Description

Winter Olympic Ode or Choral (Performance) Poem

Winter Olympic Ode or Choral (Performance) Poem is one of a collection of Winter Olympic resources:

• • • Winter Olympics Class Play/Assembly on its History up to 2022
    • *Winter Olympics Guided Readers
    • Winter Olympic Ode
    • Winter Olympics Quiz

*Scroll down to see a detailed description of these guided readers/Readers Theatre (7 mini plays; the seventh further divided into another 5 plays).

This poem can be read aloud by up to 30 speakers (instructions for 18, 21, 24 and 30 speakers listed below) It is made up of three parts, taken from the three words of the Olympic Motto–  Citius  Altius Fortius:

1. 1. 1. Faster
      2. Higher
      3. Stronger

Speakers

I. Speed Skater 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
II. Figure Skater 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
III. Speed Skater, Ski Jumper, Ice Hockey Player, Curler, Gold Medalist and Skier

Each part is made up of six verses (with chorus to start and/or finish)

18 speakers – 1 verse each, with whole-class reading the chorus.

21 speakers – 1 verse each (for 18), plus chorus at the beginning of each part

24 speakers – 1 verse each (for 18), plus chorus at the beginning and end of each part

30 speakers –  I verse each (18) plus choruses after each verse of I and II split between remainder.

Sample Text:

I.Faster

Chorus:

Faster, higher, stronger,
Olympic champions, we.
Faster, higher, stronger,
That’s all we want to be!

Speed Skater 1: The training’s over

We’re on the ice track

We’re primed for action

There’s no looking back.

Speed Skater 2:           On your marks

Get set, go!

It’s now or never

We can’t be slow.

II. Higher

Chorus

Faster, higher, stronger,

Olympic champions, we.

Faster, higher, stronger,

That’s all we want to be!

Figure Skater 1:             Poised at last

To take to the ice floor

Hours of practice

Muscles sore.

Figure Skater 2:            A perfect performance

A dazzling show

Of grace and elegance

And lines that flow.

III. Stronger

Chorus

Faster, higher, stronger,

Olympic champions, we.

Faster, higher, stronger

That’s all we want to be!

Speed Skater:                What does it take

To skate at great speed?

How does it feel

To take the lead?

Ski Jumper:                     What does it take

To jump off that board?

How does it feel

To go straight as a sword?

*Description of Guided Readers

South Korea 2018 and China 2022 Winter Olympics
Russia Winter Olympics 2014
Canada Winter Olympics, 2010
A History of the Winter Olympics 1924 – 2010
Memorable Moments from Past Olympics
Winners and Record Breakers
What it Takes to be a Winner
The original set of scripts were written on the Winter Olympics up to 2010. The updates are thus 2010 Canada, 2014 Russia, 2018 South Korea and 2022 Beijing, China.

Each has 6 speakers.

The seventh script ‘What it Takes to be a Winner is a set of 5 group readers and is intended to promote the concepts behind PRIDE – standing for Positive Mental Attitude, Respect, Intelligent Choices, Dreams and Effort (Education). In short, the promotion of healthy, positive self-esteem among young people, highlights the fact that ‘being the best takes time, effort and all-round commitment.