This page contains a collection of videos, activities and web links relating to the historic events taking place in 2012.
Remember - it's not just the Olympic and Paralympic Games. There's the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the Torch Relay and the Cultural Olympiad all going on as well.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
We would value your feedback on the resources
Email email@example.com or fill out the form at the foot of this page to get in touch
And if you have any suggestions about how to improve the classroom activities or ideas for new exercises, we'd love to hear from you!
With all these major events taking place in the same year, School Reporters have a host of opportunities to report on events that will be talked about for years to come.
These resources are designed to give you some food for thought and research material for stories relating to 2012 and, just as with the other resources, we've organised them into a pick and mix - so you can read through and select the materials that best fit in with your plans.
Please note that all times for activities are approximate and will depend on class size, age, etc.
We also have a special
section which includes lots of extra information and advanced resources.
2012 will involve so many big events - local, national and international - that there are reporting opportunities to be had throughout the year and throughout the UK.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Diamond Jubilee, the Cultural Olympiad will all produce chances to tell the stories taking place. But events can take many other forms too - sports days, school plays, local carnivals and festivals - so don't miss the chance to get involved.
The masterclass with BBC presenter and newsreader Sophie Raworth will help identify some of the key skills and preparation needed to report properly on events.
Another way to report on big events or sporting occasions is with live event pages, and we've produced a guide full of tips for both sport and news stories.
(NB - the last three activities should ideally be done together)
Olympic and Paralympic Games
London won the race to hold the 2012 Olympic Games back in 2005, and the excitement and anticipation have been building ever since.
For a few weeks in the summer of 2012, the eyes of the world will be on London - but there are potential stories to do with the Games already, and all over the UK.
Whether it's the ticketing system, a local athlete hoping to make Team GB, teams training in your area, the Torch Relay passing through your town or a historical connection to the Games, the Olympics and Paralympics are massive events that produce stories galore.
These resources will help shed more light on the event for pupils, put the Games into historical context and point you in the direction of other BBC material that can assist your coverage.
While there is more to 2012 than just sport, there is no question that interest in all things sporting will rocket.
In addition to the Olympics and Paralympics, the school year will also take in the
Rugby World Cup
in the autumn and football's
in the summer of 2012, not to mention the endless list of other sporting action taking place.
Arguably the next best thing to being an athlete is reporting on the action, so these resources will help any sports-mad pupils understand the essentials of sports journalism.
Organisers are keen that London 2012 offers something for everyone - even those who don't like sport.
The plan is "to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people" - and that means there are stories to cover everywhere!
It culminates in the
London 2012 Festival
from 21 June to 9 September 2012 - but there are events going on all the time, and all over the UK.
From theatre to dance, art to music, there's something to get your teeth into and these links will help you find out what's going on in your area.
Whether it's the latest big football game or a rolling news story like the recent riots in England, a live events page is a great way to get all the latest information to your audience as quickly as possible.
Football specialist Jonathan Stevenson and news reporter Victoria King are both experts in how to bring these pages to life, while always keeping the basics of journalism to the fore.
Get together with the other people in your class who chose the same topic as you and, between you, answer the relevant questions below. You'll need to do some more research, either online or by asking around at school. Remember to take notes, bookmark and use advanced search techniques.
Olympic and Paralympic Games
Is one of your teachers training for the Olympics?
How close is your school to one of the 30 Olympic stadiums? As well as the venues in London, sports like cycling, canoeing, rowing, sailing, mountain biking and football are being held elsewhere in the UK.
Are any of the teams from overseas nations being hosted near your school?
Does your school have a connection with another nation represented at the 2012 Games?
Are any of the Olympic and Paralympic test events taking place near your school?
Does your school have a connection with any Olympians or Paralympians - past or present?
How close does the Olympic Torch come to you on the Torch Relay route? And when?
Is there anyone connected with your school who has a connection with the Royal family?
Are there any Diamond Jubilee related events happening near you?
School sports and cultural activities
Make a list of all the cultural activities that are taking place at your school in 2012 that you could report on eg a school play.
Make a list of all the sporting activities that are taking place at your school in 2012 that you could report on eg a football tournament.
Which of the sports that you do at school are Olympic or Paralympic sports?
How do people in your school feel about the Olympics, Paralympics and Diamond Jubilee? (Some people may not be interested at all and it's good to get a balance of opinions.)
Explore the BBC's map to find out where the Olympic Torch will stop overnight during its tour which begins on 19 May 2012 at Land's End and ends 70 days later at the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium.
Discussion: Alternative Olympic opinions (10 mins - 60 mins) While many people are excited about the Olympics and Paralymics coming to London (and other venues around the UK) in 2012, there are a range of alternative opinions to be considered - and perhaps reflected in your reporting.
In your class or group, discuss what having the Olympic Games in London means to you.
Does it make you proud and excited to see such a massive event taking place in the UK? Or do you think it will be a letdown? What sort of factors affect the way you feel about the Games?
It could be where you live, whether you managed to get tickets, how old you are or how interested in sport you are. Perhaps you feel too far away from the action for it to really be on your radar.
And what about the financial cost of staging the Games? In a time when money is tight for the government and ordinary people in the UK, billions of pounds have been spent to build new stadiums and facilities. Is that a good use of public money?
Will the Games have a genuine legacy for young people, in terms of getting them more active and healthy? Or will the Olympics be quickly forgotten by 2013?
There are lots of viewpoints surrounding the Games - and some of them will be worth thinking about and possibly including in your reports.
In 2002, the Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee. Take a look at what happened and how the BBC covered it.
You'll see that the BBC News website isn't as sophisticated as it is today. In particular, video and audio galleries had less impact due to the technology available. This may be the case in your school - but you can see that it's still possible to create a dynamic selection of news stories.
Self-confessed "sports nut" Damian Derrick covers all sports for the BBC website. In this video, from the BBC's College of Journalism, he talks openly and in detail about his jobs - what he loves, what he hates, and how he got there.
There are lots of big events going on in 2012 - which means there are lots of things for you to report! Test how much you know about reporting live events with our special quiz.
1.) Reporting live events
What should you do before you go live with your bulletin?
Take a rest to recharge your batteries
Rehearse the bulletin and check that all the equipment you are using is working
Have a cup of tea
2.) Reporting live events
How should you prepare for commentating on your school's sports day?
Research the event, the sports and the people taking part in the event
Arrive just before the event starts
Choose a commentator you like and learn how to impersonate them
3.) Reporting 2012
How many days will the Olympic Torch relay take to travel from Land's End to the Olympic Stadium in London?
4.) Reporting 2012
The Queen is visiting your school but she hasn't arrived yet. You're reporting live for the school website. You should...
Post an update saying she hasn't arrived then have a cup of tea.
Talk to people waiting to meet her.
Chat to your friends while you wait,
5.) Reporting live events
Live updates on your website should be...
Posted every 15 minutes
Short and snappy updates
6.) Reporting live events
You are editing a live events page covering your school football tournament. What should you do?
Wait and see what happens on the day.
Think about the things you want to include on the page.
Write lots of content ahead of time so you don't have to do much on the day.
7.) Reporting live events
School Reporters are at your school's football tournament. How do you get their updates onto your live events web page?
Ask one reporter to bring messages to you.
Ask your teacher to bring notes from the reporters to you
Ask them to send text messages to you.
You should rehearse the bulletin and check that all the equipment you are using is working. While it may be tempting to have a rest or a cup of the tea, there's still plenty to do. Run through the bulletin and check your equipment to avoid mistakes during the live programme.
Research the event, the sport and the people taking part in the event. It's important to be fully prepared so you can tell your audience the most interesting and have some ideas for good questions to ask. Get there early so you have a good spot to watch the action. It's great to learn from other commentators but remember to be yourself!
It will take 70 days. The torch will be carried by 8,000 people on its way round the UK, Guernsey and Jersey. It will reach the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday 27 July 2012.
Why not talk to the people who are waiting to meet her and find out how they feel about her visit? What seems like a frustrating wait can actually be a great opportunity! Maybe one of them went to her coronation.You might find a great story or some fantastic quotes.
They should be short and snappy updates. Keep your audience interested by posting little and often. Don't hold back information if you know it's accurate and useful!
You should think about the things you want to include on the page ahead of time. That way, you'll be able to make sure you're covering all the angles of the story.
Asking reporters to send text message updates is a great way to update your live events page. But remember to ask your headteacher if you're allowed to use phones in school. If you have to pay for your text messages, you might need to find another way of sending updates.
0 - 3 : Keep working at it
4 - 5 : Good but could be better
6 - 7 : Well done!
NOTE FOR TEACHERS
The online test gives you the answers at the end of every question. If you are using the quiz worksheet, the answers can be found here:
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.