Cross-Curricular Lessons for the Winter Olympics

This year’s Winter Olympics in Italy provide a fun and meaningful way to connect classroom learning to the world beyond school. Whether students are learning about geography, history, or physical science, the Games offer real-world examples that spark curiosity. Use these cross-curricular activities to engage students across multiple subject areas.

Geography

Since the Winter Olympics are being hosted in Italy, invite students to explore Italy using the Europe Unit. Have students locate Italy on a map, identify nearby countries, and learn a few cultural facts. Extend the activity by assigning small groups different countries participating in the Olympics. Students can share one location fact and one cultural detail, helping them see how the Games bring together nations from around the world.

Science

Winter sports are a great way to introduce basic ideas about movement. Using the Force and Motion Unit, have students observe how athletes start, stop, and change direction in events like skiing or ice skating. Ask simple questions such as: What helps an athlete go faster? What makes them slow down? Students can draw or label a picture of an athlete and describe what is helping them move, focusing on pushes, pulls, and motion in everyday language.

Art

Mountains play a major role in Winter Olympic sports. After exploring the Mountain Unit, ask students to create a drawing or collage of an Olympic mountain setting. Encourage them to include slopes, peaks, and snow-covered areas. Students can label parts of their artwork and explain why mountains are important for winter sports, combining creativity with geographic understanding.

Language Arts

Let your students step back in time by creating a journal as if they lived in Ancient Greece during the Olympic Games. Students can choose to write from the perspective of an athlete training for competition or a spectator traveling to Olympia to watch the events. Using our Ancient Greece Unit and the Topic on the Olympics, encourage students to describe daily life, the sights and sounds of the games, and the importance of athletics in Greek culture. This activity blends historical understanding with creative writing and helps students build empathy by imagining life in the ancient world.