Read & Explore 87: The Olympic Games

 Do you know that the 2020 Summer Olympic will be held in Tokyo starting from July 23^rd, 2021 due to covid19? During the Olympic Games, people from all over the world gather to compete in different sporting events. 

The original Olympics were held in Greece around 776 B.C. Athletes came together every four years to run races of different lengths. Those who won were given wreaths of olive branches. The modern Olympics were first held in 1896 in Greece. In 1994, the International Olympic Committee decided that the summer and winter Olympic Games should be held in different years. This means that every two years, thousands of people representing more than 200 countries come together to compete in either summer or winter sports. Today’s top athletes receive gold, silver, or bronze medals and compete in hundreds of different events.

The Olympics give each host country a chance to show its culture both to the people who come there and to the people who watch on TV. The sports may be different than in the original Olympics, but the spirit of goodwill and good sportsmanship is still the same.

Activities:

1. When and where were the original Olympics held? How many years ago were the first modern Olympics held?

2. Are you interested in watching the incoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics? There are 33 sports in Tokyo 2020 official program. Make a schedule so that you can watch all your favorite sports. Watch the video and enjoy One Moment in Time that Whitney Houston sang for the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Read & Explore 86: Hidden Symbols in U.S. one-dollar bill

Have you ever examined the U.S. one-dollar bill? Do you discover that it is full of hidden symbols? Many involve the number 13—the number of colonies that formed the original United States of America.

You might see the pyramid and eagle in the bill. There are 13 rows on the unfinished pyramid. The pyramid stands for strength and durability. Above the eagle’s head is a constellation of 13 stars. The constellation symbolizes the formation of a new nation. The eagle’s right leg grips an olive branch bearing 13 olives. The olive branch represents peace. The eagle is facing the right side to emphasize the power of peace over war. Clutched in the talons of the eagle’s left foot are 13 arrows. The arrows signify the country’s readiness to fight. The shield on the eagle’s chest contains two important parts. There is a horizontal bar, representing Congress, the body of government that makes laws for the nation. And there are 13 stripes of alternating green and white supporting the bar that represent the original colonies.

Activities:

1. Suppose your favorite book is on sale for $1.99. You have one $1.00 bill, ten quarters, 9 dimes, 9 nickels and 9 pennies. How many ways can you pay for your book?

 2.Why do many symbols in one-dollar bill involve the number 13? Look closely at the one-dollar bill again. Do you find other hidden information there? Besides one-dollar bill, are you interested in exploring the secrets in other dollar bills? Have a try. Then watch the video to learn more about the United States dollar bills.