Description
2026 Winter Olympics (Milano–Cortina) | Fun Nonfiction Reading for Secondary ELA & Reading Intervention
Turn the buzz around the 2026 Winter Olympics into meaningful literacy practice your students will actually stick with. This resource is built especially for upper-grade reading intervention and support classes—with age-appropriate topics, clear instructions, and interactive activities that don’t feel “little kid.” It also fits beautifully into secondary ELA when you want nonfiction, discussion, and writing with a fun hook.
Students read engaging nonfiction about the Olympics, talk it out, map it, debate it, play with vocabulary, and write—while you get clear teacher notes that keep planning simple.
Reading level: passages are about 1000 Lexile with built-in scaffolding ideas.
What You’re Getting
2 PDFs in One
- Teacher Guide (step-by-step directions + instructional tips)
- Student Booklet (printable pages students can complete)
What Students Will Do (Activities Included)
- Read & learn about:
- Symbols and traditions of the Olympic Games (rings, flame, ceremonies, medals, etc.)
- How the Olympics work (qualifying, hosting, Olympic Village, events)
- Create an Olympics Web (bubble map/graphic organizer) to capture key details
- Practice map skills with Italy: Two Hosts, One Fabulous Olympics
(Great discussion hook: Why two host cities?) - Read a pro/con passage and take a stand:
“Should a country host the Olympics?” → annotate evidence → write using text support
(Easy to turn into a quick, fun class debate!) - Use Click or Clunk comprehension routine while reading about Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Choose a bolded term and complete a research + writing page (flexible for your students’ level)
- Complete a Winter Olympic Events crossword puzzle (word bank included—cover it to level up!)
- Read about the Olympic torch, highlight dates, and create a timeline
- Design a torch (optional extension: build a model + write a description)
- Read about traditions and athletes to watch, then answer test-style comprehension questions
- Finish with a creative favorite: Design Your Own Winter Olympic Event
(students can write, draw, and get silly—in a purposeful way)
Perfect For
- Reading intervention / support / inclusion
- Secondary ELA nonfiction units
- Sub plans, stations, independent work, or small group instruction
- Olympics week / seasonal engagement (Olympics begin 2/6/26)
Skills You’ll Target (Without the Groans)
- Nonfiction comprehension (main idea + supporting details)
- Vocabulary + background knowledge building
- Text evidence and argument writing (pro/con)
- Discussion → writing
- Research + explanatory writing
- Test-style question practice
- Graphic organizers, timelines, and map skills
