Olympians in Life

Educational Program for March 2008 Focuses on Olympic Torch Relay

Olympians in Life is an education initiative from the US Olympic Committee.

Registration is FREE but required to access some, but not all, resources for teachers and students.

Olympians in Life offers free lesson plans for grades K-12 to promote Olympic ideals and values.

• K-5 are interdisciplinary
• 6-8 and 9-12 address language arts, social studies, math, science, and physical education.

Olympians in Life also includes support of Paralympics, with resources addressing kids with physical disabilities. While the first lessons in the program have been posted on the USOC website, lessons will continue to be posted monthly throughout the 2007-08 academic year.

Olympic Torch Relay

The March 2008 lesson plans focus on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, which travels to its only stop in North America, San Francisco, Calif., on April 9, as well as the design of the Olympic Torch. The Olympic Torch Relay lessons vary by core subject:

• Social Studies: Emphasis on torchbearers throughout the years as well as the history of the Olympic Torch Relay
• Language Arts: Encourages students to examine a torchbearer's story and write an essay from the torch's point of view
• Physical Education: Centers around planning and running a simulated torch relay

The USOC also offers a few other Web sites that do not require registration:

Kids Base Camp is an interactive Web site that focuses on enhancing kids' reading skills while providing them with interactive lessons in teamwork, discipline, vision and goal setting. The Base Camp is interactive with vibrant colors, audio, cartoons, coloring pages, printables, a trivia game and information about their favorite Olympic sports and athletes.

Real Athletes Play Fair provides free printable posters & brochures. See interviews with kids as they discuss the values of sportsmanship and playing fair, and watch behind-the-scenes video of real Olympians as the train for upcoming competition.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) partnered with Newspapers In Education (NIE) to create other materials for teachers, which highlight the inspiring personal stories of great Olympic athletes (such as Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Pablo Morales, Picabo Street and many others), Olympic history, dozens of free lesson plans, and access to supplemental books