Greek Art & The Science of the Games

Olympic Village is gearing up for the games, and no one’s more excited than Spyros Sportos, a young Olympian with big ambitions. Spyros and his pal, Alexio, are longtime rivals, and Spyros is determined to finally triumph over his talented friend on the Olympic stage. This week, light your torch for a journey to Ancient Greece, where you’ll learn the physical, artistic and scientific secrets of the games and help Spyros go for the gold!

(Pre-K - Kindergarten)

Art: Dress for success in the garb of the games! Practice tracing, cutting and innovator’s determination as you construct a leaf-adorned victory head wreath, then create an original foam stamp to embellish your chiton, an Ancient Greek tunic.

Science: Learn how the science of stability keeps athletes on their toes. Harness center of mass to build a wrestler that can’t fall over and explore how conservation of angular momentum can keep a spinning top (or a spinning skater) standing.

Outdoors: Practice your gymnastic skills with an inventive floor exercise and play fun, Olympic-inspired games with your team!

(Rising 1st - 2nd graders)

Art: Make your Olympic vision reality as you mold a gold or bronze medal and imprint it with a pattern of your own design. Learn about symmetry, then create an Athena-style warrior helmet or a Hermes-style winged headpiece to wear.

Science: Investigate the science of speed and the fundamentals of fluid dynamics! Build, test and redesign boats strong enough to carry weight through water and bobsleds aerodynamic enough to race down a track.

Outdoors: Off to the races! Try out the triple jump, steeplechase and relay racing, then design your own track and field event for a Super Star Decathlon.

(Rising 3rd - 5th graders)

Art: Investigate Greek mythology as you design a paper-maché vase and paint it with an Olympic scene. Learn the lore behind an owl’s wisdom, then use linocut tools to carve an owl block print you can use to print your own t-shirt.

Science: Learn about impulse force and momentum as you construct and test a jumper that can clear a high jump bar and a safety-tested bow and aerodynamic arrow that can accurately hit a faraway target.

Outdoors: Use your bow and arrow in an Olympic archery event, then introduce some watery fun to the games on water day!