Have you got what it takes to become an Olympic athlete? This week you can see whether you would have measured up with the Ancient Greek training regimes. Below are a number of different exercises, all of which would have been practised by real athletes thousands of years ago in Greece. Start with a warm up and aim to complete each of the exercises three times each. Equipment: A flying disc (a Frisbee or plastic plate should do) Weights (two tins of beans, chopped tomatoes or similar)

Ancient Greek athletes are just as much about brains as braun! Find an open space - it could be your garden, a field or a park. If you are exercising by yourself and have access to audiobooks, listen to a major section of the Iliad by Homer. While listening, jog at a moderate pace around the perimeter of the field and ponder the crucial lessons you are hearing. If you do not have access to audiobooks, ask an exercise partner to chant the section aloud to you, while you jog in a smaller circle around your partner. You can find all 24 of the Iliad books for free online.

Hurl like Hektor: Hold your flying disk (frisbee, plastic plate) in both hands, with arms extended. With your feet shoulder-width apart, and your weight balanced on both feet, slowly rotate your upper body from right to left, until you reach 100. Throughout, tighten your core and tummy muscles (as though you were bracing to receive a punch). When you reach 100 rotations, throw your flying disc

Run like Atalanta: While your flying disc is in the air, sprint as quickly as you can after it. Pick it up on the run and sprint with it back to your starting point. Bonus Row like Jason: Before you regain your breath after your sprint, drop your flying disk and lift your weights. Stand upright with your feet hip-width apart and the weights in your hands resting across your thighs. Tighten your abdomen again, pull your shoulders back, lift your chest and keep your lower back in its natural curve. Keeping the weights close to your body, pull upwards while extending your elbows. Lift the weights straight up as if they are on a piece of string until they are just below your chin. Slowly lower the weight back to full extension. Breathe in and out throughout the exercise. For the basic exercise, do one repetition for each of the 12 labours of Heracles. For advanced exercise do one repetition in honour of each of the Argonauts (50).

Fight like Apollo: Phorbas was a barbarian king who controlled a river crossing along the sacred way to Delphi. He challenged all travellers to athletic events and, being a superb athlete, beat them. While they were exhausted, he would kill them and display their heads to terrify other travellers. Apollo, in disguise, came upon Phorbas and in the ensuing boxing match, knocked the wicked bandit out with a single punch, like a bolt of fire from the heavens.

Position your body in a fighting stance, that is: turned slightly away from your opponent, the wicked Phorbas. Keep your body weight evenly divided between your front and back leg, and lift onto the balls of your feet. Keep your elbows close to your body.

Bounce gently on the balls of your feet and at random, quickly take a shuffle step in any direction while keeping your fighting stance. You can throw gentle punches if

Cool down with a slow jog. Jog for at least one minute for each of the four ancient

Don’t forget you can also take part in PE with Joe live every morning— or at a time to suit you! Go to PE with Joe | The Body Coach TV to follow any of Joe Wicks’ workouts. In our English learning this week, we learnt about the Ancient Greek Olympics. This week, as part of your theme learning, we would like you to design your own Olympic game. When designing your Olympic game, we would like you to consider the following things in your books:

What is the aim What equipment is Who is your What particular Can you sketch of your game? needed? game suitable skills are needed what your game for? in order to play might look like?

What age group your game? will enjoy your E.g. will your This one is the What will be the most important prize for your game? contestants one! What are contestants? Think Is there need a steady the rules of the about 1st, 2nd anybody that hand? Or good game? The dos and 3rd place you game is hand-eye and the don’ts! prizes. unsuitable for? coordination?

To score the most * Javelin * Adults * Accuracy points by throwing a javelin at a target. * Target board * Children aged 10 * Good aim and above (when * Concentration supervised by an adult). * Steady hand *Each player takes it * Upper arm in turns to throw a * 1st prize - olive strength javelin at a target wreath board (similar to an archery board). * 2nd prize - red *Players must throw ribbon from behind the line. * 3rd prize - green * 10 points for centre ribbon gold. See points board. Why not give your game a go now?! Enjoy!

Send in your game ideas or even a picture of you trying out your game to [email protected] , When we describe people it can be really easy to focus on things like their name, the colour of their hair or how tall they are. When we think about identity we want to focus on other things—not the physical appearance. Someone’s identity is made up of their views, beliefs and values, their interests and skills and their own sense of who they are. Our identity can be influenced by our friends and family as well as our ex- periences. The Ancient Greeks were well known for thinking deeply about this sort of thing and we’re going to look at a story from ancient Greece to get us thinking today. Watch this short video and think about some of the questions it poses.

Your task Firstly, you might want to discuss this video with another member of your family. Which ship do you think is the Theseus? What do they think? Are you the same person that you were when you were born? If not, why not? On the next page is a template to create a snapshot of you and your identity. You can fill this template in or use if as inspiration for creating your own ‘My Identity’ presentation. Going deeper: Is there another way that you would express your identity? Is it through a poem, a story, a painting, a drawing or a model?

As you know, the winning Ancient Greek athletes were awarded an olive wreath (a kotinos). This was a crown made from sacred olive leaves and athletes who won one were greatly admired. It was a great honour to receive such a prestigious gift.

For your art and D & T learning this week, we would like you to create your own olive wreath/crown. How you do this is entirely up to you.

 Sketch your olive wreath. Have a look at the image to the right to help. Could you add some colour with crayons, pastels, chalks or paint?  Get creative and create your wreath on your computer or tablet (remember to check with an adult first).  Get crafty and create a paper olive leaf crown. Have a look on the next page for some instructions on how to make your olive wreath. There is some more inspiration below and lots of ideas on the internet for you and your adult to explore should you wish to do so.  Get outdoors! Have a look in your garden or keep an eye out when you’re out and about. Collect natural items which can be shaped into your own olive leaf crown.

Happy creating! Remember to email in some of your masterpieces - we love seeing them!

Send in your game ideas or even a picture of you trying out your game to [email protected]

 Green coloured paper or card. No worries if you don’t have any, feel free to improvise and colour or paint your own or make an alternative, more modern version of an olive leaf crown in what ever colours or paper you do have available. You could even use recycled materials such as newspapers, magazines or cardboard boxes!  A ruler  Glue (Your school glue stick from your writing kit should be fine).  Tape or a stapler  Scissors  A pencil

1. Cut two strips of A4 paper lengthways about 1.5 inches wide. Staple or tape these two together to make one long strip of paper 1.5 inches wide. 2. Just like when we make our Christmas hats, measure your band around your head and cut off any excess (you may wish to leave a little extra length to be cautious). 3. On another piece of paper or card, draw out a leaf shape. Have a look at the examples to the right. You will use this as a template. 4. Once you are happy with your template, cut it out. 5. Use your template to draw and cut out several leaves. 6. Glue (or staple) your leaves onto the band. Arrange them as you wish. 7. Continue to draw, cut out and stick your leaves onto your band until you are happy with the overall effect. 8. Wear your olive leaf crown with pride...you’re a real champion now!

Send in your game ideas or even a picture of you trying out your game to [email protected]