Track Modeling STEAM Program
Created Exclusively for 4th Graders
Our Track Modeling Program is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and uses the Three-Dimensional Learning Model framework. Through science and engineering practices, crosscutting 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 week's 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.
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.
Modular 5-day Schedule
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Day 1 - Project overview, brief history of tracks with provided handouts
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Day 2 - Dirt analysis, BMX rider Q & A, responses from track build department
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Day 3 - BMX track field trip, track visit worksheet, final design approval
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Day 4 - Review plan and layout, track build basics
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Day 5 - Finalize track build and beautification. Reflection worksheet. Judging final projects