These skates were worn by Phil Verchota (number 27), a member of the underdog 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that astounded the world by capturing the Gold Medal at Lake Placid, New York. While it was the win against the Finns that cinched the Gold, the defeat of the Soviet team in the semifinals — known as the “miracle on ice” — captured the hearts and imaginations of Americans during a time of cold war tensions.

Use this Investigation Sheet to guide students through describing the object and analyzing its meaning.