by Alan Haskvitz

From the opening ceremonies on August 8th, the Chinese Olympics provide a teachable moment for students. The Olympics are in session through August 24th, offering plenty of opportunities for unique back-to-school activities.

Finding good educational resources on the China Olympics is difficult as many of sites have a political agenda. I’ve assembled the best available sites, but I recommend you start with the general sites and move to Chinese Olympics-only resources if you are focusing on that event or relating activities to Asia.

Anything Olympic (general sources)
Educational resources
Lessons about China and Asia
Political perspectives
Worksheets and printables

Anything Olympic (general sources)

Official Site of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Olympic Express
A free e-mail newsletter with new topics each week from Britain

Olympic Resources

Resources for the Olympics
A very large listing with most everything about the Olympics

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Educational resources

Beijing 2008
This general link site with ads for travel has good information on the various mascots.

Beijing 2008 Olympic Resource
An interesting selection of learning ideas about Olympics from Australia

Kids’ Turn Central 2008 Beijing Olympics

Olympic Games for Kids/Crafts
Good primary lesson ideas

Olympic Games:  Summer 2008
Lesson plan links

Scoilnet Olympics 2008 China
Resources from Ireland

Shambles Olympics
Very large link site for all levels

U.S. Embassy Beijing

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Lessons about China and Asia

Asia

Asia for Educators
Very large collection includes Project on Asia in the Core Curriculum.

Celebrate Chinese New Year and More

China Institute
Lessons for teachers -- more sophisticated

MIT Visualizing Cultures
Asian cultural photos – an excellent way to get art involved in history lessons.

Morning Sun
Site on the Chinese Revolution -- very rich in content

REC Cultural Studies, Chinese

REC Asian cultural lessons

Silk Road Encounters
Interesting for older students

Silk Road Seattle Silk Road Atlas
With interactive maps

A Visual Sourcebook of Chinese Civilization
A terrific site with visuals on many aspects of Asian culture -- very worthwhile

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Political perspectives

China’s Wacky But Worrisome Olympic Rules
Strange rules for visitors to the games

The Olympic Games
English lessons related to the games

Olympic Island Lesson Plan
An interesting approach to teaching geography in an integrated manner

Politics and the Olympics

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Worksheets and printables

Breaking News English, ESL Lesson on Beijing Olympics

ESL Lesson Plans – Sports & Olympic Games
Printable worksheet links and lesson ideas, including manners

ESLTower.com Olympic Games