Helmets Save Lives: Thinking Beyond

Analysis: What are some of the problems of encouraging children to wear cycling helmets?

Some children don’t listen, and some children copy other riders who might not wear helmets. They are influenced by older children who do not wear helmets. They persuade their parents that they will be fine without a helmet and they don’t need one.

Synthesis: Create a new sport or game which would require the use of bicycles.

Bike Croquet, in this game you must have a helmet to play and a bike. You will also need a croquet set, to play you have to ride your bike and then hit the ball trying to aim it through the hole.

Evaluation: Whose responsibility do you think it should be to ensure that an eight year old child wears a cycling helmet every time he or she gets on the bike?

Parents should always make sure that children wear helmets, or older brothers and sisters.

Pumping Pedals

“ Pumping Pedals” by Maggie Lilleby

SJ Part 4 Number 3 2004

1. Recall

Give a brief summary of the story.

This story is about Sally Davies how she competed in a BMX competition, she has only been racing for a few months but she already loves the sport. When she started out, Sally was helped by an experienced rider who coached her the basics.

2. Infer

What kind of a person is Sally Davies? Tell why you think this.

I think Sally Davies is a very outgoing person, even though she just started riding she was still eager to compete.

3. Evaluate

Explain why you think the author entitled the story as “Pumping Pedals”

I think that the Author named it “Pumping the Pedals” because that is a method that the racers use.

4. Think about it

Why do you think Sally would like to attract more girls to the sport of BMX racing?

I think because she has to race with boys and she would to race with girls for a change.

5. Recall

How are the bikes designed and what are they made of?

The bikes are specially designed for the sport. Top models are made of light-weight aluminium, titanium, or carbon fibre. They’re smaller than mountain bikes, with a very low saddle, so you have to stand all the time while racing. They have small wheels with thick, chunky tyres. The bikes have only one gear, so a rider’s legs spin round really fast, and there’s only one brake (at the back).

6. Think about it.

Why did Sally groan as she remembered her first racing bike?

Sally groaned at the memory because “It was a freestyle bike and so heavy, with huge tyres.”

7. Please explain the racing technique called “pumping” and why it might be important?

Sally describes a technique called “pumping”, where riders use gravity to help them go faster.

8. Do you think BMX racing is a dangerous sport. Tell why or why not you think this.

I do think that BMX racing is dangerous because you could crash into each other and get injured.

9. Synthesize

Please tell what you liked most about the story and why or why not you would like to be a BMX racer.

I really like that she still races even races even though she has to race with boys.

10. Design a flyer to attract and introduce new riders to the sport. Be sure to tell when and where it meets and what equipment is required. When you are finished please upload to your blog.

Monster Trucks Activities

Why are monster trucks awesome?

Because; they are massive, they are able to destroy cars.

What is Bigfoot?

Bigfoot is an american Monster truck.

What happens at a monster truck competition?

At a monster truck competition the competitors smash and break cars and whoever destroys it the most (i think) win.

How many monster trucks are in New Zealand?

New Zealand only have one monster truck..

What is the name of the monster truck in New Zealand?

The name of New Zealand’s monster truck is Kiwi Thunder

Explain what the driver does in a monster truck competition

First the driver gets into the Truck. They both start their engines and they try to see how many cars they can crush, which have been supplied by a local car wrecker.

Research what type and size of tyres monster trucks use

Tires: Manufactured by Goodyear and Firestone, monster truck tires must be 66

inches high and 43 inches wide. The average monster truck team will go through eight tires in one year. Tires are customized and hand cut to accommodate track conditions. Cutting one tire takes approximately 50 hours.

Monster Truck Competion Poster

Today I made a poster about Monster Competition (just to let you know I made it up sorry but it was one the   activities i had). I really toke my time so it would look nice I think it is alright.

"Basket Boats"

1. Where is the story set?

Answer:The story takes place in a fishing village called Qui Nhon on the southern coast of Vietnam.

2. Who is the main character in the story?

Answer:The main character in the story is Thanh.

3. What is the story about?

Answer:The story is about how men in Quin Nhon build their basket boats and how Thanh and his friends want to become fishermens like their father.

4. What is a basket boat? What is its' proper name?

Answer:A basket boat is like a boat but smaller. The proper name for it is Thung Chai.

5. What is a basket boat useful?

Answer:A basket boat is useful to fishing for men. Fishermen would cast nets over the side of the thung chai or lower crab traps into the sea from them.

6. How is a thung chai made?

Answer:The thung chai is made starting with cutting long poles of green bamboo from the forest. Then they scrape off the outer skin and then slice the poles into thin slats. To make the bamboo easier to weave, they soak the slats in water. As the men weave, they stretch the bamboo slats over a basket-shaped mould. In the centre, the weaving is pulled very tight to give the boat its round shape. A thung chai is built without nails. To hold the weaving together, thicker pieces of bamboo are wrapped around the rim and lashed on with strong fishing line.

7. Why is a thung chai handy? What are some of its' uses?

Answer:A thung chai is handy because in the morning the men would cast nets over the side of thing chai or lower crab traps into the sea from them.

8. How many seats are in a thung chai?

Answer:In a thung chai there are no seats.

9. Explain how safe a thung chai is?

Answer:The thung chai is safe because of how it was made. It was made with strong bamboo sticks, they scraped the outside of the bamboo carefully, and they soaked it with concentrated.

10. Make a short film of yourself while you briefly summarize the story. Describe what you think about thung chai and why. please upload to your blog.

In a small village there lived a little called Thanh that always dreamed of becoming a fishermen just like his father when he grows up. Especially his friends, they all want the same thing .