Lesson video

Hello, my name's Miss Willow, and I'm going to be your teacher for today's lesson.

Today's lesson is called The Paralympic Games, and it fits into the unit Communities.

How can we better understand and respect people with disabilities? During this lesson, we are going to be talking about some sensitive content, so we recommend that you have an adult with you for the duration of this lesson.

If at any point you do feel worried or uncomfortable, it's really important that you stop the lesson and that you speak to a trusted adult.

Okay, let's make a start.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain what a Paralympian needs to succeed.

Before we get started with today's lesson, we need to go over some ground rules.

These help to make sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable during today's lesson.

First of all, Laura says that we need to listen to others.

It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before we make any assumptions or before we decide how to respond.

When we disagree with someone else, it's important to challenge the statement and not the person themselves.

Andeep says that we need to respect each other's privacy.

It's okay to discuss examples, but we shouldn't use any names or descriptions that identify anyone, including ourselves.

If we want to share a story or an experience, we can refer to someone as my friend.

This means that we're not going to give away any identifying information.

Izzy says that we can choose our level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or to join in with discussion, and we should never put anyone on the spot, as this can make people feel uncomfortable, and finally, Jacob reminds us that we need to not have any judgment.

We can explore any beliefs and misunderstandings that we have about a topic without fear of being judged by others.

We're now going to take a look at the keywords for today's lesson.

First of all, we have the word impairment.

This is a characteristic or feature that might impact the way that a person's body or mind functions, their physical appearance, or cause them pain.

Next we have rehabilitate.

This means to restore a person back to a healthy or usual way of living through therapy or training, and finally, we have Paralympian.

This is an athlete who competes in the Paralympic Games, an international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities.

Today's lesson is split into two learning cycles.

Our first learning cycle is called What are the Paralympics? And our second learning cycle is called What makes a successful Paralympian? Let's make a start on our first learning cycle.

What are the Paralympics? People with impairments have always taken part in sports.

However, organized competitions, especially for people with disabilities, started to develop after World War II.

Lucas tells us that in 1944, 12 special units were set up around the country to rehabilitate service men and women who had suffered spinal injuries during World War II.

One of the units was at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire.

Patients at Stoke Mandeville were cared for by Dr.

Ludwig Guttman, a neurosurgeon.

Lucas tells us that Dr.

Guttman believed that sport could help with physical rehabilitation and provide opportunities for competition and achievement.

The patients took part in many sports, including skittles, darts, wheelchair netball, and wheelchair archery.

On the opening day of the 1948 Olympic Games in London, Dr.

Guttman organized a wheelchair archery competition to take place at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

The 14 men and the two women who took part in that competition became the first Paralympians.

Dr.

Guttman organized similar events each year.

The games, called the Stoke Mandeville Games, went from strength to strength.

In 1952, the games became international when a small team of Paralympians arrived from the Netherlands to compete.

Lucas tells us that by 1960, the world saw the first official Paralympic Games.

In total, 400 athletes from 23 different countries came to Rome to compete.

16 years later, the first Winter Paralympics were held in Sweden in 1976.

Let's do a check for understanding to see how you're doing.

When were the first official Paralympic Games held? Can you remember? Was it A, 1948; B, 1952; C, 1960; or D, 1976? When were the first official Paralympic Games held? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that the correct answer is C, 1960.

The first official Paralympic Games were held in 1960.

Well done if you got this right.

Although athletes in the first few Paralympic Games were people with spinal cord injuries, other impairments gained representation in the Paralympic Games as time went on.

Lucas tells us that by the 1970s and the 1980s, athletes with limb deficiencies, amputation, and cerebral palsy were also taking part in the Paralympics.

Any athlete wishing to take part in the Paralympics must have a health condition which results in a permanent impairment of a specific kind.

Lucas tells us that examples include impaired muscle power, so, for instance, through a spinal injury, vision impairment, or limb deficiency, so this might mean that a person only has one arm or one leg.

These are just some of the 10 impairments in the participation criteria.

If an athlete is eligible to compete, they're then assessed on the degree of their impairment so that they can compete in the correct sports class or competition category.

Lucas says that athletes are put into groups based on their type and level of impairment.

This means that they compete against others with similar abilities, making the competition fair for everyone.

Some sports, like Para ice hockey, allow different types of athletes to play together on the same team.

The Paralympics are still a major international sporting competition for people with disabilities.

They take place every four years alongside the Olympics.

Lucas says that in recent years thousands of athletes from over 150 countries have participated in the games.

Sporting events include blind football, Para climbing, sitting volleyball, Para athletics, Para swimming, and wheelchair basketball.

Let's do a check for understanding to see how you're doing.

Is this statement true or false? All Paralympians compete in the same sport class.

What do you think? Is this true or false? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that this is false, but why? You might have said that all eligible athletes are assessed on the degree of their impairment so that they can compete in the correct sport class.

This ensures the opportunities are fair and balanced.

Well done if you said something similar, so let's look at the question how do the Paralympic Games demonstrate equality? First of all, there's equal opportunities, so athletes compete at the highest level of sport.

They receive media coverage and sponsorship, and they encourage future generations to participate in sport regardless of what their abilities are.

There's also equal treatment, so Paralympic medals have the same value as Olympic medals.

Athletes train with professional coaches and support teams, and they compete in world-class venues.

There's also equal respect, and this is really important, so Paralympic athletes are recognized for their sporting achievements.

Their success benefits everyone by changing attitudes, especially towards people with disabilities, and they show that diversity makes sport stronger.

The Paralympics are a real-world example of the Equality Act 2010 in action, showing how when people with disabilities are given equal opportunities, treatment, and respect, everyone benefits and society become stronger as a whole.

Let's do another check for understanding.

I'd like you to change one word to make the statement correct.

The Paralympics demonstrate inequality by giving athletes equal opportunities, treatment, and respect.

Can you change one of the words in that sentence to make it correct? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you changed the word inequality to equality, so our correct statement should now say, "The Paralympics demonstrate equality by giving athletes "equal opportunities, treatment, and respect." Well done if you said the same thing.

We're now going to put your learning from this learning cycle into practice.

For the first part of this task, I'd like you to match each event relating to the history of the Paralympic Games to the correct year on the timeline.

Then I'd like you to write the missing two events in your own words, so here are the years on the timeline: 1944, 1948, 1952, 1960, and 1976, and these are the events that I'd like you to put on this timeline: Stoke Mandeville Games became international, units set up to rehabilitate spinal injury patients following World War II, and the first Winter Paralympic Games held in Sweden.

For the missing two events, I'd like you to write them in your own words.

Pause the video, and we'll go through the completed timeline in a few minutes.

Okay, let's see what your completed timeline should look like, so 1944 should have that units were set up to rehabilitate spinal injury patients following World War II.

1948 should have the wheelchair archery competition held at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

1952, this should be Stoke Mandeville Games became international.

1960, first official Paralympic Games held in Rome, and in 1976, the first Winter Paralympic Games were held in Sweden.

Well done if your completed timeline looked anything like this.

For the second part of this task, I'd like you to complete these sentences about how the Paralympics work today: To compete in the Paralympics, athletes need.

Examples of impairments that allow athletes to compete include.

Athletes are put into different groups because.

The Paralympics take place.

And the Paralympics demonstrate equality by giving athletes equal what? Can you complete those sentences to show how the Paralympics work today? Pause the video, and we'll go through the completed sentences in a few minutes.

Okay, let's see what your completed sentences should look like.

To compete in the Paralympics, athletes need a health condition that causes a permanent impairment.

Examples of impairments that allow athletes to compete include impaired muscle power, vision impairment, and limb deficiency.

Athletes are put into different groups because this means they compete against others with similar abilities, making competition fair.

The Paralympics take place every four years alongside the Olympics, and finally, the Paralympics demonstrate equality by giving athletes equal opportunities, treatment, and respect Well done if your completed sentences looks anything like this.

It's now time to move on to our second learning cycle, and well done for your hard work.

This second earning cycle is called What makes a successful Paralympian? Like all elite athletes, a Paralympian must have willpower and determination.

However, that's not all that's required.

Paralympians also need physical excellence, adaptive technology, resilience, and a strong support system, so Paralympians need willpower, determination, and support to succeed.

Let's talk a little bit about physical excellence and adaptive technology and what this means.

This person shares their experience.

"As an aspiring Para rugby player, "I train six days a week to build my fitness and strength.

"I use a specialized manual wheelchair, "which is designed to withstand bumps and crashes "during a game.

"I need strong upper body muscles "to help me maneuver quickly around the court, "and I wear grip gloves "so that my hands don't slip on the wheels." Now we're going to talk about resilience.

I loved playing rugby as a teenager, but after a stroke, I now have limited mobility and use a wheelchair to move around.

Some people didn't think that I could play rugby as a wheelchair user, but I've learned new skills and found ways to continue playing.

It isn't easy.

There are days when my body is tired and I feel like giving up my sport, but that's when I remember why I love the game and focus on my training goals.

A strong support system can look a bit like this.

"I couldn't do what I do "without a support network around me.

"My family and friends "have supported me all the way through.

"They've been there through the highs and the lows.

"My coaching team have given me a sense of belonging "and helped me to develop my skills.

"I'm also grateful "for the financial support of local charities, "which has helped our club to buy the specialized equipment "that we need to play successfully." Let's do a check for understanding to see how you're doing with this learning cycle.

As well as willpower and determination, what else do Paralympians need to be successful? A, arrogance; B, resilience; C, a weak support system; or D, a strong support system.

What do you think? As well as willpower and determination, what else do Paralympians need to be successful? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that B and D are correct.

To be successful, Paralympians also need resilience and a strong support system.

Well done if you said the same thing.

Let's look at the question how have the Paralympics shaped inclusion? The Paralympics are a celebration of sport that show that when opportunities and the right support are given, people with disabilities can be strong, powerful, and successful athletes.

Lucas says that seeing an increased number of people with disabilities in the media through Paralympic coverage has helped to challenge some of the negative attitudes and stereotypes in society, especially around disabled people and what they are and aren't able to do.

Paralympians have also encouraged more people, particularly those with disabilities, to participate in physical activity, and this can have a really positive impact.

Paralympians have also helped to change the way that the world views people with disabilities.

The Paralympics have also encouraged leaders to consider more inclusive policies and legislation to make sure that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as people without.

Let's do another check for understanding.

Can you list two to three ways in which the Paralympics have shaped inclusion? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Okay, let's look at what you might have said.

Number 1, you might have said that more people with disabilities are in the media because of the Paralympics, which challenges negative attitudes and stereotypes.

Number 2, you might have said that Paralympians encourage more people to participate in physical activity, and number 3, you might have said that the Paralympics encourage leaders to consider more inclusive policies and laws.

Well done if you had this or something similar.

It's now time to put your learning from this learning cycle into practice.

I'd like you to read the information about Paralympian Ellie Simmonds OBE on the next few slides, and I'd like you to discuss the questions that follow.

Ellie Simmonds was born with a form of dwarfism, and has shorter arms and legs.

She fell in love with swimming at just five years old.

However, it was only after watching the 2004 Paralympics in Athens that she knew that she wanted to compete and represent Great Britain in the Paralympics too.

In preparation for her first Paralympics in 2008, Ellie would balance school life with a rigorous training schedule.

She would train for hours in the pool daily, sometimes twice a day, with only one day off a week.

As well as swimming, Ellie would also strength train at the gym three times a week and do yoga for flexibility.

Aged just 13, Ellie won two gold medals at her debut in the Beijing Paralympics 2008, making her one of the youngest gold medal Paralympians in British history.

Her sporting success continued over many years, and by the time she retired from the sport in 2021, Ellie had won multiple medals and broken many world records along the way.

Since retiring from competitive swimming, Ellie has become a well-known television presenter and an ambassador for many charities too.

Ellie Simmonds emphasizes that reaching your goals needs determination, focus, and a strong support network.

I'd now like you to discuss the questions below.

Number 1, what impairment does Ellie Simmonds have? And question 2, was it just natural talent that made Ellie Simmonds a successful Paralympian? I'd like you to give evidence to support your answer.

Pause the video, talk with the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Okay, let's see what you might have said.

To answer question number 1, what impairment does Ellie Simmonds have, you might have said that Ellie Simmonds was born with a form of dwarfism and has shorter arms and legs.

For question 2, was it just natural talent that made Ellie Simmonds a successful Paralympian? You might have said, "No, it wasn't just natural talent "that made Ellie Simmonds a successful Paralympian.

"She would train for hours in the pool daily, "sometimes twice a day, "only having one day off a week, as well as swimming.

"Ellie would also strength train at the gym "three times a week "and do yoga for flexibility.

"It was a combination of talent, hard work, and dedication "that helped her to be successful." Well done if your answers were anything like this.

We're now going to summarize the key learning from today's lesson.

In today's lesson, we've learned that sport was used to rehabilitate service men and women who had suffered spinal injuries following World War II.

The Stoke Mandeville Games were created as an opportunity for people with disabilities to compete in sport.

These games eventually led to the first official Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960.

The Paralympics provide an opportunity for people with impairments to showcase their athletic abilities.

We've learned that successful Paralympians do not rely just on their talent.

Dedication, hard work, and resilience can all contribute to their success, and finally, we've learned that the Paralympics have helped to challenge attitudes and stereotypes in society and change the way that the world views people with disabilities.

During the session, you might have found that you've got some worries or questions, and if you do, it's really important that you share these with a trusted adult.

There's also some resources on the screen that are there to help you too.

Well done for your hard work in today's lesson.

I hope to see you in another lesson soon.