Introduction A heptathlon is a track and field competition designed to gauge the overall abilities of an athlete. It is composed of seven events that test speed, strength, jumping ability and more. In the Olympics, athletes from countries around the world compete for the title of "World's Best Athlete". While we may not be ready for competition on this level, we can design a heptathlon that will show us our strengths and weaknesses. Not to mention we will have tons of fun along the way! ack and field competition designed to gauge the overall abilities of an athlete. It is composed of seven events that test speed, strength, jumping ability and more. In the Olympics, athletes from countries around the world compete for the title of "World's Best Athlete". While we may not be ready for competition on this level, we can design a heptathlon that will show us our strengths and weaknesses. Not to mention we will have tons of fun along the way!
The Task In small groups you will create a heptathlon that we can do in P.E. class with the equipment that we already have. You will use current heptathlon events as a guideline, but the best new heptathlon may end up being VERY different that the Olympic version. You will have to keep in mind a few different criteria. (see evaluation) Teams will have to be comfortable sharing new and sometimes crazy ideas. Each team will create seven events that will test the overall athleticism of their peers.
The Process You will be split into groups of five by your coach. The teams are predetermined. Requests to change groups must by typed in paragraph form and given to the coach by the second class meeting during this project. Each group must determine individual roles: group leader, captain of information, presentation foreman, equipment manager, technology mediator. It will be up to the individual groups how you delegate creating the events. All members can work together on all events or divvy up events to individual members. Each group will need to research the current format(s) of the heptathlon. There are more than one. Look at the Olympics, the NCAA, and USA Track and Fieldwebsites to gain information about heptathlons. These websites may or may not be the easiest to learn from. You are allowed to use any school approved website in your research.
You may find it easier to search for information on the events individually, they are: 60 or 100 m hurdles, long jump (this site is addicting, be careful), high jump,pole vault, javelin throw, shot put, and races of 200, 800, and 1000 m. Why do you see more than seven? Because there is more than one format for heptathlons! Take notes on the 'real' events and discuss what you like and dislike about them, and how you could possibly change them for your group's heptathlon. Your group will be given one full class period for research. Begin brainstorming events. Check out Zoom to get a few ideas for creating new activities. You can use this to learn, do not steal! Discuss what you would like to be a part of your heptathlon. Do you want it by the book or super silly? Do you want to focus on athletic achievement or fun with fitness? Be sure to discuss all possible parameters: safety, fun, equipment, judgeability, and whatever else you can think of! There are even ways to do your brainstorming online. These may or may not work for you and your group. As your group narrows down what you want you want your events to be, begin putting concrete plans on paper. You will need an Event Description Form for each event. Put down as many details as you can. You can tweak them as you go. Go outside and play. You will need to request equipment from you coach. Test your events and see how well they meet your goals. Plan your presentation. The presentation must be between five and eight minutes. Be prepared to showcase and defend you events. WHY are your events the choice for our heptathlon? You will be showing off your heptathlon to the rest of your class. Decide on roles within the presentation. There are many resources available to help your plan your presentation. Remember, your presentation will be done outside! Finalize and prepare. Fill out your final Event Description Forms, create a cover page and whatever else you think will increase the value of your presentation. Practice, practice, practice. Each group will pull a number out a hat and present in that order. Presentations must be between five and eight minutes. The class period after all groups have presented, as a class we will perform the heptathlon the receives the highest overall grade.
Conclusion This activity was designed to get you think about the different ways you can do olympic quality events with your friends. Creativity is a key compenent in producing fun and new games. You don't have to have olympic level equipment to have olympic level fun. We will spend a day performing the heptathlon that recieves the highest grade. Are there events you can do with you friend and family at home?See if you can come up with one activity you can do at home based on an olympic event and have fun.
Evaluation Your individual grade will be a compliation of a few different grades. 1. You group will grade each others' efforts and contributions. This will be 25% of your grade. 2. Your classmates will grade the fun factor of your heptathlon. This will be inlcuded in the rubric below. 3. Your coach will fill out the following rubric. This will be 75% of the grade.
| Beginning 1 | Developing 2 | Accomplished 3 | Exemplary 4 | Score |
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Creativity | Events listed are not discernably different than standard heptathlon. | Events are mildly different than standard heptathlon. | All event are noteably different than standard heptathlon. Some are innovative and new. | All events are innovative and new. |
| Use of various motor skills | Events test few motor skills. | Events test a variety of skills, but in the same way more than once. | Events test a wide variety of skills, with some variety in how they are tested. | Each event tests different motor skills in a different way. |
| Ease of Judgeability | Events are arbitrary, subject to opinion. | Events have a clear judging criteria, but are difficult to judge. | Events have a clear judging criteria, and some are easy to judge. | All events have a clear judging criteria and are easy to judge. |
| Fun Factor | Classmates find no appeal in events. | Classmates are willing to particpate in events. | Classmates eagerly anticpate participating in heptathlon. | Classmates would rather do your heptathlon that their own group's. |
| Safety | One or more events contain an explicit safety problem. | No events present any explicit safety problems. | All events are fundamentally safe and some have specific safety guidelines | All events are fundamentally safe and have specific safety guidelines |
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A A special thanks to all the websites that were used in the creation of this webquest. A
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