NOT BORED WITH MY SURF BOARD
GRADE LEVEL(S) 9-12
LESSON OBJECTIVE
Students will research and creatively present their knowledge of surfing/surfboards/surfing
culture in the United States. Students will be given the opportunity to surf in the ocean and
appreciate the rich history of surfing and the surfboard.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR KNOWLEDGE NEEDED










Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools K-12
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/surfboard/
http://learnsurfschool.com/surf-lesson-1-knowing-your-surfboard/
http://learnsurfschool.com/tag/surfboard/
http://isurfsite.com/history-of-surfboards/
http://surfingsafari.wordpress.com/about/
The History of Surfing—Matt Warshaw, 2010
“Come on a Surfari with me…” Rusty’s Surf Ranch exhibit info thanks to Cary Weiss
and Jerry Pierce
1959 film “Gidget”, Columbia Pictures
Surf Music
EDUCATION STANDARDS
From Common Core Content Standards
Reading for literacy in history/social studies 6-12 and integration of knowledge and
ideas and
Writing Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 612
Standard 2: Write informative/explanatory texts, including narration of historical events.
b. Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts,
extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples
appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.
Standard 6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update
individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new
arguments or information.
Standard 8: Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources,
using advanced searches effectively…avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one
source.
From CA Physical Education Standards framework for High School Course 4C:
Standard 1: Students demonstrate knowledge of and competency in motor skills, movement
patterns, and strategies needed to perform a variety of physical activities
1.1: Demonstrate expertise in two or more of the individual and dual activities,
preferably one from each category: Surfing is in individual category
1.4 Practice individual and dual activities in real-world settings
MATERIALS NEEDED
Students can use resources used for background knowledge.
MOTIVATION

Use of powerpoint created by team from Universities of California at Irvine, Los
Angeles, and Santa Barbara, and USC
http://surfingsafari.wordpress.com/about/surfing-safari-powerpoint-with-media-3/


Clip from 1959 film “Gidget”
Project culminates with surfing in the Pacific Ocean and a trip to the Santa Monica
Pier and Rusty’s Surf Ranch
DIRECT INSTRUCTION
Lesson, as is, intended for 9th-12th grade levels. It is a multi-day project based lesson.
1. Teacher hands out iSURFSITE.com’s “History of Surfing” and of “Surfboards”.
Students given time to read.
2. Students given time in pairs to share their knowledge of anything pertaining to
surfing. Time to share out personal surfing experiences.
3. Teacher shows a clip of film Gidget and plays some surf music.
4. Class views “surfingsafari” powerpoint.
5. The intent of steps 1-4 is to give students an overview to spark interest in choosing a
focus of study and research based on surfing.
6. Students choose from one of the two topics and present their information using
written report along with computer and/or video technology:
o History of Surfing including a profile of surfing culture past and present
o History of the Surf board including techniques in surfing
GROUP/INDEPENDENT WORK



Individual researching and writing
Small groups come together to put technology component of project together
Peer edits of writing and group critique of presentation
MODIFICATION(S)

Small group reading and writing rather than solo

Submit parts of the project at benchmarked times for feedback along the way
ASSESSMENT/WRAP UP
Oral presentation and exhibition of surfing skills in the ocean.
Each student writes a 1page editorial/review on the history and surfing techniques learnt
using RAFT.
isurfsite.com
_________________________________________________________________________
History of Surfing
Unbeknown to many – especially the “recreational surfer,” surfing has been around longer than
most any other sport in history. Stories of Hawaiian men on boards in the water riding waves date
as far back as the mid-to-late 1700’s.
One of the most notable early stories was that of English Lt. James King. Lt. King was the
commander of the ship Discovery. In one of his journal entries he clearly writes about the sport of
surfing. If the earliest recorded writing on the sport was pushing 250 years ago, then there is really
no telling how long surfing has actually been around. The main reason for this is because there is no
“certain” timeline regarding the history and movement of the Polynesians.
Many historians have labeled surfing as “the sport of kings.” Most early writings noted that the
Polynesian Chiefs would demonstrate their power and mastery by their skill in the surf. Conversely,
most commoners were judged by what they could or could not accomplish in the ocean. Surfing
has always been an important part of Hawaiian culture. It is layered into everything Hawaii;
including religion, society standard and myth of the islands. Think of it this way. Baseball is
considered the national pastime in America. This is what Surfing was – and still is, to Hawaii.
By the time Captain Cook set foot in the Hawaiian Islands surfing was already wildly popular and
rooted within the Hawaiian culture. So much so that there were many legendary surfing stories told
by the Kahunas, as well as noted surfing incidents that the Kahunas regarded as very important. A
Kahuna (expert) would even bless new surfboards with chants. They would use other chants to
bring surf to the islands, as well as give courage to the men and women who were fearless enough
to challenge the mighty waves.
Since the Hawaiians had no written language before the arrival of the haole (white skinned people),
most of their legends and stories were integrated through song and chants. Many of these ancient
songs and chants tell stories of love being won and lost within the waves. Surfing was as important
as any other part of Hawaiian life back in those times.
Many notable Hawaiian Chiefs, including Kamehameha I were vey skilled surfers. The Ali’i (chief,
royalty) were able to prove their power and strength by their abilities in the big waves. Once a
Chief was on a wave, no commoner would dare drop in on the same wave for fear of extreme
punishment. There were codes and standards in surfing back then that still ring true today!
Surfing remained a staple in the Hawaiian Islands, but as years passed it began to fade. By the late
1800’s surfing – along with most other Hawaiian customs, began to fade. This was due to the fact
that the haole had tried to take control over everything Hawaiian. According to the haole nothing
was off limits. Hawaiian Gods, culture, customs, land and lives were all things that the haoles were
trying to either change or completely strip from the Hawaiians. At that point in history there were
only about 40,000 Hawaiians left. Surfing was at this point put on a back burner, as the Hawaiians
struggled for survival.
By the turn of the century surfing had almost entirely disappeared in the islands. While you could
still catch surfers scattered around local beaches, it was a far cry from what once had been a
national pastime. This however was about to change.
In 1907 a world-renowned author named Jack London came to Hawaii and met local surfer – and
popular beach boy, George Freeth. Freeth was a 23-year old Irish/Hawaiian who was also a master
waterman. London and Freeth formed a friendship that would ultimately help bring surfing back to
popularity. They both had a love for surfing. London proceeded to write “A Royal Sport: Surfing in
Waikiki.” The story was published several times in several different publications. Surfing was well
on its way to becoming what it once was.
By 1912 surfing had regained a following. It had also regained some popularity, not only in Hawaii
but also around the rest of the world. This was in part due to the writing and exploitations of
London and Freeth. Now it was time for arguably the most famous surfer and waterman in history
to come into play. Enter Duke Paoa Kahanamoku.
Duke Kahanamoku was already a famous surfer and swimmer when he began to gain even more
popularity around the world. Duke is credited with developing the flutter kick in freestyle
swimming. This motion replaced the scissor kick and is still used today. Of his many
accomplishments, Duke was also a three-time world record holder in the 100-meter freestyle. He
was blessed with talent and gifts beyond belief. In 1912 when Duke passed through Corona,
California on his way to the Olympics he put on some surfing demonstrations. His demonstrations
are now world famous and were the talk of the surfing world at that time.
Surfing continued to grow – albeit slowly, over the next 40-50 years. It has come such a long way
from the early days of the Ali’i. While many may say surfing has changed, I believe it has stayed true
to form. There are many styles of surfing now i.e. big wave riding, longboarding, etc, but the
concept remains the same. The ”sport of kings” has now grown into an international phenomenon
and has a following of millions.
In the days of the early Hawaiians surfing was used to show stature, grace and power. Life and love
were lost and gained. It was a competition then and it remains a competition today. The only
difference is that in today’s society we surf for money, the Hawaiians surfed for life and love.
isurfsite.com
_________________________________________________________________________
History of Surfboards
The invention of the surfboard dates back longer than most people think. James Cook and his
claims of the surfboard first date around 1779.
Many people believe that the Hawaiians actually invented the first stand-up surfboard around
1000 B.C. Papa he‘e nalu or surfboards didn’t have steering fins back then. The noses of the boards
were round, and the tails of the boards were square. These first surfboards were made from a big
piece of koa wood, or from the wili wili tree and ranged from a few feet up to 16 feet long. The
concept of a surfboard has remained the same, but the style and evolution of the surfboard has
changed drastically over the years.
Lets take a look at the history and evolution of the surfboard.
The First Surfboard
While we have already stated that the surfboard dates back to around 1000 B.C., the oldest
surfboard still in existence dates to around 1778-1779. You can find it on display at The Bishop
Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii. The board was ridden by Hawaiian Royalty.
Early On
At the turn of the 20th Century surfboards were still very bulky and heavy. At this point in time the
boards were being made out of redwood. Redwood was a tad lighter, but still very heavy. In the
1920’s designers started making the boards with balsa wood. Balsa wood was much lighter and
was more readily available. This point in time was also when surfboards began to get smaller. They
were still pretty long, but the heights and weights of the boards were cut down drastically.
Hollow Surfboards are Invented
In 1926, a man named Tom Blake decided to lighten his surfboard. Tom Blake was one of the most
influential figures in the history of surfing. He was also a national swimming champion, inventor,
author and actor. To achieve a lighter board, Blake drilled several holes into his heavy redwood
surfboard. He then covered all the holes by adding a thin layer of wood over the entire board. This
produced a much faster and lighter board. By 1930 this design was being mass-produced.
The Fin
Surprisingly enough, it took someone all the way up to 1935 to realize that a surfboard could be
steered and stabilized by adding a fin. The same Tom Blake who hollowed out surfboard to make
them lighter also created the “fixed fin.” He added this fin to the tail of his surfboard. The fin kept
the board from sliding around in the waves and also added more maneuverability. In most surfing
circles this is considered to be one of the most influential discoveries in the history of the
surfboard.
The Introduction of Lightweight Fiberglass and Polyurethane Foam
By 1940 manufacturers could readily gain access to fiberglass. Surfboard designers understood that
fiberglass would immediately make the surfboard lighter, and also make it waterproof. Thus the
fiberglass surfboard was born. They eventually developed the fiberglass board that had a core of
balsa and a seal of fiberglass.
In 1950 polyurethane foam replaced the balsa wood cores of a surfboard. This not only allowed
surfboards to float better, but it also allowed for quicker manufacturing.
Surfboard Length and Design Experimentation
Throughout the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s surfboards went through several different design and length
changes. Fiberglass and polyurethane foam held strong as the components that made up a
surfboard. Length changes were made, as surfboards continued to get shorter and shorter. Many
boards even got as short as 6-feet. This length of surfboard allowed the surfer much more
maneuvering ability in the waves. The boards were also very light and very fast. There was still one
glaring problem with even the shorter boards. They were still hard to stabilize in the water. Enter
Mark Richards.
In the 1960’s Mark Richards came up with the idea to put another fin on the bottom tail end of a
surfboard. Realizing this would give a small board much more stability, it is exactly what he did.
The “twin fin” surfboard was invented and the rest is history.
Through the rest of the 60’s – and up until the 80’s, surfboards were constantly being redesigned
and shortened to allow for extra performance and speed in the water. Surfboards were also
getting re-designed and updated according to the type of surf an individual was seeking.
Thruster
The 80’s remained much like the 50’, 60’s and 70’s did with respect to surfboard design and
experimentation. One thing of note that came out in the early 80’s was the “thruster.” The thruster
was a three-fin system created by Australian surfer Simon Anderson. He added a single fin onto the
twin-fin system. This combined the benefits of both the single and twin-fin system. This system is
still used today.
Computers and Surfboards
By the 1990’s computer technology had taken off. Like everyone else, surfboard designers were
using it to their advantage. This technology allowed shapers and manufacturers to produce lighter
and thinner surfboards. This in turn allowed the surfer to do things not seen up until this point in
time. Maneuvers and tricks became insane. The technology was allowing riders to accomplish
things on the water that were previously not thought possible.
It was also in the 1990’s that surfboards called “quads” were introduced to the market. This type of
surfboard had four fins on its bottom and came in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
Clark Foam and Epoxy Surfboards
Epoxy surfboards actually started to appear in the 90’s. It wasn’t until 2005 though when Clark
foam shut down that epoxy surfboards really became popular. When Clark foam shut down there
was a severe shortage of PU foam and it forced surfboard makers to look around at other types of
foam.
Polystyrene foam was considered to be the best alternative. It was readily available and could be
shaped like PU foam. Shapers and manufacturers also discovered that once the polystyrene foam
was covered with epoxy resin, it created an even more durable and lighter surfboard than the
original PU foam could create.
Surfboards have come such a long way since the days of the early Hawaiian riders. What will be in
store next? With the advancement and availability of the technology we have today, there is no
telling what surfboard makers will be able to accomplish next. Maybe one day we will have a board
that doesn’t require paddling.
RAFT: Role/Audience/Format/Topic
What is it?
The RAFT strategy (Santa,1988) employs writing-to-learn activities to enhance understanding of
informational text. Instead of writing a traditional essay explaining a concept learner, students
demonstrate
their understanding in a nontraditional format. This technique encourages creative thinking and
motivates
students to reflect in unusual ways about concepts they have read. RAFT is an acronym that stands
for :




Role of the writer: What is the writer's role: reporter, observer, eyewitness, object, number,
etc.?
Audience: Who will be reading the writing: the teacher, other students, a parent, editor,
people in the community, etc.?
Format: What is the best way to present this writing: in a letter, an article, a report, a poem,
an advertisement, e-mail, etc.?
Topic: Who or what is the subject of this writing: a famous scientist, a prehistoric cave
dweller, a character from literature, a chemical element or physical object, etc.?
The RAFT strategy forces students to process information, rather than merely write out answers to
questions. Students are more motivated to undertake the writing assignment because it addresses
various learning styles.
How could it be used in instruction?
This writing-to-learn strategy engages students in explaining what they know about a topic and
elaborating on the topic in a fun way.
How to use it:
1. Think about the concepts or process that you want students to learn as they read a selected
passage.
Consider how writing in a fun way may enhance students' understanding of the topic.
2. Brainstorm possible roles students could assume in their writing.
3. Decide who the audience would be as well as the format for writing.
4. After students have finished reading, identify the role, audience, format and topic (RAFT) for the
writing. Assign the same role for all students, or let them choose from several different roles.
www.tantasqua.org/superintendent/profdevelopment/etraft.html
RAFT PAPER
Role of
Writer:
Audience:
Format:
Topic:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________