• Understand that an Olympic mascot is a character that symbolizes the Olympic Games.

• Create a Mascot Mini-Poster using research, reading, expository writing, creative writing, and visual arts skills.  

• Internet research and navigation skills

• Basic skill with word processing or desktop publishing software (optional)

• For teacher: computer with Internet access and a projection device, information about Olympic mascots from Web sites listed below.

• For students: access to Internet and/or resources from library media center for research, large white construction paper or poster board (for posters made by hand), legal size paper (for posters created with Microsoft Word or Publisher), colored pencils for poster illustration.

1.  Ask students to identify their school mascot and discuss how the mascot represents the school, the neighborhood, the state, or the region.

2.  Share information about the three Sydney 2000 Olympic mascots using the official Web site of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, The Legend of the Mascots as a reference.

3.  Note that Millie (an echidna), Olly (a kookabura) and Syd (a platypus) represent Olympic ideals, as well as the host country for the Olympic Games, Australia.

4.  Share information about mascots of previous Olympic Games using An Olympic Games Primer Web site from the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles as a reference.

5.  Discuss modern Olympic ideals: peace and friendship, athletic prowess and good sportsmanship, effort and perseverance, appreciation of cultural diversity.

6.  Invite students to create a Mascot Mini-Poster describing a new mascot for an Olympic Games of the future. Students will:

• select a location (a city, state or country)

• research the location to select an appropriate, indigenous animal mascot

• research the animal and write a brief, factual description

• draw a full-color caricature/cartoon of the animal

• write a brief, creative description of the mascot's personality

• design a poster to display the written work and illustration

1.  Mascot information from the Web can be shared with the whole class using a computer with Internet access and a projection system, or the teacher can print information from the Web sites.

2.  When doing mascot research for location and animal, students can use Internet resources and/or resources from the school library media center. The Copernicus Research Center at www.edgate.com/facts.html is a great starting point. The Web sites noted below provide additional links.

3.  The final product, a Mascot Mini-Poster, may be hand-drawn or created in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher. A sample layout is attached.

4.  Ideas for enrichment/extension activities can be found on the official Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Web Site located at: www.olympics.com/eng/kids/teachers/activity.html

An Olympic Games Primer : All about mascots from Olympic Games since 1968.

Our World Research /Information Sites: Lots of links to information about countries of the world.

World Flag Database : Clip art flags and factoids about countries of the world.

• Computer(s)
• Internet Connection
• Projection System
• Internet Web Browser

• Provide peer support by requiring students to complete the project with a partner.

• Modify the written components of the assignment to reduce the amount of written work.

• Provide additional time for assignment completion.

Gifted Students :

• Rather than a simple description of the mascot's personality, ask the gifted student to create a mascot legend (as modeled at the Sydney 2000 site) to explain how his animal came to be a mascot.

Assessment Tools:

• Use a 6+1 Traits of Writing rubric to evaluate written work

• Rubric is available on the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Web site.

• Additional considerations: Did student follow directions to include all components of the assignment?