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sports in history: activity ideas

Activity Ideas | Related Resources

  1. The History of the Olympic Games

    Grade Level: 3-5
    Subject: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts; Science & Technology

    Every four years, the world watches the summer Olympic Games. In 2004, the Games will be held in Sydney, Australia. Ask students what they know about the Olympics. Discuss with students why they are held, how they originated, when they are held, the participants, the events, and the medals.

    Ask students to watch some of the Olympics on television. What kind of sports did they watch? Do students think that the sports played today are the same ones played in the very Games?

    Instruct students to research the very first Olympics in ancient Greece and then hold a class discussion in which students can present their findings to the class. Have them choose a specific area of focus, including the politics of Ancient Greece, the role of women, the types of competition, etc.

    Online Resources

    Sports Almanac
    http://www.infoplease.com/sports.html

    The Official Olympic Website
    http://www.olympic.org/uk/index_uk.asp

    Olympics Through Time
    http://olympics.fhw.gr/

    NewsHour - Going for the Gold
    http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec00/olympics.html

    Print Resources

    The Encyclopedia of the Summer Olympics (Watts Reference) by David Fischer
    History of the Olympic Games by Constantine L. Sirracos, Constantine Sirracos

    More Recommended Resources

  2. Politics at the Olympics

    Grade Level: 3-5
    Subject: Reading & Language Arts; Social Studies; The Arts

    Ask students what they know about the Olympics. Discuss with students why they are held, how they originated, when they are held, the participants, the events, and the medals.

    Although the Olympics are intended to bring the world together in the spirit of sportsmanship and friendly competition, inevitably the Games have also been an arena for political statements and important historical events.

    For a homework assignment, ask students to write a research paper, make a class presentation or create art project about how sports and politics have melded together and affected the Olympic Games, the United States and the rest of the world. Specific examples include:

    • 1936: Adolf Hitler attempts to showcase German supremacy in Berlin.
    • 1968: Two U.S track and field stars give the Black Power salute in Mexico City.
    • 1972: Members of the Israeli Olympic team are held hostage and murdered by terrorists in Munich.
    • 1980: The U.S. ice hockey team scored a dramatic victory over the Soviet Union.
    • 1980: The United States boycotts the Summer games in Moscow.
    • 1984: The Soviet Union boycotts the Summer games in Los Angeles.

    Online Resources

    The Guardian: Politics and the Olympics:
    http://politics.guardian.co.uk/politicspast/page/0%2C9067%2C892902%2C00.html

    Politics and the Olympics: The World of 1972:
    http://www.sportshistory.us/politics.html

    More Recommended Resources

  3. The Symbolism of the Olympic Flag

    Grade Levels: 3-5
    Subjects: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts; The Arts

    In this activity, students will learn about the Olympic flag and the symbolism behind it and other flags.

    Display for the students pictures of the Olympic and American flags. Ask students to discuss what they know about each flag. What does the word "symbol" mean? Ask for examples of symbols.

    Either as a homework assignment or a team in-class assignment, have students address the following questions:

    • What do the rings on the Olympic flag represent? (The five major continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas)
    • Why are the rings linked?
    • Why were the colors chosen?

    To further examine flags and symbolism, have students select a country from one of the five continents represented on the Olympic flag and ask them to research the symbolism behind that nation's flag. Students may want to create a mural of world flags with stories attached on the meaning of their flag.

    Online Resources

    The Olympic Museum:
    http://www.colombes.net/oyc2000/files/history.htm

    History of Flags:
    http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/History%20of%20Flags.html

    Flags of the World: Olympic Flag:
    http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/oly@ioc.html

    An Olympic Games Primer:
    http://www.aafla.org/6oic/OlympicPrimer/OlympicPrimer_.htm

    More Recommended Resources

  4. Not Just Athletes

    Grade Level: 3-5
    Subjects: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts; The Arts

    Through the years, many teams and individuals have become national or international heroes by their accomplishments in sports. For many people, their triumphs have greater significance beyond the playing field. Often these athletes are trailblazers, people who broke down doors and stereotypes.

    Have your students create a mural of these men and women who inspired because their victories contributed to the advancement of a cause or positive image.

    Examples include:

    • Jackie Robinson
    • Jesse Owens
    • Billie Jean King
    • The 1980 Olympic Hockey Team
    • Muhammad Ali
    • The U.S. Women's Soccer Team

    Under each name of the person/team, describe their accomplishments and why it meant so much to so many people. How did the significance of their triumphs transcend sports?

    Online Resources

    American Experience (Archives):
    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/archives.html

    For Gold and Glory:
    http://www.pbs.org/forgoldandglory/index.html

    Religion and Ethics Newsweekly: Sports and Ethics:
    http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week139/cover.html

    ESPN: Calling All Heroes:
    http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/heroes.html

    Print Resources

    The Heart of a Champion: Celebrating the Spirit and Character of America's Sports Heroes by Frank Deford
    Never Give Up and Go For It! Letters from Sports Heroes by Andy Andrews, Kevin Menck, Jerry Dillingham (Illustrator)

    More Recommended Resources

  5. Jim Thorpe

    Grade Level: 4-8; 9-12
    Subjects: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts

    Many believe the greatest athlete of all time was Jim Thorpe. Born in a one-room cabin in Oklahoma in 1887 to parents of Sac and Fox heritage, his Native American name Wa-Tho-Huk translated to "Bright Path." He won Gold medals in the pentathlon and decathlon events at the 1912 Games in Stockholm and went on to have a successful career in baseball and football. As a collegiate athlete, Thorpe achieved All-American status in football, track, lacrosse, and basketball while lettering in 11 different sports. Thorpe eventually became the first president of what is now the National Football League.

    Using the resources listed below, have students research facts about Jim Thorpe's life. After answering the questions, have students create a timeline of Thorpe's life and write a paragraph comparing and contrasting Thorpe's life with a contemporary American athletic hero.

    Then discuss with students why the image of a person succeeding through individual effort and often against great odds is so appealing to Americans. Have students select one American, living or dead, who in their view fits this description, and have them write an essay explaining what they admire about that individual.

    Online Resources

    ESPN: Jim Thorpe:
    http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016499.html

    Jim Thorpe's Olympic Scandal:
    http://ak.essortment.com/jimthorpeolymp_refp.htm

    TeacherVision: Olympics 2004:
    http://www.teachervision.fen.com/spot/mm-thorpe.html

    Print Resources

    Jim Thorpe: World's Greatest Athlete by R.W. Wheeler
    Jim Thorpe, the Legend Remembered by Rosemary K. Updyke

    More Recommended Resources

  6. Integrating Baseball

    Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12
    Subjects: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts

    Baseball was a segregated sport until the mid-1940s, when Jackie Robinson broke the game's color barrier. Robinson endured many challenges to prove his prowess as an athlete, be accepted as an important contributor to the sport, and most important, to defend and uphold the dignity of his race.

    Instruct students to write news analyses or editorials regarding Jackie Robinson's entry into the major league. (The pieces should be in the "historic" voice; writers should place themselves in the time period during which Robinson broke baseball's color barrier.) Students should equally represent pro and con perspectives, taking into consideration the varied sentiments regarding African-American baseball players during the era Robinson joined the big leagues.

    Your students may also want to examine the famous "Negro" Leagues, where some of the finest athletes played because, due to the color of their skin, they were not allowed to play in the major leagues. Use the resources below for research. Students could write a poem or skit, or collaborate on a class mural highlighting these ballplayers and their accomplishments.

    As an extension, have students assume the roles of African American baseball players from the Negro Leagues. Examples include Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson or Monte Irvin. Recreate their experiences in dramatic monologues, noting how the game of baseball might have changed had their presence and involvement been held in different regard. Invite students to present their monologues to the class, encouraging them to sport appropriate props-uniforms, bats, etc.

    Online Resources

    Ken Burns' Baseball:
    http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/

    African American World: Negro Leagues:
    http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/articles/negro_league.html

    NewsHour Extra: Jackie Robinson:
    http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sports/hist_4-15.html

    Negro Baseball Leagues:
    http://www.blackbaseball.com

    MLB.com: Negro Leagues Legacy:
    http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/history/mlb_negro_leagues.jsp

    The Trailblazer: Jackie Robinson:
    http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/robinson01.html

    Print Resources

    Stealing Home: The Story of Jackie Robinson (Scholastic Biography) by Barry Denenberg
    Thank You, Jackie Robinson by Barbara Cohen
    Josh Gibson: A Life in the Negro Leagues by William Brashler

    More Recommended Resources

  7. Sports and National Values

    Grade Level: 9-12
    Subjects: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts

    Have students write an essay about the relationship between sports and social values. They may want to consider recent issues and events, such as the unequal treatment of women in collegiate and national sports, drug use by athletes, the escalation of violence on and off the field, etc. They may also want to consider earlier issues and events, such as the racial integration of major league baseball, boxer Muhammad Ali's decision not to serve in Vietnam, or the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Ask students to explain in their essays how the issue or event both reflected current social issues and inspired widespread discussions about national values.

    Online Resources

    Baseball:
    http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/

    NewsHour Online: Drugs and Sports:
    http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sports/jan-june04/steroid_2-13.html

    In the Mix: Steroids:
    http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/shows/show_steroids.html

    NewsHour Online: Women in Sports:
    http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec03/sport_9-24.html

    More Recommended Resources

  8. Sports and Oral History

    Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12
    Subjects: Social Studies; Reading & Language Arts

    In this lesson, students will act as historians, and will collect "oral history" information from relatives and neighbors who have recollections of attending an important or historic sports event. They can either report on these recollections in class, or they may wish to collect and make them available online on the school Web page.

    Discuss the impact of oral history on the overall study of history. You may wish to lead the class in a review of similar oral history projects, most notably, the Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project (1936-1938), which are now housed in the Library of Congress.

    Explain to students their assignment is to select an adult to interview, create a list of questions you think are appropriate to ask regarding what they recall about attending their first big league ballgame, interview that person, and report their findings back to the class.

    At the end of the project, the teacher can ask students to either play their recorded interviews, or report back to the class in regard to what information their subjects shared.

    Online Resources

    The New Americans:
    http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans/foreducators_index.html

    Collecting Oral Histories:
    http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/activity/35plan/immigrat.htm

    Print Resources

    Doing Oral History: A Practical Guide by Donald A. Ritchie
    Oral History: An Introduction for Students by James Hoopes

    More Recommended Resources

Published: August 2004