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Celebrating the Olympics

To mark the Olympic Games 2016, we have gathered together tasks in this feature which provide a sporting context for some interesting mathematics.

All the tasks will challenge learners to reason mathematically and some even involve taking part in their own Olympic events.

The Animals' Sports Day
Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level

One day five small animals in my garden were going to have a sports day. They decided to have a swimming race, a running race, a high jump and a long jump.

Can You Do it Too?
Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level

Try some throwing activities and see whether you can throw something as far as the Olympic hammer or discus throwers.

The Games' Medals
Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level

Can you see who the gold medal winner is? What about the silver medal winner and the bronze medal winner?

Half Time
Age 5 to 11
Challenge Level

What could the half time scores have been in these Olympic hockey matches?

Going for Gold
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level

Looking at the 2012 Olympic Medal table, can you see how the data is organised? Could the results be presented differently to give another nation the top place?

Olympic Starters
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level

Look at some of the results from the Olympic Games in the past. How do you compare if you try some similar activities?

Match the Matches
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level

Decide which charts and graphs represent the number of goals two football teams scored in fifteen matches.

Now and Then
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level

Look at the changes in results on some of the athletics track events at the Olympic Games in 1908 and 1948. Compare the results for 2012.

Olympic Turns
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level

This task looks at the different turns involved in different Olympic sports as a way of exploring the mathematics of turns and angles.

Number and algebra

Geometry and measure

Probability and statistics

Working mathematically

Advanced mathematics

For younger learners

Celebrating the Olympics