5 Easy Low-Key Ways to Learn about the Summer Olympics with Older Kids

Olympic spirit is in the air. These low-prep, low-key ideas are perfect for learning about the Summer Games with your older kids.

The Olympics are a favorite in our home. While the Winter Olympics are the favorite for my husband, I love the Summer Games. Since it’s summertime, though, I don’t like to do a big unit about them or anything that requires lots of prep, a long list of supplies to buy, etc.

But I also can’t resist an opportunity to bring learning to real life. And by learning about the Olympics, I don’t mean just the sports. I mean the history of the Summer Olympics and the host city & the cultures represented throughout.

(As long as the learning is kept low-key & low-prep!)

This post contains affiliate links. What are those? When you click through my links — at no cost to you — you help keep The Homeschool Breakroom running because I earn a small commission.

My goal is to run The Homeschool Breakroom with few ads. When you make purchases in my shop & through my links, you help me with that goal. Thank you! For more information, please read my disclosure statement.

1. Nom, Nom: Learn Through Food

One of the easiest ways to learn about another culture is to eat what they eat and learn the stories behind their food and dishes.

Pick a few countries, find cookbooks written by people in those cultures, and then cook and read away. Blogs are great, too, but there’s something about browsing through cookbooks with beautiful pictures and story insets that really pulls you in.

If you want some recipes to get you started, check out this list of 30+ recipes from around the Olympic World.

2. Around the World: Learning Through Geography

I adore geography. Cultural geography, like learning about food & people, and physical geography.

The Geography Now! YouTube channel offers a fantastic blend of both. Going country by country, Paul explores the people & their history, the physical geography, and how all of those things influence each other.

Choose a few countries & watch their videos. Or choose a new video for each day of the Summer Olympics.

(There’s also some geography of France on this playlist.)

3. History & Science: Learning Through Videos

Does the design of a pool affect the races? How are helmets designed for ultimate safety? Why does Paris have such an odd layout?

Videos — on YouTube, Netflix, wherever — are one of the easiest, no-prep ways to learn. I regularly create themed playlists for my boys on YouTube. I give them the link, and each day, they pick a video to watch. Sometimes, we talk about them, but not always. But I do know they’re always learning!

• Changing the Games: The Stories Behind the Paralympics
• Science of the Summer Olympics
• The Summer Olympics (a playlist I created with teens & tweens in mind)

4. Take a Look, It’s in a Book: Learning Through Books

Every homeschooler loves books, right? (Or at least that’s the stereotype!) Whether you’re looking for picture books, a novel for your teen, or a young adult non-fiction book, I’ve got some great ideas for you.

5. Little Picassos: Learning Through Art

Did you know that art was an Olympic event at one time? Check it out!

I hate crafts with multiple steps, lots of prep, and more than a few minutes of clean-up. But simple art projects? I can do those! That’s why I fell in love with using Chalk Pastels in our homeschool.

I also look for videos of simple drawings. Sure, we could look for more complex ones, especially as my kiddos are now teens. But, honestly, are those going to get done? Or even started? Probably not!

The simplicity, though, allows for a range of ages and skill levels. It also allows your little artists to add their own tweaks.

• Olympic Rings Line Drawing
• Olympic Torch with Chalk Pastels
• Eiffel Tower Line Drawing
• Draw the 2024 Olympic Mascot
• Draw an Olympic Athlete (no talking)