The Olympics is now the largest sporting event on Earth, but that was not always the case. Children compare today with its early London incarnations and investigate what happened to the facilities after the torch was extinguished!

The second London Games were held in 1948. Again London only had 2 years to organise the games as they were awarded in 1946 after the 1944 Games were cancelled due to WWII. Children research facts and the legacy to be added to the timeline.

Remind children that London has held the Olympics twice before. The first time was in 1908. Find out why London had only two years to prepare and research facts about the Games and the legacy left by London 1908.

Now children are going to expand the information about themselves to include their family. They draw family trees. Discuss the role of women – do children’s mothers have the same role as their grandmothers or earlier generations? What about the African women? Suitable for years 5 and 6.

Take a trip back in time to introduce art of icon painting from ancient kingdom of Ethiopia. Children explore features of this art form and consider how they were painted and their purpose. They copy small areas of icons to capture style elements.

Children look at old telegrams and then write their own about an important event to the British Prime Minister of the day.