The 2014 Winter Olympics are set to take place February 7 -23 in Sochi, Russia, a resort town on the edge of the Black Sea. Use the Olympics to teach your students about everything from physical and mental health to modern-day Russian history and conflict. The following resources and lesson plans were created and compiled by NewsHour Extra to help teachers provide meaningful context to their students as the world watches the Olympics. For more up-to-date reporting on the Olympics and other current events, follow the NewsHour's Rundown blog.

1. Russia and the Olympics: a brief background | Article

 

Political tensions and human rights are in the spotlight as athletes gather in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, Russia for the 22nd annual Winter Olympics. Get your students caught up on the modern history of the host country so they can better understand the controversies surrounding these games.

2. The Olympics: Body and Mind | Lesson Plan

 

Use this dual science lesson plan to teach the Olympics through the lens of the body (physiology) and the mind (psychology).

3. The Olympics through the lens of human rights | Unit Plan

 

Use this unit plan to teach students about the important role human rights and activism has played in the Olympics. This lesson may be used as a stand alone or as part of a unit on human rights and the Olympics. Created in partnership with New Global Citizens.

4. Science and engineering of the Olympic Winter Games 2014 | Video Resources

 

This series of videos from The National Science Foundation teaches principals of physics, engineering, science and health through Olympic sports and top athletes.

5. History of the Olympics | Resource

 

Use these resources from the History Channel to teach the ancient origins of the games and its revival in the modern era.