Winter Sports Activities for the Classroom

Winter Sports Activities for the Classroom 

Looking for meaningful and fun winter sports-themed activities that won’t require any prep or materials? You’re in the right place. Whether you’re teaching during the Winter Olympics or just want to bring the excitement of winter sports into your classroom, these activities will keep students engaged while reinforcing core skills in reading, writing, math, science, and geography.

Start with the Olympics: Then and Now

Spark curiosity with a bit of history! The National Endowment for the Humanities offers a fascinating article on the first modern Olympics. Even better? You’ll find over 5 million digitized pages of historical U.S. newspapers that include first-hand accounts of Olympic events. These are perfect for introducing primary sources in your classroom.

🔗 Click here to explore the NEH Olympic archive

Teacher Tip: Invite students to read one historical news report and share 3 things that surprised them.

Photo from Pixabay.com

No-Prep Winter Sports Activities (Grades 3–6)

Here are 10 no-prep activities you can do today—no printing, cutting, or supplies needed!

1. Olympic Speed Round 

Call out a winter sport. Students have 30 seconds to write everything they know about it. Then, share answers as a class.

Curling Photo from Pixabay.com

2. Snowball Debates

Choose a winter sport (e.g., bobsled vs. luge). Have students "defend" their favorite by giving one reason it's the best. Great for persuasive speaking!

3. Weather Watch

Ask: What kind of weather do winter athletes need to train and compete? Discuss how different winter sports depend on specific conditions.

4. Math in Motion

Create mental math word problems using real Olympic stats. (e.g., If a ski jumper travels 90 meters in 5 seconds, what’s their average speed?)

5. Creative Writing Prompt

“If I woke up as an Olympic snowboarder…” Let students finish the story. Bonus: Have them read it aloud in groups!

6. Geography Relay

Name a country. Students have to say if it's snowy or not and whether it has Olympic athletes. Keep it moving fast!

7. History Snapshot

Pick a year (e.g., 1980). Ask: What was happening in the world during that Winter Olympics? Research as a class and discuss.

8. Science Quick Talk

Ask: How is fake snow made for the Olympics? Watch a short video clip (optional) or guide a brief discussion using student guesses and logic.

9. Winter Sports Charades

No materials needed—just mime it! Curling, speed skating, ski jumping, etc. Get them moving while learning.

10. Design an Event

Students imagine and name a new winter sport. What are the rules? Who competes? Where is it played?

Travel the Globe Without Leaving Your Desk

Use the Olympics as a springboard to explore world cultures. This Research Project for Any Country helps students investigate flags, food, language, geography, and more.

Perfect for when the Olympics are being held abroad—or for general country studies.

🔗 Grab the Research Project Here

Cross-Curricular Ideas Inspired by the Olympics

According to The New York Times, winter sports can inspire lessons in:

• Global politics
• Science and physics (How do skis reduce friction?)
• Art and fashion (Design your own Olympic uniform!)
• Geography (Map Olympic host cities)

🔗 Read their creative ideas here

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