Investigate Paralympic World Records

Para-athletes have set some incredible world records. In this project, your students will learn about world records from the Paralympic Games. They will research who holds the world records for a variety of different Paralympic sports that interest them.

The Task

Choose four sports that are played at the Paralympic Games from the list provided. Research the details surrounding the Paralympic world records for these different events. Choose one of the world records and create a brochure about it.

Guiding Questions

1. What are world records and how are they broken?
2. What training or modified equipment helps Paralympians to succeed?
3. What makes Paralympic world records different from other world records, and why is it important to recognize these achievements equally?

Easily Implement This Paralympics Project

The project booklet download contains everything your students will need to independently complete this inquiry-based project about world records set by Paralympic athletes. The contents of the booklet are as follows:

1. Project Overview – This page provides students with a detailed explanation of the project. It contains:
   • Project Purpose
   • Task Outline
   • Guiding Questions
   • Process Walk-Through
2. Paralympic Sports List – These pages contain a comprehensive list of Paralympic sports that students can choose to research.
3. Research Graphic Organizers (x 4)  –These pages enable students to record research about four different Paralympic world records in a clear and organized manner.
4. Brochure Template – Students use the brochure template to present information about one of the world records they have researched.
5. Assessment Rubric – A sample assessment rubric has been provided should teachers wish to assess students’ work according to a given set of criteria.

This project has been designed to seamlessly integrate with the elementary school curriculum. For example, it could be used as part of a math unit on measurement, as students will be required to read and understand the heights, distances, weights and times (just to name a few!) associated with the various world records.

Download to Explore Paralympic World Records

Use the Download button to access your preferred files. The project booklet can be accessed as either a Google Slides file (which can be edited) or an easy-print PDF document.

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing the project booklet double-sided.

This resource was created by Brittany Collins, a teacher in Indiana and a Teach Starter collaborator.

Get Your Students Excited About the Paralympic Games!

The Paralympic Games doesn’t come around that often, so when it does, it’s worth giving it some attention! Teach Starter has a diverse range of resources to make celebrating the Paralympic Games in your classroom easy. Click below to explore some of our favorites:

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Assistive Devices in the Paralympic Games – Inquiry-Based Project

Have your students investigate the assistive devices used by Paralympians with this inquiry-based learning project.

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Introduction to the Paralympic Games – Inquiry-Based Project

Introduce your students to the key components of the Paralympic Games with this inquiry-based learning project.

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Design a Paralympic Logo – Inquiry-Based Project

Have your students design a new logo for their country’s Paralympic Team with this inquiry-based learning project.