A learning unit constructed by The Columbus Council on World Affairs for use at summer culture camps but transferable to
mainstream classroom use. We appreciate all feedback.
The Biking World
Age Group- 6-12
Number of Students: 40
Time Frame: 2 Hours
Learning Objectives:
A. Global Connection:
 Bike Polo-International competition ( station no.2)
 Tour de France ( obstacle course for the final station)
 Bike styles and uses around the world ( station no.1)
B. Other Learning Outcomes:
 Team building
 Awareness of different types and uses for bicycles around the world
 Drawing skills- flag making
 Science: elementary physics applied to style of bicycle wheels and land terrain
 Science: elementary physics applied to function of bicycle gear
 Health and Physical Education- applied to using a skateboard on an obstacle course
 Health and Physical Education – eye hand coordination and balance skills applied to
polo using a skateboard, ball, and "nerf" swat sticks.
Materials Needed:
A. Supplies to purchases
1. Student use ( consumable)
8 X 10 white paper for making flags to be worn on shirt
Safety pins- (Station 1)
2. Teacher Props
Station no.1Pictures of different bikes and flags (esp. India)
Station no.2Skateboards (2)
2 Nerf noodles folded and taped to form a loop
2 Small, soft balls
Tape,
4 Cones
Station no. 3
Pictures of:
 Thin (racing); grooved (mountain); balloon (comfort); hybrid (city use)
 Pictures of different terrain
 Pictures of different style bikes( samples offered)
 Bring one adult bike

Station no. 4
 Same 4 cones
 Stopwatch
 Boxes or other “junk’ barriers for the Tour de France obstacle courses
 Water balloons
 1 baskets or handled paper grocery bags
 2-3 skateboards ( if only 2 boards, one team must watch)
Procedures (including times for each activity):
Stations: Station no. 1-3 approximately 15 minutes each. Station no. 4 approx. 30 minutes
Station no. 1
A. Students will be shown pictures of various style of bikes used around the world. Students
will attempt to identify the function or use of each bike. Emphasis: India as a leader in the
World Cup of Bicycle Polo to be played in Station no. 2
Pictures of bikes around the world:
Answer: picture no 1 is an ambulance, no. 2 is a postal carrier, no. 3 is a “flying pigeon”( electric bike common in
China for commuters, and no. 4 is a small truck for carrying goods.
B. After the photo study, students will make their own flag to be worn on the back of their
shirt during the wheels polo match.
Station no. 2
1. Activity- Wheels Relay Polo –
Two 5 person teams will compete in a relay. Each team has one skateboard.
Courses will be designed using cones or boxes as props. Students will attempt to push a ball with
a nerf noodle around the obstacles. OR Have players shoot the balls into a marked area after
dismounting from skateboard. Players are told to dismount skateboard in a designated circle (no
“firing” of the board) to permit the next skater to take their position.
Station no. 3
Science of Wheels and Gears
 Students will be shown pictures or sample of 4 different style of bicycle wheels:
1 thin for racing
1 balloon for comfort
1 grooved for mountains
1 hybrid for city use (concrete)
Students are then led in a discussion of different kinds of terrain and which wheel for which
terrain.
Students will try and explain the reasons:
Balloon has air for shock absorption
Thin has less friction on the road. Easier to peddle because less drag.
Grooved grips the uneven ground.
Hybrid is easier than the mountain bike to pedal again because of less drag and less
fragile than the thin for city concrete and faster than the larger balloon tires.

Students will be shown a bike and asked to study the gears.
Teacher notes: Chains connect the pedals of a bicycle to the rear wheel to make the
wheel turn faster than the feet. The chains sit on gear wheels of various sizes. Gears
change how far the rear wheel will turn for every turn of the pedals. Lower gears (larger
gear wheel) make pedaling easier such as up a hill because when you are in a lower
gear, the wheel only turns a short distance for each rotation of the pedals. This way, the
force that you need to move a few centimeters forward on the road is spread over the
entire turn of the pedals, making it easier to concentrate a lot of force into a short
distance. To climb up a hill, the rear gear needs to be large so that the rear wheel turns
with less speed but more force. The reverse is turn for going downhill. Putting the chain
on the small gear wheel (higher gear) gives one more speed because the wheel will turn
faster due to more turns of the gear wheel.
Station no. 4
2. *Tour de France- 3 timed race courses- one skate board per person.
Show map of France and briefly explain the challenging geography of this timed race.
Design 3 courses.
Repeat the polo style obstacle course- players sit on skateboards instead.
Course no. 2, asks the skater to hold a basket with something (the noodles) in it.
Course no. 3 asks the skater to carry a water balloon (where? To be decided?
Three instructors will each be assigned a course. Teams will rotate and times will be totaled.
Winning team completes all 3 obstacle courses in the lowest amount of time.
Special thanks to Bobbie Mucha and Stephanie Calondis Geiger for development of this
lesson.