These activities are based on the theme of the Torch Relay. Try these fun, creative activities in the classroom or maybe you can think up your own.
1. Pass the picture
The children sit at tables in groups of about five. Each table has a large A3 sheet of blank paper and drawing pencils. When the timer goes off, the children have five minutes to draw on the paper.
The theme of the picture is ‘The Olympic Torch Relay Comes to Town!’ Each child contributes to the picture, making it as colourful and bright as possible. They could draw the people in the crowd, the runners, the flags, the Torch etc.
When the timer goes off, the children ‘pass their picture’ to the next table. The timer is re-set and the next children draw on the picture.
This carousel art project should finish when all children have contributed to all pictures. For example, if there are 25 children in the class, with five children on each table, there should be five finished pictures to which all children have contributed.
Display the pictures in class, the assembly hall or the main reception for visitors to admire.
2. A Torch collage
Make one really large rectangle of paper by stapling A3 pieces of paper together. Staple the paper to the largest wall, depending on the space you have available.
Draw a big outline of the Olympic Torch on the paper. The children have to bring in a passport sized photograph of themselves to glue onto the stem of the torch, to represent the 8000 runners that will carry the Flame. This activity can be extended out of the classroom, to the main hall or reception area and photos of all staff members, including the head teacher, the cleaners etc, can be attached.
A brief written text can be displayed beside the Torch explaining how many runners will be chosen and how they are selected.
The Torch can also be covered with pictures of people from the school or wider community whom the community feel deserve the chance to run with the Flame.
3. The Torch in numeracy
The designers of the Olympic Torch were inspired by the theme of ‘the power of three’.
This is the third time the Games have been held in London
There are three Olympic Values: respect, friendship and excellence
There are three words in the Olympic Motto: ‘swifter, higher, stronger’
And so the London 2012 Olympic Torch has three sides.
Try these activities about the number three
- The Olympic Torch has three sides. Find other three-sided objects and arrange them into three sets – small, medium and large.
- The London 2012 Olympic Torch is 800mm high. Find three other objects that are the same height as the Olympic Torch.
- Fill in the missing numbers in this Olympic Torch number sequence 3, – 9, 12, —, —. Stop when you get to the next even number.
