Winter Olympics Classroom Activities don’t have to take a lot of time away from teaching classroom content. The Winter Games are a high-interest topic you can use to engage students in meeting classroom standards while learning about the games and new vocabulary. Here are 12 classroom activities for grades 4 and up.
13 Winter Olympics Classroom Activities for Older Kids
1. Medal Count Data & Math Activity
Students analyze medal counts, compare countries, and create graphs or written summaries. Find Medal Count Sheets & Observations mini-unit here.
Materials: Medal data chart, graph paper or digital tools
2. Olympic Nation Research Mini-Poster
Students research a country competing in the Winter Olympics and create a one-page poster highlighting sports, athletes, and fun facts. Great for research work, fact selection, finding legitimate sources, and short research writing.
Materials: Paper or cardstock, markers, internet or books
3. Winter Olympics Classroom Activities Design-a-Sport Challenge
Students invent a new Winter Olympic sport, including rules, scoring, and equipment. This could be a great partner activity and/or Friday activity to end each week in February. Watching clips of current Winter Game sports may inspire students in the creation of their own sport challenge.
Materials: Graphic organizer, pencils, optional coloring supplies
4. Winter Olympics Classroom Activities Reading Passages
Short nonfiction passages paired with comprehension and inference questions. Standards are included, so you can easily target the skills you’d like to teach and assess. Find the Winter Olympics Reading Passages here.
Materials: Reading passages, question sheets
5. Olympic Athlete Biography Snapshot
Students read a short athlete bio and summarize achievements, challenges, and character traits.
Materials: Short biographies, response sheet
6. Flag Design Craft
Students design a flag for a fictional country competing in the Winter Olympics and explain the symbolism. Brainstorm different symbols and the meaning of each. Keep a list up in front of students when working on the craft.
Materials: Paper, colored pencils or markers
7. Winter Olympics Word Search or Puzzle Pack
Students complete word searches, crosswords, or logic puzzles using Olympic-themed vocabulary. Find Winter Olympics Puzzles here.
Materials: Printed puzzles
8. Olympic Values Discussion Cards
Task cards explore themes like perseverance, teamwork, fairness, and respect using real-world scenarios. Brainstorm themes and have students come up with theme statements to add to your discussion topics.
Materials: Discussion cards, small-group seating
9. Would You Rather? Winter Olympics Edition
Students debate choices like “Speed skating or downhill skiing?” and justify their answers in writing or discussion. Easy to create, you can even ask students to create 2-3 “Would You Rather…” questions to add to your selection.
Materials: Question cards or slides
10. Winter Olympics Classroom Activities Bingo
Bingo boards include sports, vocabulary, and famous moments from the Games.
Materials: Bingo cards, calling cards
11. Persuasive Writing: Host the Games
Students write a persuasive piece arguing why their city or country should host the Winter Olympics.
Materials: Writing planner, rubric
12. Winter Sports Emoji Story
Students write a short story or summary using a combination of emojis and text related to Winter Olympic events.
Materials: Prompt cards, paper or digital device
13. Closing Ceremonies Reflection
Students reflect on what they learned, their favorite events, and how athletes demonstrate grit and discipline. Use the Medal Recording Sheets above to help reflect on the Games.
Materials: Reflection sheet or journal
The Winter Olympics are a great opportunity to add even more classroom engagement. Winter Olympics classroom activities don’t need to be complicated. Use no prep ideas that fit into your day and you’ll have a winning combination to celebrate the Winter Games!
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