As anticipation for the 2014 Winter Olympics builds, discover how you can turn the games into an educational opportunity for your distance learner. With help from online resources, explore topics from sports writing to the science behind ice skating as you take in the 2014 Games.
English – Introduce your student to journalism through sports writing. Let your learner choose an athletic beat and encourage him to read sports stories related to the topic. Study AP style, the inverted pyramid structure, and practice crafting strong headlines and leads, then turn him loose to watch events and cover the beat as the games begin. If he's feeling ambitious, encourage your writer to cover multiple events and create his own sports section when the Olympics wrap up on February 23.
History & Geography – Create a timeline to be hung on the wall where your student can display facts and stats about past Olympic Games. Encourage him to find out when particular events became official Olympic sports, the dates on which your home country won gold medals, and more. Complement the timeline with a map of the world where your learner can pinpoint the home countries of this year's Olympic medalists.
Math & Science – With the help of NBC Learn and the National Science Foundation, explore the physics, engineering, chemistry, and mathematics behind the Winter Olympics events. From the design of athletic gear, to the physical movement of athletes, to the construction of facilities and more, the 10-part video series "Science and Engineering of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games" gives your student an inside look at how science impacts Olympic events.