Winter Games – Gather 'Round Homeschool

Let the games begin! In this four-lesson mini unit, we explain the history and origin of the games, what it’s like to host them, the ins and outs of competing, and more. Watching the games is the most fun part, so check out the interactive Viewing Guide to go alongside the teaching. We’ve taken 20 of the most exciting sports and turned each one into a single page to focus on as you watch along, complete with tidbits of information, illustrations, and tables to record the outcomes.

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Snowboard Halfpipe

Snowboard Halfpipe

Curling

Curling

Figure Skating

Figure Skating

Ice Hockey

Ice Hockey

Freestyle Skiing

Freestyle Skiing

Bobsleigh

Bobsleigh

Skeleton

Skeleton

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Resources

Access helpful materials, guides, and downloads that support your learning journey with Gather ’Round. Explore our growing library of resources designed to make teaching simple and engaging.

Explore Resources

Resources

Access helpful materials, guides, and downloads that support your learning journey with Gather ’Round. Explore our growing library of resources designed to make teaching simple and engaging.

Explore Resources

Supplies List

Level 1
Level 2
Level 3

Lesson 1: History + Origin

Teacher's Guide

Hands-on Activity

  • Simple props like spoons, a stick, or craft a baton for a relay race

Lesson 2: Hosting the Olympics

Teacher's Guide

Hands-on Activity

  • LEGO bricks or Minecraft

Lesson 3: Being an Olympian

Teacher's Guide

Hands-on Activity

Choose one of the following:

  • Materials to make medals
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Certificate

When you complete the unit, grab a certificate to celebrate your progress!

Download Certificate

Certificate

When you complete the unit, grab a certificate to celebrate your progress!

Download Certificate

Scope and Sequence

Check out the scope and sequence for this unit.

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  • Use of artificial snow for Winter Olympic Games
  • Data collection of results in each listed event: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathalon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Use of artificial snow for Winter Olympic Games
  • Jet lag
  • Data collection of results in each listed event: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathalon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Use of artificial snow for Winter Olympic Games Using costumes and body positioning to improve aerodynamics
  • Jet lag
  • Data collection of results in each listed event: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathalon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Making pebble ice used in the sport of curling
  • Using friction to control speed and movement in curling
  • Use of costumes and body positioning to improve aerodynamics
  • Applying force to jump in figure skating
  • Kinetic and potential energy at play in ice hockey
  • Use of suits to decrease air resistance
  • Need for hand-eye coordination, postural balancing, and cardio in a biathlon
  • Higher anaerobic thresholds and slow-twitch muscle fibers required for endurance in cross-country skiing
  • G-forces in downhill skiing and luge
  • Physics in freestyle skiing: gravity, friction, angular momentum
  • Different biomechanics and energy systems needed in Nordic combined
  • Fighting gravity in ski jumping
  • Aerodynamics in bobsleigh and luge
  • Importance of center of mass in snowboard halfpipe
  • Three planes of the body: sagittal, transverse, frontal
  • Centripetal force in the parallel giant slalom event
  • Greece
  • French Alps
  • Great Britain
  • Winning countries in listed events: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathalon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Greece
  • Chamonix, France
  • Jamaica
  • Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
  • French Alps
  • Great Britain
  • Winning countries in listed events: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathalon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Greece
  • Chamonix, France
  • Jamaica
  • Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
  • French Alps
  • Great Britain
  • Flags of winning countries in listed events: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathalon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Ancient Greece
  • First Olympic Games
  • The modernization of the Olympic Games
  • How the Paralympics began
  • World War II
  • Cross-country is oldest form of skiing
  • Ancient Greece
  • First Olympic Games
  • The modernization of the Olympic Games
  • First Winter Games (International Winter Sports Week)
  • How the Paralympics began
  • World War II
  • First Paralympic Games (1960)
  • Cross-country is the oldest form of skiing
  • History of the skeleton
  • What the Winter Olympics are like today
  • Olympic symbols and their meanings: rings, medals, olive branch, dove, torch
  • How a city bids to get chosen to host the Olympics
  • Planning and preparing for hosting the games
  • The scope and reach of the Olympics
  • How the Paralympics are organized to give everyone a fair chance
  • Brian McKeever
  • Basic overview of each listed event: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Equipment and gear used for different events
  • Scoring and/or judging used in some events
  • Courses, tracks, or settings for different events
  • What the Winter Olympics are like today
  • Olympic symbols and their meanings: rings, medals, olive branch, dove, torch
  • 1988 Jamaica bobsled team
  • How a city bids to get chosen to host the Olympics
  • Planning and preparing for hosting the games
  • The scope and reach of the Olympics
  • The deliberation and selection process for a host city
  • What an Olympic athlete does once they arrive in the host city
  • Closing ceremony
  • What an Olympian does after the games are over
  • How an athlete trains and prepares for the Olympics
  • The opening ceremony of the Olympics
  • How athletes win medals
  • Which parts of the Olympics are shown on TV
  • How the Paralympics are organized to give everyone a fair chance
  • Brian McKeever
  • Modification of official rules for Paralympics
  • Basic overview of each listed event: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Equipment and gear used for different events
  • Scoring and judging used in some events
  • Courses, tracks, or settings for different events
  • What the Winter Olympics are like today
  • Olympic symbols and their meanings: rings, medals, olive branch, dove, torch
  • 1988 Jamaica bobsled team
  • How a city bids to get chosen to host the Olympics
  • Planning and preparing for hosting the games
  • The scope and reach of the Olympics
  • The deliberation and selection process for a host city
  • The cost of hosting the Olympics
  • What an Olympic athlete does once they arrive in the host city
  • Closing ceremony
  • What an Olympian does after the games are over
  • How an athlete trains and prepares for the Olympics
  • The opening ceremony of the Olympics
  • How athletes win medals
  • Which parts of the Olympics are shown on TV
  • Controversial storytelling in Olympic opening ceremonies
  • How the Paralympics are organized to give everyone a fair chance
  • Brian McKeever
  • Modification of official rules for Paralympics
  • Detailed overview of each listed event: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Equipment and gear used for different events
  • Scoring and judging used in some events
  • Courses, tracks, or settings for different events
  • Color the pictures of different events: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • Draw flags of winning countries in listed events: curling, figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, Alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined, ski jumping, ski mountaineering, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, the Big Air event, halfpipe, snowboard cross, slopestyle, parallel giant slalom
  • We are all one in Christ
  • Galatians 3:28
  • Following Christ is like running a race and takes discipline
  • Persevere when the path is difficult
  • 1 Corinthians 9:24
  • The hard work you do is not for your own glory but God’s
  • Do everything for the Lord
  • Colossians 3:23
  • We were never meant to rely on our strength alone
  • Philippians 4:13
  • We are all one in Christ
  • Galatians 3:28
  • Following Christ is like running a race and takes discipline
  • Persevere when the path is difficult
  • 1 Corinthians 9:24
  • The hard work you do is not for your own glory but God’s
  • Do everything for the Lord
  • Colossians 3:23
  • We were never meant to rely on our strength alone
  • Philippians 4:13
  • We are all one in Christ
  • Galatians 3:28
  • Following Christ is like running a race and takes discipline
  • Persevere when the path is difficult
  • 1 Corinthians 9:24
  • The hard work you do is not for your own glory but God’s
  • Do everything for the Lord
  • Colossians 3:23
  • We were never meant to rely on our strength alone
  • Philippians 4:13
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