Project Author: Cynthia Peterson (cpeterso@epsb.edmonton.ab.ca)

Project Title: Paralympics: Where Heroes Come

Project Begin & End Dates: 9/25/00 to 11/30/00

Project Summary:
Students develop a perspective on culture based on the Paralympics using Internet sites  to investigate communication, socialization, beliefs, values, and roles. Students create a presentation to promote disabled sport, rights of those with disabilities, and/or  the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney.
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Project Details
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Project Level: Advanced

Curriculum Area: Arts, Community Interest, Health and Physical Education, History and Social Studies, Information Technology, Language

Technologies Used: Email, Web Based Discussion Forum

Project Sponsor: Telus Learning Connection; Grassroots funding

Full Project Description:
The Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world, second only to the Olympics. Held immediately
 after the Olympics, the Paralympics are competitions for elite athletes with disabilities. Although these athletes may have an
 amputated limb, physical deformity, spinal cord paralysis, dwarfism, blindness, or other disability, some performances at the
 Paralympics rival Olympic results. Yet few people know what the Paralympics are.
 The next Paralympic Games will be held in Sydney, Australia, from October 19-29, 2000. This is a joint language arts/social
 studies project designed to assist students in developing an appreciation of the Paralympic Games as a celebration of the
 power of the human mind, body, and spirit. Students will develop a perspective on culture based on the Paralympic
 community by exploring Internet sites on the Paralympics (including a site we will build specifically for the project) to
 investigate the concepts of communication, socialization, beliefs and values, and roles. Students will participate in a variety of
 activities, many of which are interactive.

Objectives:
 As a culminating activity students will create a presentation such as a brochure, pamphlet, newspaper, multimedia
 presentation, newsletter, or web page to promote the Paralympic Games to be held in Sydney, Australia, in October, 2000.
 The presentation will include items such as profiles of athletes, information about the Paralympic movement's goals and
 history, editorials on rights of people with disabilities, and information about Australia relating to its hosting of the Paralympics.
 Presentations will be shared on the project web-site. Some teachers may have their students send their
 presentations to appropriate government agencies (CBC, Heritage Canada, etc.) to encourage more funding for coverage and
 sponsorship of Paralympic athletes.

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Project Registration Information
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Project Email Address: cpeterso@epsb.edmonton.ab.ca

Registration Acceptance Dates: 9/13/00 to 10/30/00

Number of Classrooms: 6-10

Age Range: 12 to 16 years

Target Audience: Anyone

Project URL: http://www.epsb.edmonton.ab.ca/schools/riverbend/studentresources/languagearts/paralympics

Registration Instructions:
Visit the website to preview the project. Contact project coordinator with questions.
We welcome Australian participation.
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Project Contact Information
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Cynthia Peterson - mailto:cpeterso@epsb.edmonton.ab.ca
mailto:read_@yahoo.com
Teacher/librarian -  Riverbend Junior High School, Edmonton Public Schools
http://www.epsb.edmonton.ab.ca/schools/riverbend
Edmonton, AB,CA