Lesson plan Tawharanui MTB

Lesson Aim
TointroducestudentstoMTBandtheskills
involved.
ToexploreTawharanuiRegionalParkandits
environment.

Personal Objectives
Myobjectivesformyprofessionaldevelopmentare:
(Eachteammembersetstheirown)

Lesson Objectives
Developanunderstandingofgears,braking,
climbing,descending,balance,fixingproblems.

MaoriWordstouse
NukuMatau=toturnright
NukuMaui=toturnleft
Akoranga=lesson
Korerorero=discussion
Arotakenga=review/debrief

Equipment and resources required

10x Mountain Bikes
10x Helmets
First Aid kit
Cellphone
Water
Whistle
Map
Spare parts Quick links, tubes
Tools Allen keys, tyre levers, spanners, tyre pump, chin lube and rag, etc

Lesson Preparations:
Check weather report 30 mins before each session so we can choose an appropriate track to take.
Check bikes over - tyres should be pumped up to 35psi, gears working well, handle bars straight, etc
When students arrive at meeting point check that they have all equipment necessary water bottles, covered over
shoes, raincoat, snacks, and sunblocked up.
As students are first practicing on the bikes, judge their ability and together with the weather report decide on the
appropriate track route to take.
Route 1 When weather is good, warm, no rain, winds are not too strong. Students ability is intermediate
to advance.
Route 2 When weather is good, warm, winds are not too strong, rain has made ground slippery. Students
ability is beginner to advance.
Route 3 When weather is poor, cold, winds are high, ground is slippery. Students ability is beginner to
advance.

Lesson Flow
Time

Activity

Teaching Points

1.Introductory Activities

Ice Breaker
1. Great wind blows!
All students are sitting in a circle, behind a
helmet. One person is in the middle of the
circle and calls out the great wind blows for
everyone who a fact is shared about the
person, and those who also share this fact
have to get up and move to another place in
the circle.
Eg the great wind blows for everyone who
has been to 3 countries or more Etc
2. Icebreaker Questions!
This is where students and teachers are asked
fun and non-threating questions to help them
feel more part of a team. It helps them
express their personality or share interesting
facts about them.
Eg If you could have an endless supply of
food, what would you get?
If you were an animal what would it be and
why? Etc

Fitting of helmets.
Making sure that they fit right. Sitting
correctly. Covering full head and they are
tight.
Fitting of bikes. Making sure they are
properly sized, seat adjusted at the right
height.

There is one person left without a spot

who then stays in the middle and
makes another statement.

You could get students to think of

some questions to ask to involve them
more.
See list of questions below.

Helmets are adjusted correctly at the

back with the dial. Strap under chin
cannot be pulled over chin when
clipped up. Forehead is covered.

Bikes are ready to go. Wheels pumped

up.

2. Content Development
- Share experience of mountain
1)
2)
3)

4)
5)

6)

biking/knowledge.
- Safety Briefing
Helmets once fitted they stay on your head.
Getting split from the group stay where you are.
Do not try to find your way back to camp in case
of injury or go the wrong way.
Injuries/medication We have first aid kits. Make
sure we are aware of any previous
injuries/medications that you have to carry with
you.
Appropriate clothing Covered shoes, water,
raincoat.
Distance between riders As a general rule (esp.
when descending) riders should stay 4 bike
lengths away from each other allowing for
enough time to stop if needed.
Others using the tracks In case of public using
the trails we stick left and warn others behind us.

Sitting back in a group briefing the

students. Making sure they have all the
appropriate clothing and equipment.

Practice ride around end of camp explaining

how to brake and turn and use of gears.

Allows us to gauge the students ability

and choose what track we take them
on. Left hand (rear) brake is
predominately used. Right hand (front)
brake is also used on steeper sections
(70% rear/30% front). Right hand
gears are used predominately. Thumb
lever makes gears easier (for uphill)
and finger lever makes gears harder
(for downhill). Change gears one at a
time and always while pedalling.

Brief discussion on ascending the hills.

Stay seated as long as possible to keep

weight on rear wheel for grip. Get into
appropriate gear before starting the
climb to save gears dropping/braking.
The higher the seat the easier it is.

Ride the first part of the trail. Over the hill to

Anchor bay and up the first part of North
Coast Track. Stopping after the first gate.

Scenario You have had a flat tyre. In pairs

you need to remove the tyre from the bike and
put it back on. For this scenario you do not
need to fix the actual tyre, only remove and
replace.

We will demonstrate to the students

first so they have an idea.
To remove: Turn bike upside down
Release rear axle lever and loosen both
ends.
Pull derailleur back and lift wheel
vertically up and lift chain off.
To replace: Lift top chain up and put
cogs in between.
Pull derailleur back and slot axle into

frame making sure the disc brake fits

into the brake calliper.
Tighten both ends of axle and push
lever shut ensuring it is tight.
Turn pedals so the gears shift into the
original gear.

Ride to the next stopping point. From top of

first hill on North Coast track to intersection
of North Coast track and Tokatu Point track.

Descending lesson practice at intersection

of North Coast and Tokatu Point track.
Discuss the trail ahead so the students know
what is coming.

Ride into Tokatu Point track turning left at the

first intersection.

At the lookout stop for a rest and read a story

about the history MTB.

Continue riding around Tokatu Loop track

and back out to North Coast track.

Descend back to camp down North Coast

track to Anchor Bay.

Have a debrief at Anchor Bay before riding

back to camp via West End trail.
Choose one of the debrief options.

Have a rest half way up if needed.

Provide a mini lesson on descending a

hill. Main points are :
Stand up on pedals
Keep pedals horizontal.
Look 10m ahead, not at wheel.
Use both brakes (70% rear, 30% front)
Keep weight back by pointing bottom
over seat.
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FEET ON
THE PEDALS
Lean into hill when traversing.

Use the story provided.

Snapshot:Allstudentsaretogatherin
agroupandthinkaboutthesession
theyhavejustcompleted.Explainto
thestudentsthattheyaregoingto
createalivingsnapshotoftheir
session.Onepersonstartsoffthe
snapshotandothersjoinintobuildthe
shot,untileveryoneisinafreeze
frame.Arealphotocanthenbetaken.
Afterthis,eachstudentgetstimeto
answerthesequestions..

Whatactiondidyoudoandwhy?

Howcouldthissessionhavebeen
improved?

Whatdidyougain/learnfromthis
session?

Drawit:Studentsaregiventimeto
thinkwhattheylearnt/gotoutofthis
session.Theyarethenabletodrawthis
inanyshapeorformonthesandusing
theresourcesaroundthem.Each
studentthenhastheopportunityto
sharehisorherdrawing.Theycan
shareinformationaboutwhatthegroup
orwhattheypersonallyaccomplished,
howtheyparticipatedorsteppedoutof
theircomfortzoneetc.Thedrawingis
apersonalreflectiononhowtheyfeel
afterthesessionandistheirown
interpretation.Thistypeofdebriefwill
allowforvariousanswersaseach
personwouldhaveinterpretedthe
sessiondifferently.Whenall
participantshavehadachanceto
share,facilitateareflectiondiscussion
aroundtheparticipantscomments.

TrailMap
Route1

Route2

Route3

IceBreakerQuestions
1. Ifyoucouldhaveanendlesssupplyofanyfood,whatwouldyouget?
2. Ifyouwereananimal,whatwouldyoubeandwhy?
3. Whatisonegoalyouwouldliketoaccomplishduringyourlifetime?
4. Whenyouwerelittle,whowasyourfavouritesuperheroandwhy?
5. Whoisyourhero?(aparent,celebrity,aninfluentialpersoninoneslife)
6. Whatsyourfavouritethingtodoinsummer?
7. Iftheymadeamovieofyourlife,whatwoulditbeaboutandwhichactorwouldyouwantto
playyou?
8. Ifyouwereaniceflavour,whichonewouldyoubeandwhy?
9. Whatsyourfavouritecartooncharacterandwhy?
10. Ifyoucouldvisitanyplaceintheworldwherewouldyougoandwhy?
11. Whatstheidealdreamjobforyou?
12. Areyouamorningornightperson?
13. Whatareyourfavouritehobbies?
14. Whatareyourpetpeevesorinterestingthingsaboutyouthatyoudislike?
15. Whatstheweirdestthingyouveevereaten?
16. Nameoneofyourfavouritethingsaboutsomeoneinyourfamily.
17. Tellusaboutauniqueorquirkyhabitofyours.
18. Ifyouhadtodescribeyourselfinthreewords,whatwoulditbe?
19. Ifsomeonemadeamovieofyourlifewoulditbeadrama,acomedy,aromanticcomedy,an
actionfilm,orsciencefiction?
20. Ifyoucouldbeanybodybesidesyourself,whowoulditbe?

TheHistoryoftheWheel

In todays world, technology is developing at an unprecedented rate. The latest gadget today is tomorrows
antique. As a result of this rapid development of technology, we often take things for granted. One of these is the
wheel. Take a look around, and you will see wheels everywhere, be it as tyres, or in everyday machinery. One
may be tempted to think that the wheel is just a humble or even primitive invention compared to some of the
fancy gadgets that we have today.
Nevertheless, the wheel was actually invented at a relatively late point of human history. The oldest known
wheel found in an archaeological excavation is from Mesopotamia, and dates to around 3500 BC. This period
was known as the Bronze Age, which is a relatively late chapter in the story of the development of human
civilisation. By this time, human beings were already planting crops, herding domesticated animals, and had
some form of social hierarchy.
One of the reasons why the wheel was invented only at this point in history is due to the fact that metal tools
were needed to chisel fine-fitted holes and axles. The wheel-axle concept was a stroke of genius, but making it
was a challenge. The ends of the axle, as well as the holes in the centre of the wheels had to be nearly perfectly
smooth and round. Failing to achieve this would result in too much friction between these components, and the
wheel would not turn. Although the axle had to fit snugly in the holes of the wheels, they had to have enough
room to allow them to rotate freely. Given the complexity of the wheel-axle combination, it may be unsurprising
that the wheel was not initially invented for transportation purposes. Instead, it has been claimed that wheels
were first used by potters. It seems the 5,500-year-old wheel for Mesopotamia was a potters wheel. It seems that
the use of wheels for transportation only happened around 300 years later.