Olympics in Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will be host to the 2016 Olympic games. Rio has a rich history dating back to the early sixteenth century, an unparalleled culture, and distinct traditions. There are many lessons and activities that can enhance a number of different curricula including social studies, Spanish, math, journalism and physical education; the options for collaborative teaching and learning are limitless. If you happen to know an Olympic athlete or someone who is trying to make the next Olympic team, extend an invitation to him or her to come speak to the class about the Olympic experience.

Students can learn more about the host nation and its preparations at the official web site (www.rio2016.org). Once students are familiar with the venues, you can have them work in small groups to create and perform an informational skit promoting the history, traditions and culture of Rio for spectators at the 2016 Olympic games.

Students can read articles about the preparations Brazil is undertaking to prepare for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic games. There was an informative one in the Miami Herald called Brazil Getting An Extreme Makeover which can be found on the Internet. You can have students conduct independent or small group research on one of the major projects being done in preparation for these international events.

Students can also learn about the 2016 Paralympics which will also be held in Rio. Students should compare and contrast the different events in addition to researching some of the potential competitors in both games. What follows are more ways to teach students about he Olympics, Brazil, and related topics.

2016 Olympic Games in Brazil Lesson Plans:

It's How You Play The Game

Students read an article about sportsmanship and then have the opportunity to develop survey questions with which they conduct research. The data is then analyzed and interpreted, providing an opportunity to conduct some interdisciplinary team teaching with the math department.

The Geography of the Olympics 

This lesson has students analyze and map the location of past Olympic games. Students may also conduct research to determine what the International Olympic Committee looks for in a potential site. Students may then propose a site that they think will meet all of these criteria for a future winter or summer Olympics. The class can then vote on which of the proposed sites is best.

Country: Brazil 

Students can conduct independent or small group research to familiarize themselves with Brazil, its geography, its natural resources and its traditions. Once they have a basic understanding of Brazil’s culture, students can work together to propose ideas for the Olympic opening ceremony which will integrate the culture of the host nation.