Program Details
The USA BMX, the sanctioning body of bicycle motocross
(BMX) racing in North America along with the USA
BMX Foundation, is offering a first of its kind curriculum
combining Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
with a strong physical fitness element mixed with the
right amount of fun.
THE TRACK MODELING PROGRAM
Created exclusively for 4th graders, the Track Modeling Program is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and uses the Three-Dimensional Learning Model framework. Through science and engineering practices, cross-cutting concepts and disciplinary core ideas, students have an opportunity to conceptualize, design and build a scale BMX track.
This STEAM program is designed to cover one weeks worth of material, or 25+ hours of classroom time. The USA BMX Foundation provides all materials needed, including classroom curriculum for teachers. The program is truly turn-key.
The Track Modeling program is one of several resources available through the USA BMX Foundation. For a complete listing, visit www.usabmxfoundation.org.
ABOUT USA BMX AND USA BMX FOUNDATION
The inclusion of BMX racing into the Olympic Games in 2008 has catapulted the popularity of the sport to new levels. Each year, USA BMX sanctions over 14,000 races at 320 BMX member tracks, serving tens of thousands of youth and families annually. The USA BMX Foundation, the non-profit arm of USA BMX, provides STEM and STEAM educational resources for youth and teaching professionals as well as college scholarships for USA BMX members and track volunteers. The BMX STEM program is proudly supported by Mongoose, an international cycling brand and leader in the sport of BMX since 1974
USA BMX TRACKING MODELING PROGRAM
Students start by reviewing still images and video of different tracks from around the world to fuel ideas and creativity before they create sketches of their own track vision. Next, they Skype with an Elite Level Pro BMX Rider to ask questions to help shape their concepts. From there, students form teams where they share their individual ideas in an effort to come up with a collaborative team-designed track. Still in their groups, they formulate questions to submit to a BMX track builder.
Working from the track builders responses, teams start to finalize their designs by the end of day two. On day three, they take a field trip to a local BMX track where they walk the facility, take a tour of the inner workings of the business, ride the track and gain a first-person perspective of the track. Back in the classroom, they work with different types of soil mixtures to create the ideal track dirt with a heavy focus on earth sciences.
On the final two days, they compile their experiences and form project roles and responsibilities to engineer a scale model of their track blueprint complete with turns, berms, and jumps.
Students take pride in showcasing their vision and creativity while learning about various career opportunities at the intersection of engineering, architecture, construction, and sport.
As part of the culminating event, students work is put on display and evaluated by a community panel. USA BMX Foundation provides all participants awards, along with trophies for the top categories.
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