Olympic and Paralympic Games
In 2012, the Olympic and Paralympic games will be held in London. These resources look at a wide range of topics that can all be linked to the games. They cover science, technology, engineering and mathematics and can be used in individual lessons or as part of a cross-curricular Olympic and Paralympic theme.
Materials in this collection look at areas that include:
• Running track measurement and mathematics
• Olympic alloys and materials science
• Energy for the Olympic village
• Building a white water canoe course
• Maths in sport
• Smart materials and smart muscles
• Drugs in Sport
• Physiology and exercise
• Careers in sports science
HEALTH and SAFETY
Any use of a resource that includes a practical activity must include a risk assessment.
Please note that collections may contain ARCHIVE resources, which were developed at a much earlier date.
Since that time there have been significant changes in the rules and guidance affecting laboratory practical work.
Further information is provided in our Health and Safety guidance.
Olympic Quests
This resource consists of a set of tasks from the Science Assessment Tasks for More Able Students collection, produced by the Centre for Science Education. The tasks have an Olympic-inspired theme and are split into three 'quests'. Each quest is flexible in use and freestanding in that it can be used either in class…
Classroom Olympics
These Cre8ate maths activities require the use of averages, ranges, percentages, histograms, stem and leaf displays, pie charts, and tables to make comparisons, interpretations, and conclusions. They also provide real data about pupils for analysis. Performing the “How far can you …?” events in the classroom…
Running Tracks
This Cre8ate maths activity gives the opportunity for accurate measurement, scale drawing and calculations involving pi. If there is access to a running track, students look at how the track is marked out and distances measured accurately for runners in each of the lanes. Alternatively, if a track is not available, students…
Olympic Alloys
This Catalyst article looks at metals and alloys which play an important role in construction at the Olympic site, both in sports equipment and in medals. Designers must consider the properties of the materials used to make both sports equipment and buildings. These include strength, density, toughness, ductility and resistance to…
Energy Manager
Jo Carris is an energy manager, working on the London 2012 Olympic Games. This Department for Education clip could be used when teaching about sustainable development or energy efficiency. It also demonstrates the exciting careers that require skills in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). Jo describes her job…
Building a White Water Canoe Course
This Catalyst article explores the processes undertaken during the construction of a white water canoe course for the Olympic Games which requires a huge range of practical skills, but also great science skills too. The scientist must calculate how much noise from both the course's construction and its use during the Games will…
Maths in Sport - Non-Soccer Booklets
These four Eigen publications booklets provide a range of data handling activities based on four different sports. As well as the calculation of simple statistics the encourage the production of graphical representation of information to assist in the analysis and investigation of questions of interest to fans of the sports. These…
Going Electric
Sustainability is a high priority for the London organising committee for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This Catalyst article looks at their aim for all spectators to be able to get to the Olympic Park via public transport or by walking or cycling. In particular, the article focuses on the railway services which with an…
Sports Science
A Year 11 module from the Salters’ Key Stage Four double award science course. The context for this module is the use of scientific ideas to explain human performance. Students discuss what is meant by being ‘fit’. They compare different uses of the word 'work' and are given a formal definition. Calculations…
Fair Trade Textiles
From Practical Action, these materials help students to look at Fair Trade and sustainable development. It poses the question: Is there any way in which the London Olympics in 2012 and future Olympics can contribute to making the world a fairer, more sustainable place?
STEM Club Activity: Smart Muscle
This activity, provided by the Royal Academy of Engineering, looks at instances of humans using technology to adapt their bodies. Oscar Pistorius is a famous paralympic athlete who has been able to use carbon fibre prosthetic legs to help him compete at a very high level. Over 50,000 hip replacements and 70,000 knee replacements…
4/5- Publication year: 2010 to date
- Activity sheet
Pedal Power
This Catalyst article explores how cyclists can use physics to explain certain limitations to their performance. Variables which may affect a cyclist's speed such as force, energy and power are considered along with formulas for calculating the correct amount of each in order to optimise performance. The article is from Catalyst:…
Sports Technologist
Chris Holmes is a sports technologist for sports equipment manufacturer Adidas. This Department for Education clip is useful in showing students how a career such as this relies on a background of STEM study. Chris describes how he specialises in the development of sports balls. His job is to investigate the best designs for maximum…
Maths in Sport - Soccer Booklets
These three Eigen publications booklets provide a range of data handling activities based on football. The booklets largely focus on calculation of means and the use of tallies, frequency tables and bar graphs. However, they also encourage students to look at rather larger amounts of data than they would meet in many texts and to…
Case Study: Sports Science
Produced for Future Morph, these materials contain a video clip showing a student talking about his National Diploma course in Sport and Exercise Science. He describes how science, physiology and psychology are important aspects of his studies as well as the careers his course can lead on to. There is also classroom activity which…
Chemistry & Sport
The Chemistry and sport resource, from the Association for Science Education (ASE), considers respiration in the context of athletics and considers how athletes can legally manipulate their body chemistry to their advantage. The resource is aimed at Key Stage Four and post-16 students and was developed by LearnNet, a new network…
Performance Enhancing Drugs
This topic guide, produced for the Debating Matters competition, asks should the use of performance enhancing drugs be permitted in sport? The guide contains information, further reading and web links which allow students to understand and debate the issues. Anti-doping authorities and campaigners argue that performance-enhancing…
Pod 2: In Top Gear
In this Nuffield Foundation activity students use secondary data to investigate how changes in technology have led to improved performance in cycling. They research footwear to see how materials of different properties can be combined for specific purposes and carry out a practical investigation to define the optimum design of a…
The Systems Physiology of Exercise
This Catalyst article looks at the effect exercise has on the body. Poor fitness contributes to poor life expectancy, and inability to exercise reduces quality of life in the ill or aged. Scientists hope to understand the mechanisms which limit 'exercise tolerance' which would contribute to enhanced performance for the…
Difficult Decisions
This SATIS Revisited resource is a structured group discussion activity, which looks at the use and abuse of drugs to enhance sporting performance. The unit provides a rationale for teaching about ethical issues in science for students age 14–16. The aim is to introduce the idea that the discussion of controversial issues…
Pod 1: Up to the Mark
In this Nuffield Foundation activity students carry out an investigation into some sporting techniques to establish whether practice improves performance. They conduct research into the rationale for training schedules for different sports. Students then investigate target games to explore whether scoring systems reward skill fairly…
Comments
No comments yet