This document outlines lessons for a unit on the Olympics and space exploration. In the first part, students learn about the history of the Olympics from ancient Greece to modern times. They research and create presentations on the evolution of the games. Later, students examine conditions on other planets and predict how gravity would impact Olympic performance. They graph data on weights and records. Finally, students present information comparing athletic achievements on Earth to theoretical performances on their assigned planet. The lessons integrate social studies, science, math, and language arts standards.

1. Olympics In Space Unit 1: The Terrestrial Olympics
Day 1
UDL
Lesson 1
Grade: 5th Grade
Time: 1 hour
Content Area: Social Science/Language Arts
Goals
Objectives Students will research and describe the history of the Olympics and create a
presentation.
Standards Language arts:
RI5.5, RI5.6, RI5.7, RI5.10
Listening and Speaking:
SL5.1, SL5.1a, SL5.1b, SL5.1c, SL5.2,
Methods
Introduction -
Whole group
Create and show a Google slide presentation on images of the Olympics. Begin the
lesson with a discussion with clip of the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. Then
ask the students the following questions:
1. How many of you have watched the Olympics on television?
2. What kinds of sports do you see in the Olympics today?
3. Do you know where the first Olympic games were held?
4. Do you think that sports that are played today are the same sports that were
played in the very first Olympics?
5. Would you like to participate in any Olympic games?
After the discussion, show the students the Brainpop video, titled “Olympics.” Have
another discussion about their knowledge on the Summer Olympic games. Students
will complete the graphic organizer
Guided
practice-
Whole group
Students will get read two passages on the history on the Olympics. Students will
answer the questions based on the passages on Olympic history. Students will then
have a discussion about the history of the Olympics. Students, with the help of the
teacher, will create a KWL chart.
Independent
practice -
Groups
Students will be placed in pairs and students will create a Google slides presentation
on the history of the Olympics. This presentation will be continued in the next lessons.
Assessment
Informal assessment:
Students will take a quiz on the history of the Olympics.
Materials

2. ● Brainpop video - “Olympics”
● Chromebooks
● Video clip of 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremonies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QL_uG2GSZo
● Graphic organizer on Brainpop video - Olympics
● Quiz on history of Olympics
● Website: https://www.olympic.org/ancient-olympic-games/history
● Website: http://www.history.com/topics/olympic-games
● Website: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/athens_games/history.htm
● Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdHHus8IgYA
Day 2
UDL
Lesson 2
Grade: 5th Grade
Time: 1 hour
Content Area: Social Science/Language Arts
Goals
Objectives Students compare, present, and discuss the changes in the Olympics from ancient
Greeks to present day.
Standards Language arts:
RI5.5, RI5.6, RI5.7, RI5.10
Listening and Speaking:
SL5.1, SL5.1a, SL5.1b, SL5.1c, SL5.2,
Methods
Introduction -
Whole group
Have a discussion about the Olympics and Olympic games. Write a list of the Olympic
games that they learned from yesterday’s research. Write any other information on the
board.
Guided
practice-
Whole group
Students will watch the YouTube video and discuss. Students will read two more
passages, “Flame for Rio Olympics is lit at birthplace of ancient games,” and “The
Olympics: Then and Now.”
Independent
practice -
Groups
Students will then work in threes and continue their presentation about the Olympics
and include the information how different the Olympic games were at the beginning
and now. Once students are finished, they will then present preliminary finding to
class.
Assessment
Informal assessment:
Students will take a quiz on the changes that have happened since the beginning of
the Olympics to present day.
Materials
● Brainpop video - “Olympics”
● Chromebooks
● Quiz on Changes to the Olympics

3. ● Newsela passage, “Flame for Rio Olympics is lit at birthplace of ancient
games”
● Readworks passage, “The Olympics: Then and Now
● Website: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdHHus8IgYA
Olympics in Space Unit 2: Conditions on Other Planets
UDL
Lesson 3
Grade: 5th Grade
Time: 2 class periods
Content Area: Science
Goals
Objectives In groups, students will obtain data from their chosen planet and present the
proportional gravity conditions and other factors that might give them an advantage or
disadvantage in the Olympics. This will help students demonstrate data in a clear and
visual way to an audience. They will describe and interpret information in a multi-media
method, continuing their presentation from the previous unit.
NGSS Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
● 5-PS2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
● 5-ESS1 Earth’s Place in the Universe
Methods
Introduction -
Whole group
Hook
I will show the class a video on gravitonic data on the Earth’s moon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM21GBJecx0
Guided
Instruction
I will explain to my students what the force of gravity means and that that gravity on the
moon is different than gravity on the Earth. Using data I collected from NASA, I will
show them a graphical representation of the differences of activities on the moon and
Earth. I will make convincing arguments about a person’s ability to succeed in certain
Olympic events when they come from the moon. Each group will sign up for a planet or
planetary object to have their own olympic event on.
Demonstration Going to https://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/, I will demonstrate if my weight on
Earth is 100, my moon weight is 16.6. 100/16.6 is 6.024, so the gravity on the Moon is
⅙ that of Earth. Show how that affects Jumping, Throwing and Running. I will ask if
they think other planets have different gravitational effects?
Independent
practice -
Groups
Students will break into previous groups. They will use the internet to research gravity
on a different planet and its fraction compared to earth. They will use
https://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/weight/ to select their body and to find their weight
on their chosen world, then calculate the fraction of gravity on their solar system body.

4. Instructional
goals
All students need to describe and explain how they predict they will do in the Olympics
through research evidence such as gravity conditions and other conditions on their
respective planet. They will make inferences and convincing arguments based on
analysis of data.
Outcomes of
Unit
Students will apply findings and research from first unit to a presentation of their
choosing. All students need to describe and explain why they think will do better or
worse in the Olympics on their body through research evidence such as gravity
conditions and other conditions on their respective planet. They will select an
appropriate representation for displaying their claims. They will make inferences and
convincing arguments based on analysis of data.
Closing The class will discuss their predictions of the effects of gravity on other planets on the
olympic events. Explain in the next unit, they will calculate and make graphs of the
data
Materials
Laptops
Powerpoint, Prezi, etc.
Poster Paper
Markers
Glue
Projector
Assessment
Student work will be evaluated for accuracy of calculations and predictions.
Suggestions will be added to help their accuracy on the next unit.
Olympics In Space Unit 3: The Space Olympics
Day 1
UDL
Lesson 4
Grade: 5th Grade
Time: 1 hour
Content Area: Math/Language Arts
Goals
Objectives Students will create graphs with a spreadsheet and interpret the data.
Standards Math:
Represent and interpret data: MD.B.2
Methods
Introduction -
Whole group
Show a video of the world records in women’s weight lifting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd_shyxNhEY

5. The video shows the top lifts in the different weight classes (48/53/58/63/69/75/+75
kg). There are 2 techniques. The first is called snatch where the weight is lifted in one
step. The second is called clean and jerk. Let students know that 1 kg = 2.205 lbs.
Ask the students to explain why there are different weight classes.
To visualize the difference in records you can create a bar graph. The records for men
and women are here:
http://www.iwf.net/results/world-
records/?ranking_curprog=current&ranking_agegroup=Senior&ranking_gender=w&x=1
6&y=9
Guided
practice -
Whole group
Students will use their chromebooks to create a new Google Sheet. Using the data
from the IWF website, show students how to record the records for women and men in
the snatch category. Follow the example spreadsheet. Show students how to create a
chart by highlighting the column headers and data for the women and selecting Insert -
> Chart. Show students how to move and change the size of the chart. The students
will add the chart for the men on their own.
Discuss the differences between the women’s chart and the men’s chart.
Ask students to create a third chart with the top weight for women and the top weight
for men.
Independent
practice -
Groups
Students will be placed in pairs and find an olympic sport that has individual men’s and
women’s equivalents. Students will find the top achievements in that sport and graph
the results for men and women.
Assessment
Informal assessment:
Teacher will walk around class and review students work to determine if they can
create charts.
Materials
● Chromebooks
● Video clip of women’s weightlifting records:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd_shyxNhEY
● Google Sheets
● Website of weightlifting records: http://www.iwf.net/results/world-
records/?ranking_curprog=current&ranking_agegroup=Senior&ranking_gender
=m&x=17&y=8
● Website for other world records:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world_records_in_athletics
Day 2
UDL
Lesson 5
Grade: 5th Grade
Time: 1 hour
Content Area: Math/Language Arts

6. Goals
Objectives Students will compare the results of how athletes would perform on a different planet
and present it to the class.
Standards Math:
Represent and interpret data: MD.B.2
Language arts:
RI5.5, RI5.6, RI5.7, RI5.10
Listening and Speaking:
SL5.1, SL5.1a, SL5.1b, SL5.1c, SL5.2,
Methods
Introduction -
Whole group
Have a discussion about how the graphs that were created in the last lesson could be
used in their presentations. Show students how to save the graphs as images to add to
their presentations.
Independent
practice -
Groups
Students will work in their previous groups to add data and graphs to their
presentations for the sport they chose. Students will decide which parts each group
member will present and rehearse their presentations. When students are ready they
will present to the class.
Assessment
Students will present their final work to the class and be graded using the presentation
rubric.
Materials
● Chromebooks
● Google Sheets
● Presentation tools: Google Slides, Powerpoint, Prezi, etc.
● Projector