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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Jesse Owens

For Students 9th - 10th
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1998 to commemorate Jesse Owens, who won four Olympic gold medals in track and field. With a short biographical passage.
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Unknown Type
My Hero Project

My Hero: Mildred "Babe" Didrikson

For Students 9th - 10th
This article overviews Didrikson's athletic career, in which she won Olympic medals and golf trophies. Use this article to learn about why she is considered heroic and check out the related links.
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Handout
Stephen Byrne

History for Kids: Jim Thorpe

For Students 1st - 6th
History for Kids presents an overview of the life story of Jim Thorpe, a Native American from Oklahoma who was a superb athlete competing in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics before moving on to play professional baseball and football.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Sugar Ray Leonard

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biographical overview of the life and career of Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Leonard.
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Handout
Alabama Humanities Foundation

Encyclopedia of Alabama: Carl Lewis

For Students 9th - 10th
Carl Lewis is featured in this brief biography highlighting his career and achievements as a gold medal winning track and field athlete.
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Handout
Other

Biography Shelf: Short Biography of Jesse Owens

For Students 9th - 10th
An inspiring look at the life of Jesse Owens, whose determination and focus helped him earn four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
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Activity
Danuta Bois

Distinguished Women of Past and Present: Dorothy Hamill

For Students 6th - 8th
This is a very brief article overviewing the athletic career of Dorothy Stuart Hamill, an American figure skater who won the gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics.
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Website
Other

Baa: Boston Marathon History

For Students 9th - 10th
The Boston Marathon has a long history. Find out about its inception, the several routes it's taken over the years, when women were allowed to race, and its connection with Olympic racers. Click on BAA Programs to find a regimen for...
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Wyomia Tyus

For Students 9th - 10th
Entry provides a summary of the life of Wyomia Tyus, an American sprinter who held the world record for the 100-metre race (1964-65, 1968-72) and was the first person to win the Olympic gold medal twice in that event.
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Activity
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: Maths and Sports: Making a Racket: The Science of Tennis

For Students 10th - 12th
As London is heading for the 2012 Olympics, it's not just athletes who are gearing up for action. Engineers, too, are working hard to produce the cutting-edge sporting equipment that guarantees record performances. If you're a tennis...
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Activity
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: Maths and Sports: Who's the Best?

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Can you use data from the 2008 Beijing Olympics medal tables to decide which country has the most naturally athletic population? This data-handling activity encourages mathematical investigation and discussion and is designed to be...
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Activity
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: Maths and Sports: Alternative Record Books

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a look at the amazing limits that athletes push themselves to in search of Olympic glory. Which events see the fastest speeds, furthest distances and highest forces? This activity challenges students to undertake some research,...
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Activity
University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge: Maths and Sports: Now and Then

For Students K - 1st Standards
Look at the changes in results on some of the athletics track events at the Olympic Games in 1908 and 1948. What will the results be in 2012? This slightly more challenging activity encourages children to examine data and consider...
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Specialization and the Decathlon

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson uses results from the 2008 Summer Olympic Games to explain that athletes specialize in sports and events for which they are most skilled for the same reasons that individuals and nations specialize in the production of goods...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Infoplease: Notable Summer Olympians Kerri Strug

For Students 9th - 10th
American gymnast, Kerri Strug
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Leonard, "Sugar" Ray

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief encyclopedia article tells about the boxing career of Sugar Ray Leonard.
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Handout
National Women's Hall of Fame

National Women's Hall of Fame: Billie Jean King

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Women's Hall of Fame gives a tribute to Billy Jean King and her great accomplishments as a tennis player and as a pioneer for women in sports.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Luge

For Students 9th - 10th
This article on the luge is organized into the following sections: "History," "Rules," "Artificial tracks," "Natural tracks," "Events," "Governing body," and "Champions." Includes several links to sources on luge teams from various...
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Barney Ewell

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry features Barney Ewell, an American athlete, one of the world's leading sprinters of the 1940s. Although he was believed to be past his prime when the Olympic Games were resumed after World War II, he won three medals at the...
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Marion Jones

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Marion Jones, an American athlete, who, at the 2000 Olympic Games, became the first woman to win five track-and-field medals at a single Olympics. In 2007, however, she admitted to using...
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Eddie Tolan

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Eddie Tolan, an American sprinter and the first black athlete to win two Olympic gold medals. In his track career, Tolan won 300 races, losing only 7.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Gail Devers

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Gail Devers, an American track athlete who overcame physical adversity to win Olympic gold medals in 1992 and 1996.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Rafer Johnson

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Rafer Johnson, an American athlete, who won a gold medal in the decathlon at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Shani Davis

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Shani Davis, an American speed skater, who was the first black athlete to win an individual Winter Olympics gold medal.

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