letter’s subject in more
detail, which is perfect for older children and adults
alike! Even if you don’t have children, this would be a great coffee table
book to set out during the Olympics!
o The Story of the Olympics by Minna Lacey
This quick read packs loads of information about the
origin of the Ancient Olympics, the founder of the
Modern Olympics, and lots of other info that should
interest young children.
o Wilma Unlimited by Kathleen Krull
This beautiful story of overcoming adversity is based
on the life of Wilma Rudolph, who won 3 Gold
Medals in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
Despite being born prematurely, having scarlet
fever and polio, and wearing a brace on her leg
for much of her childhood, Wilma grew up to be
the world’s fastest woman. Not only is this a
tale of perseverance against all odds, but also of
equality and civil rights. A must-read this
5 Olympic season!!!
Gold Medal Interactive Map
Place a large map of the world on a bulletin board or poster
board. Place a large star or filly push-pin over London,
England. Use a simple push-pin or small star sticker to
mark the home country of each gold medal winner that you
see on television.
Olympic Oath:
“In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take
part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the
rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship,
for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams.”
6 Olympic
Crafts
7 Tissue Paper Torch
Materials You Need:
o Empty Paper Towel Roll
o Red, yellow & orange tissue paper
o Foil
o Glue Stick
o Stapler
Directions:
1. Fold the bottom two inches of
your empty paper towel roll and
staple.
2. Cut a piece of aluminum foil large
enough to cover the entire
circumference of the paper towel
roll.
3. Lay the paper towel roll and cover
with glue. Turn it over and gently
lay it on the piece of aluminum
foil. Cover the remaining side
with glue and carefully cover with the foil. You may wish to tape the
edge.
4. Gently push any remaining foil at the top of your torch into the
opening.
5. Lay your tissue paper flat and gather in the center. Twist. Place the
tissue paper in the torch and arrange as necessary.
History of the Torch:
Several months before the opening of the Olympics, the flame is ignited in
Athens, Greece (the birthplace of the Ancient Olympics). Using a special
mirror, the flame is kindled by the light of the sun in a ceremony. Runners
(and other athletes) carry the flame to various locations. The Olympic
Torch Relay ends at the Opening of the Games event.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/olympic-torch-craft/
8 O is for “Olympics” Craft
Materials You Need:
o Copy of “O is for Olympics” page
(page 10)
o Glue
o Froot Loops® Cereal (or generic
brand)
Directions:
1. Print out the “O is for Olympics”
page on page 10.
2. Encourage your child to make a line
of glue in the center of the “O” on
the page.
3. Give him/her cereal to place on top
of the glue to cover the entire “O”.
The History of the Name ‘Olympics’:
The ancient Olympics were first held in the city of Olympia, Greece from
the 8th Century B.C. to the 4th Century A.D. In 1894, a man by the name of
Pierre de Coubertin, who studied ancient Greek culture, founded what is
now known as the modern-day Olympics and decided to keep the name the
same.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/o-is-for-olympics-craft/
9 is for “Olympics”
10 Olympic Flag Craft
Materials You Need:
o Jumbo Craft Sticks
o Pipe Cleaners in these five
colors: Blue, Yellow, Black,
Green & Red
o 1 Piece of Cardstock
o Glue
o Scissors
o Packing Tape (optional)
Directions:
1. Glue 2 craft sticks together to
create a flag pole. Let dry.
2. Cut each pipe cleaner in half.
3. Have your child create a circle
from each pipe cleaner and
interlock them.
4. Fold the cardstock paper in half.
5. Use glue or packing tape to secure the interlocking rings to the piece
of cardstock.
6. Sandwich the “flag pole” between the folded paper and tape or glue
the bottom of the paper to hold it in place.
The History of the Olympic Flag
The Olympic flag has five interlocking colored rings (circles) on a white
background. The rings represent the five major land areas of the world—
the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand,
etc). At the time that the Modern Olympics began, every flag of the
countries participating included one or more of these colors. These rings
are interlocked to show friendship among the nations.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/olympic-flag-craft/
11 Baking Soda Modeling Clay Medals
Materials You Need:
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 cup baking soda
½ cup corn starch
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons water
Straw
Ribbon
Clear Enamel Spray or Clear Nail
Polish
Directions:
1. Mix the baking soda and corn starch in
a medium saucepan. Slowly add the
water.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring
continuously, for 4-5 minutes (or until
the mixture has become a similar consistency as playdough).
3. Remove from heat and dump the clay onto a clean surface. Cover
with a clean dish towel until cool.
4. Once cool, roll out using a rolling pin and use a circle cookie cutter to
cut out the medal shapes.
5. Stamp with numbers or use a marker lid to make the Olympic rings.
Use a straw to make a hole at the top of the circle where the ribbon
will thread through.
6. Let dry overnight.
7. Use gold acrylic paint to paint the medals. Let them dry.
8. Optional: Spray each medal with a coat of clear enamel spray or
cover with clear nail polish. This will ensure that the medal last
longer and should prevent any future cracking.
9. Attach the ribbon and give to your little Olympian!
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/?p=7000
12 Olympic Olive Wreath
Materials You Need:
o A paper plate (one for each wreath)
o Green construction paper (2 sheets per
wreath)
o Scissors
o Glue stick
o Marker
fold Directions:
1. Cut 2 pieces of green construction paper
in half. Fold each of the 4 pieces in half.
2. Use a marker to draw small leaf shapes
on the full length of each paper, with the
end on the fold so that when cut, it will
make two leaves coming going out on
each side and joined in the center.
3. Cut out each leaf. 4. Fold your paper plate in half. Cut ½ inch from the outside edge of the
plate for the full length of the plate (without cutting the fold). 5. Use a glue stick to apply a thick layer of glue to the paper plate.
Gently press the leaves onto the paper plate. History of the Olive Wreath:
There were no medals in the Ancient Olympics and there was only one
“winner” (no silver or bronze). That winner was crowned with an Olive
Wreath (“kotinos” in Greek) after beating the other contenders, which was
constructed out of branches from a sacred olive tree close to the temple of
Zeus (the false god the Grecians worshipped at the time).
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/olympic-olive-wreath-craft/
13 Swim Goggles
Materials Needed:
o 1 Piece of Craft Foam (per
child)
o Pipe Cleaners
o Hole Punch
Directions:
1. Trace a goggle shape on
the backside of a piece of
craft foam. Be sure to leave two flaps on each side of the goggles that
are wide enough to hole punch.
2. Cut the goggles out.
3. Hole punch each side of the goggles and then use a 1 ½ - 2 pipe
cleaners to create the strap.
*Be careful when putting the goggles on and taking them off as the wire
on the pipe cleaner could scratch.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/swim-goggles-craft/
14 Olympic
Games &
Activities
15 Olympic Ring Toss
Materials You Need:
o Colored Diving Rings (or rings cut
out of cardboard)
o 2-Liter Bottle filled with sand, water,
or any other liquid
o Optional: Masking tape or Painter’s
Tape
Directions:
1. Place your 2-liter bottle on a flat
surface.
2. About 4-5 feet away (depending on
the age of your child), place a piece of
masking or painter’s tape.
3. Let your child attempt to toss the
ring over the neck of the bottle.
For step-by-step instructions with photos,
go here: http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/olympic-ring-toss/
Balance Beam
Materials You Need:
o 1 2x4 piece of wood
o 2-6 Smaller pieces of wood, a few inches
thick
Directions:
1. Place the smaller pieces of wood (risers)
the same length as your 2x4. For young
children, use just 1 riser on each side. For older
children, use 2-3 risers.
2. Place the 2x4 on top of the risers and
adjust as needed.
3. Encourage your child to try balancing the
full length of the 2x4.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/olympic-balance-beam/
16 Javelin Throw
Materials You Need:
o 4 Drinking Straws
o Tape
o Bucket or Basket
Directions:
1. Tape the 4 drinking
straws together.
2. Place the
bucket/basket several
feet away and let your child attempt to throw the “javelin” into the
basket.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/javelin-throw/
Balloon Badminton
Materials You Need:
o Paper Plates
o Jumbo Craft Sticks
o Glue
o Balloons
Directions:
1. Glue a craft stick onto each paper plate (1
per child).
2. Blow up the balloon
3. Have 2 or more children pass the balloon
back and forth between them, trying to keep it
from touching the ground.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/balloon-badminton/
17 Hurdle Run
Materials You Need:
o Pool Noodles (1 per hurdle)
o Skewer sticks or ¼ to ½ inch dowel rods (2
per hurdle, cut to 12 inches)
o hammer
Directions:
1. Create your hurdle by inserting a skewer
stick into the ground at a 45-degree angle.
2. Insert the other skewer into the ground at
an opposite 45 degree angle.
3. Place your pool noodle over the two
skewers sticking out of the ground. Adjust
the distance between the two skewers as
needed (for younger children, you’ll want
the distance between the skewers longer so that the hurdle is
shorter and easier to jump over).
4. Let your child try out the hurdle!
*Caution: This activity requires adult supervision at all times. Please
make sure that the noodle is covering the skewer at all times.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/hurdle-run/
*Idea adapted from May 2012 issue of Family Fun Magazine.
Shot Put
Materials Needed:
o Foil
Directions:
1. Roll a piece of foil into a large ball.
2. Have a child throw the foil ball and mark
how far he/she threw it. Let the other child take
turns, attempting to throw it farther.
For step-by-step instructions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/shot-put/
18 Olympic
Snacks
19 Olympic Sugar Cookies: Gold Medals and
Olympic Rings
Ingredients:
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup sugar
½ cup sour cream
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp. milk
2 tsp. corn syrup
1 tsp. almond extract
Food coloring
Gold Sprinkles
Other Materials Needed:
2 Different Sizes of
Circle Cookie Cutters
Directions:
1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients.
3. Mix in sour cream, eggs, vanilla, and lemon
juice.
4. Add the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
5. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least
1 hour.
6. Roll 1/8 thick on a floured surface. (MAKE
SURE you roll the dough thin enough. They will
puff up slightly during baking, so they need to be
really thin when rolled out.)
7. For the Olympic Rings, cut with the large circle
cookie cutter. In the center of that, use the smaller cookie cutter to
make the ring shape and use that dough to make the medals.
8. Bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.
9. Let cool.
Frost the cookies using popsicle
sticks or new paintbrushes and
let the glaze harden. Top the
medal cookies with Gold
sprinkles.
For Step-by-Step Instructions with
Photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/olympic-cookies-gold-medalsolympic-rings/
20 Olympic Ring Pretzels
Ingredients:
¼ cup water
½ cup room-temp milk
½ tablespoon sugar
2 cups bread flour
¾ teaspoon salt
½ tablespoon active dry yeast
Soda Wash: 4 cups water & 2 Tbsp.
baking soda
Toppings: Butter & Kosher Salt or
Cinnamon & Sugar
Place all ingredients in bread machine on dough cycle. Once finished, divide
into 5 equal sections and create ring shapes. Heat oven to 450° and grease a
baking sheet. Meanwhile, bring 4 cups water to a rolling boil and add 2 Tbsp.
baking soda. Drop each ring in the boiling water for 30 seconds each. Form
the “bathed” pretzels into rings and bake them for 9-10 minutes. Brush with
butter and add toppings while still warm. Recipe adapted from:
http://goodcheapeats.com/2011/03/whole-wheat-soft-pretzels-easter/
For step-by-step directions with photos, go here:
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/07/olympic-ring-pretzels/
Olympic Sport Sandwiches
Materials You Need:
o Bread
o Filling: Peanut Butter,
Jelly, Honey, Cucumbers,
etc
o Sport-shaped Cookie
Cutters
Directions
1. Assemble the sandwiches
as usual.
2. Prior to serving, use a
sport-shaped cookie cutter to cut the sandwich into the specified shape.
3. Serve!
*I fully realize that American football is not a part of the Olympics and
baseball will not be part of the 2012 Olympics…these were the only sportshaped cookie cutters I had. J
21