Olympics

This week we have been learning about the Winter Olympics.  The students were to research some of the symbols that are used at the Olympics.  They were to find out what the symbol was and its meaning.  When the students were finished researching they created a collage of at least five of the symbols.  The following in some information that we learned.
We found out that the Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia.  The next winter Olympics will be in South Korea.  I hope there is snow in Korea.  Some of the Olympic Symbols included,
 - the five rings which represent five continents (North and South America are considered one)
- the Olympic torch began in Greece and travels from one game to the next.  The torch was passed from the people of Sochi, Russia to the committee of South Korea for the next Winter Olympics.
- the Olympics has a motto in Latin says "Citius, Alitius, Fortius" which stands for Faster, Higher, Stronger.
- the Olympic creed was first adopted in the 1908 Olympic games by Pierre de Coubertin.  He got the idea from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot. The Olympic Creed reads:
"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.  The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
- the Winter Olympic events include such things as Skeleton Racing, Figure Skating, Hockey, Curling, Skiing, Snowboarding and so on. In the Skeleton Race the athlete lies on a board with a skate under it.  The bobsled track  is used for this event.  Skeleton Racing can be quite a dangerous event. Figure skating is dancing on skates. There is a long program and a short program.
Throughout the weeks we watched some of the events that took place in Sochi.  One of the highlights was the Canadain Women's Hockey Final.  It was history being made. See the clip below of the students reaction with that amazing overtime goal.

 Our week wrapped up with our very own Olympic Games at school.  The students were in groups representing different Countries.  They spent some time outside in the afternoon trying their hands at our own events.