Olympics Should-be Games

what makes a sport worthy?

Why do some sports endure and others fizzle out? Why do we cheer on figure skating but scratch our heads at curling (and yet still watch it anyway?) This week, in honor of the Olympic Games, we're going to explore the world of sports and suggest a new one that should make the podium.

Module summary:

research weird sports that actually exist (or have existed)
watch Mudblood - the documentary about quidditch
think through criteria for what makes a sport worth playing and watching
invent a sport
introduce and promote your sport on your website

essential questions

Why is explanatory writing important?
Why is collaboration important to the learning process?

goals

Students will understand explanatory writing is essential for critical thinking because it requires logical, detailed thinking.
Students will understand that collaboration allows for varied perspectives and opinions, which broadens our outlook on what matters about a topic.

activities

Monday

warm-up: free write about your experience with or connection (or lack thereof) to sports
review objectives and schedule for the week
research an odd sport, taking notes with this Google Doc (save a copy to your Drive) - sports to choose from are on the top of the document
- share findings with the group
develop criteria for a sport worthy of existence
compare criteria with Olympic event consideration requirements
watch Mudbloods
- take notes, using criteria established for worthy sports

Tuesday

finish Mudbloods
- discuss: is quidditch a worthy sport? is it an Olympics contender?
invent/develop your own sport
- take notes with this Google Doc

Wednesday

watch Squash Olympic bid video
- discuss: would you vote to include this sport?
design Olympic bid webpage on your Weebly site, including:
- name of sport
- instructions for play
- equipment required
- how it meets sports criteria
- why it should be considered for the Olympics
share sport with the group
- feedback: best part? one possible hurdle for getting sport approved?

Thursday

finish proposal webpage - final conference
get syllabus signed off

Friday

no school

c-tachs

Writing

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through effective selection, organization, and analysis of content
Conduct short and more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problem

Speaking and listening