We are doing this lapbook for the Sochi Winter Olympics. But it was this book, Through Time: Olympics by Richard Platt that led us down a merry trail of world history, current events, religious studies, and political philosophy.
Our descent into the rabbit hole began when Edmund saw this page about the terrorist attack on Israeli athletes in Munich 1972.
Were you alive then?
Who were the terrorists?
Why the Israelis?
Can I watch the movie?
He is referring to the 2005 Spielberg movie, Munich, from which most of my intel on this topic comes, having not yet been BORN when this happened, just so we're clear. The movie is rated R, so we watched Chariots Of Fire on Amazon Instant Video instead. I also have Miracle and Running Brave from the library, and I'm waiting for Cool Runnings. Am I missing any Olympic movies?
What is Jewish?
Who is Mark Spitz?
Has anyone beaten his record?
Off to learn about Michael Phelps from this book, Amazing Olympic Records by Paul Hoblin.
Is Michael Phelps still alive?
Which country has the record for most medals won of all-time? (USA overall, Russia loses because USSR totals don't add to their total. Norway has the record for the most medals in the Winter Games.)
What is the record for most awesomest thing ever done at an Olympics? face.Palm.
(Patrick recently read The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team by Wayne Coffey and he believes that the US defeat of the USSR in hockey in the 1980 Winter Olympics was the most awesomest thing ever done at an Olympics. He also is a strong believer that we should go back to amateurs-only for the Olympic games.)
Then we went back to the Through Time book to the page on the 1936 Berlin Games.
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| Gold medalist, Jesse Owens, Berlin, 1936 |
What's a Nazi?
Then off we go to 1980 and the boycott of the games in Moscow by the US and over 60 other countries, including our neighbors to the north, Canada.
What is a boycott?
Why did Russia invade Afghanistan and why did we care?
Wait. Are we Communist? (Lord, grant me patience.)
What is the Cold War?
What is the USSR?
Next up, 1984 and Mary Lou Retton.
Yes, I was alive then and I remember her. (I also fondly remember that made-for-tv-movie about Nadia Comeneci and Bela Karolyi. He is NOT interested in any movies about female gymnasts.)
More Cold War, and the boycott of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles by the USSR, but not Romania, oddly enough.
Pause while he takes a 30 minute bathroom break.
Pause because he found two quarters for his State Quarter Map. No, I don't know who has been leaving quarters in the bathroom.
Pause because he has discovered two quarters for his not-yet-a-reality National Park Quarter Map in my wallet.
(If you have some interesting state, U.S. territory (we need all the territories), or national park quarters lying around, I know a boy who is very interested in collecting them and would be happy to mail you a plain old federal eagle quarter plus shipping in exchange. My email is at the top of the sidebar if you'd like to make his day.)
Pause because Jill wants to practice fist bumps.
Pause because I had to type this up while it was still fresh in my mushy mind.
Now, Jill and Edmund have blown-up balloons and are fighting each other with them.
I think we are done for the day.
That, my friends, is how to teach everything and nothing in one morning.
The next day, we had a family fun day and got Chinese food for lunch. This is my fortune:
Day One of 7 Posts in 7 Days with Jen Fulwiler.
Don't feel badly about your knowledge of the 1972 Olympics, as I, too, only know what the movie tells us. In fact, until Kyle rented the DVD, I didn't even know it happened.
ReplyDeleteSuddenly, all my father's ravings about terrorist attacks throughout the 70s started making sense.....
I remember Mary Lou!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great post. Looks like a fun homeschool!
This is the magical dream day of homeschooling glory. Plus 17 points for you!
ReplyDeleteI loved that Nadia movie! I remember watching it and then deciding I wanted to be a gymnast and practicing the balance beam in our unfinished basement using one of my dad's 2X4's that was laying around from some house project. I was convinced I was all that and then some! (Granted I am the klutziest person I know, so no, my Olympic career was dashed almost as fast as it started.)
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a huge proponent of them going back to all amateurs for hockey and since we live in MN and a lot of the players on that team were from the University of MN, as well as the coach Herb Brooks, I think it runs deep in him. :) I love hearing about these types of rabbit trails! (Oh, and the communist question was hysterical!)
THIS is my kind of homeschooling.
ReplyDeleteI was born during the 1972 Munich Olympics. Interestingly, we were also discussing the attacks this weekend - when it was the 20th anniversary, I saw a documentary about it that was the basis for my discussion in the car on the way to church.
ReplyDeletei love the olympics and now i really want to homeschool my kids...
ReplyDelete