Background

Skateboarding is a sport that combines the elements of street culture, mobility, and artistic expression, while also promoting health and well-being. Having originated in California, USA, skateboarding quickly gained popularity across the globe and is now recognized as an Olympic sport, and is also a key element in understanding the dynamics of occupation of urban space, since skateboarders are always challenging the physical and symbolic barriers within cities, generating new meanings and uses for these spaces.

More than just a leisure or competitive activity, skateboarding has the power to shape identities, create communities, and influence popular culture. In Brazil, skateboarding plays an important role in the building of an independent and engaged youth culture. By practicing skateboarding, young people construct a sense of belonging, resist marginalization and fight for their rights, such as the right to the city.

Introduction

A skateboard is a wooden board with four wheels under it, and is powered by human force. The skill of maneuvering a skateboard, whether for recreational use or competition, relies on precision balance and motor coordination. Over time, several skateboarding modalidades (modalities) have developed, like "street skateboarding", which involves practicing maneuvers in the middle of urban obstacles, and "vert skateboarding," which combines speed and aerial maneuvers in vertical ramps.

Mastering skateboarding involves learning not just its physical techniques, but also understanding the cultural and social elements that surround it. This includes knowledge of the different modalities, the rules of competitions, the brands and styles associated with skateboarding, as well as the history of the sport and its main icons.

Going beyond its physical practice, skateboarding involves a set of values and attitudes, such as perseverance in the face of failure, respect for the environment, and solidarity with other skateboarders. Therefore, learning about skateboarding is also an opportunity to reflect on important questions of citizenship, culture, and identity.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Skate On: A Cultural and Physical Exploration"

Project Aim

The aim of this project is to enable students to have a broader understanding of skateboarding culture, its modalities and techniques, and the influence that it exerts on contemporary culture. Through practical activities, students will have the opportunity to learn not just the skateboarding physical skills, but also teamwork, time management, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

Detailed Project Description

Part 1: Research and Presentation (Duration: 3 hours)

Each group of students is to research a specific skateboarding element, which can be the history of the sport, a famous skateboarder, an influential skateboarding brand, a skateboarding technique, a skateboarding competition, or a famous skateboarding spot. Each group presents their research findings to the class in a 10-15 minutes presentation.

Part 2: Skateboarding Practice (Duration: 5 hours)

Each group of students is to watch online tutorials and practice basic skateboarding maneuvers. They are to record their progress on video.

Part 3: Skate Event Project (Duration: 2 hours)

Each group of students is to plan a fictitious skateboarding event, by choosing a location, creating an activity schedule, and devising a risk management plan.

Materials Required

1. Computers with internet access
2. Skateboard (if possible, each student should have one)
3. Video camera to record student progress
4. Office equipment for event project

Detailed Step-by-step

Part 1: Research and Presentation

1. Each group chooses a research theme related to skateboarding.
2. All group members collaborate in researching the theme.
3. The group creates an informative presentation to share their learning with the class.

Part 2: Skateboarding Practice

1. Students watch online tutorials to learn basic skateboarding maneuvers.
2. They practice the maneuvers and record their progress on video.
3. Students reflect on what they learnt during practice and discuss as a group.

Part 3: Skate Event Project

1. Each group plans a skateboarding event for their school community.
2. The event should include activities that are specifically planned for the safety of the participants.
3. The group presents their event to the class, discussing the location, planned activities, and risk management plan.

Project Deliverables

At the conclusion of the practical component of this project, students are to work in their groups to produce a final report. The report should include:

1. Introduction: In this section, students provide background information on their chosen theme, its real-world relevance and application, and the purpose of their project. They report on what they learnt during their research and how it helped them develop a better understanding of the world of skateboarding.

2. Development: Students provide the theory behind the main theme of their project, explain the practical activity in detail, indicate the methodology used and, finally, present and discuss the results obtained. Here, they include an analysis of their skateboarding practice videos and a discussion of their skate event planning, including decisions made and challenges encountered.

3. Conclusion: Students conclude the work by restating their main points, highlighting what they have learnt and the conclusions they have drawn from the project. They reflect on their experience learning about skateboarding and planning their event, what they have gained in terms of teamwork, time management, problem-solving and creative thinking skills, and how they plan to apply this learning in the future.

4. Bibliography: Students list the sources they have consulted to work on the project, such as books, web pages, videos, etc. This should include not just the sources used for their research, but also the skateboarding tutorials watched and any other relevant sources.