Lace up your skates and pass the torch because it’s time for the Olympic Games!
This year, the 25th Winter Olympic Games are set to kick off in both Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – the first time since the modern Olympics began in 1896 that the games will officially be co-hosted by two cities. Did you know the tradition of the Olympic Games dates way back thousands of years to the ancient Greeks? Those games were held from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.
While a lot has changed since then, every four years the Olympic Games are still the time when the best athletes from across the world gear up to represent their country. In 2026, there’s 116 medal events taking place in 16 different sports! This year’s games also have the highest percentage of women’s participation in Winter Olympic history. Cheering fans can get ready to watch long-standing events like figure skating, luge, ski jumping, and ice hockey alongside one brand-new addition, ski mountaineering.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the Olympics, from its ancient history to the Adirondack region’s decades-long connection to the winter games. Then, explore the science behind some of our favorite winter sports, how exercise impacts our bodies, and more with the videos, fitness-based activities, and crafts below!
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History & Science of the Olympic Games
Ice Skating Field Trip
Grades PreK-K
Penny and the KidVision Kids visit an ice skating rink! We talk about what to wear when it’s cold, put on ice skates, learn basic ice skating and watch an inspiring performance from young figure skaters dreaming of Olympic gold!
Sports Physiology | Science Trek
Grades K-5
Scientists can help improve athletes’ performance and help keep them healthy, but many young athletes are unaware of how to play and move safely and end up injured. Learn how these scientists can make you a better athlete and prevent injuries.
The Math of the Winter Olympic Games | Things Explained
Grades 3-8
In this episode of Things Explained, we take a look at Winter Olympic sports from a different angle and see how geometry plays an important role in bringing home the gold.
Hockey Rinks | Vegas PBS STEAM Camp
Grades 3-8
Ever wondered what it takes to create hockey rink ice? In this lesson, students will investigate the process with video clips and activities that reveal the science behind the game!
Athletics in Ancient Greece | Teaching with Primary Sources
Grades 6-12
Explore this inquiry kit with sources from the Library of Congress about the history of the Olympic Games. Learn where the Olympic Games began, compare how ancient Greek Olympics differ from today’s games, and consider why the Olympics were important to the ancient Greeks.
Olympic Athletes: Yesterday & Today
Ohio’s Olympic Ice Skaters | Know Ohio
Grades 3-8
Ohio has been home to some impressive ice skaters, including multiple Olympic medalists! Watch the stories of Olympic medal winners David and Hayes Jenkins and Scott Hamilton with this Know Ohio video.
Skier Mikaela Shiffrin Makes History | PBS NewsHour
Grades 6-12
American skier Mikaela Shiffrin made history in 2023 by earning 83 World Cup titles – more than any other female alpine skier. Shiffrin was a teenage prodigy when she burst on the scene more than a decade ago, now she’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist and considered the greatest alpine skier of all time.
Effort, Attitude and Achievement | Mavericks
Grades 6-12
Montana skiers—including 1998 Winter Olympic medalist Eric Bergoust—share their stories about the sacrifices and hard work they put into building their skills as they began competing in skiing. Excelling at something means working hard and devoting all your time and energy to practicing.
Activities, Crafts & Games
Grover’s Winter Games | Sesame Street
Grades PreK-K
Get ready for skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating! To play Grover’s Winter Games, little learners practice their number and pattern recognition skills, then watch as the athletes perform their moves.
Ice Science Experiment: What Makes Ice Melt Fastest?
Grades PreK-3
This cool science experiment shows how different variables impact how quickly ice melts.
Super Snowboarder Game | Molly of Denali
Grades K-2
Learn snowboarding tricks with Molly and Auntie Midge in this interactive game. Choose the right trails using informational videos and guide books.
Fitness Bingo
Grades K-5
Give traditional bingo a fitness twist! From push ups to star jumps, this lesson focuses on whole-body exercises and teamwork.
Local Olympic Stories
Lake Placid Olympic Torchbearer Relives Memories
One of the torchbearers from the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, came to Clinton Community College, to talk with college students about being part of the Olympic History in the Adirondacks. North Country native Carol Arnold was one of the members of the relay team that ran from Virginia to Lake Placid to light the torch to kick-off the 1980 Winter Games.
1980 Winter Olympics 40th Anniversary Celebration
Watch as a dozen stars from the 1980 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team return to Lake Placid to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Winter Games. Jack LaDuke interviews Olympic Skater Scott Hamilton.
People Skate on Olympic Ice in Lake Placid | Adirondack Journeys
The James C. (Bunny) Sheffield Oval attracts people who enjoy ice skating outdoors, as well as people who want to experience a part of Olympic history.
Reliving the Miracle
For the first time since winning their gold medals at the 1980 Winter Games, the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team reunited in Lake Placid to remember the “miracle on ice” victory over the Russians that many call one of the greatest moments in sports history.