Date: 1994

Grade Level(s): 3

Subject(s):

• Health/Safety

A bike rodeo skills course should provide a fun and safe environment for a third grade class to learn various skills and practice them until they can ride with confidence and experience. This rodeo will consist of a driving course designed to simulate actual road conditions. It will be an effective way to help a class learn how to ride safely.

Goal:

Participate in a bicycle rodeo that will promote personal fitness, health and safety.

Objectives: Students will

1. Review proper behavior and how to be cooperative in order to avoid conflict by discussing and asking questions.

2. Discuss and ask questions of the importance for protecting the head.

3. Review the course layout.

4. Review traffic rules relevant to bicycling by discussing and asking questions.

Background Information:

Students will be divided up into groups of five. This event will be organized so there is as little waiting as possible. Each group will rotate through all the nine stations. At each station instructions will be given before the activity begins.

Concepts: Students will be able to:

1. Inspect each participant's bicycle in group.

2. Become aware of how much space is needed to move safely while riding together in a group.

3. Understand where to park a bike safely and legally.

4. Be aware of hazards associated with driveway ride-out and roadway entry.

5. Know rules that apply to safe intersection crossing.

6. Demonstrate proper and appropriate control of bike while looking to the rear.

7. Use proper signals, control the bike and move safely around objects.

8. Maintain proper control of bicycle by slowing and stopping.

9. Stop the bicycle safely within a prescribed distance and speed.

Materials:

50' tape measure or yard stick
chalk, tape or string for lines
stopwatch
traffic cones
score sheets and pencils
clipboard for volunteers
stop sign
cardboard box cutouts (trees, shrubs, other cars, etc.)
flattened can
bicycles - bring one they ride most often
helmets - must wear approved bicycle helmets

*Choose a site: Use a convenient playground, parking lot, or gymnasium for rodeo site. Once you have selected an appropriate spot, check whether you need permission to use the space. Be sure to block off any entering traffic during the event.  Your local police might help.

Procedure:

1. Station #1. Introduction/Inspection
   Students inspect each participant's bicycle, review the course layout.

2. Station #2. Moving in Space
   Have participants to begin moving within a circle, instruct them to stop and observe where others are positioned.

3. Station #3. Security, Parking and Licenses
   Introduce the importance of bike registration, discuss how to properly and legally park a bicycle, and display various locks used by bike riders.

4. Station #4. Driveway Ride-Out and Roadway Entry
   Discuss the proper way to enter a roadway.  Walk the students to the spot on the road where an approaching car would be visible in a real life situation.  Have students go to the driveway.

5. Station #5. Controlled Intersection
   The rider approaches the stop sign or light, makes the appropriate signal, and stops at the intersection. Stop sign, yield right of way, 4-way stop, or lighted intersection can be set up with volunteers using cardboard cars to replicate traffic situations.

6. Station #6. Scanning to the Rear
   Explain the proper way to scan to the rear while riding. The rider should assess the environment, cyclists will ride between narrow straight lines, volunteer calls out the rider's name, the rider looks to the rear and identifies by looking back at the volunteer.

7. Station #7. Object in Roadway
   In the Rock Dodge, the cyclist rides along the narrow station lines until the object on the road is seen. At this point the rider begins to scan to the rear and slow down.

8. Station #8. Blind Driveway Approach/Yield Signs
   Explain to the students what a blind driveway sign is as they ride toward the driveway, to be aware of the car approaching from the driveway. The bicyclist should maintain good control of the bike, scan, signal, slow down, yield to traffic on the right, and proceed through the intersection.

9. Station #9. Balance/Quick Stop
   Have students enter the orbit circle and circle it twice, after they exit they should weave through the cones, maintaining proper control and balance. The distance of straight line to the stop box should be long enough for the rider to gain speed and then quickly stop.

Assessment:

Each student will be given a score card. After each student completes a station the volunteers will either score a pass/needs improvement.