Open Road Skateboarding Curriculum and NY State Standards in Physical Education

Students understand and demonstrate movement concepts and principles in a variety of movement forms:

Skateboarding requires self awareness, balance and physical control. Students learn to walk, push, glide, skate
forward and backward, hop and jump (ollie), all of which demonstrate different movement concepts and
principles. Momentum, inertia, friction, slope, incline and other concepts are learned naturally while
skateboarding, in a fun, experiential and challenging atmosphere.

Students use interpersonal communication skills that respect differences and demonstrate responsible and
social behavior:

In Open Road skateboarding physical education classes students depend upon one another, learn from each
other, work on skills in a group and work independently. Students learn to respect one another's physical
capabilities and differences. Skateboarding as a group requires students to demonstrate responsible and social
behavior by respecting one another's physical space, learning not to skateboard into one another, enjoying the
achievements of others, and learning to assist one another in mastering the skills. In skateboarding culture when
a skateboarder falls in public others show respect. Students in the class quickly adopt this standard.

Students exhibit a physically active way of life and understand that physical activity provides opportunities
for enjoyment, challenge, self expression, stress reduction and employment:

By participating in Open Road skateboarding classes and being encouraged to skateboard on their own after
school, and at citywide skateboarding events with their families, students participate in a physically active way
of life. Skateboarding is naturally enjoyable and fun for children. Learning the sport is challenging, and by
increasing the skills learned, the skater is continually challenged to learn more. Skating encourages self-
expression by teaching the students at their own pace and allowing them to create their own choreography. The
physical and mental focus required to skate well, along with the sensation of freedom felt gliding, reduces
stress. The career and employment opportunities provided by skating are evident from the sponsorship
relationships associated with skateboarding events, and through exposure of students to skating instructors –
professionals who earn a living by skating and teaching the sport.

Students demonstrate competency in physical skills with proficiency in several:

Skateboarding requires competency in a variety of physical skills. At the conclusion of the school year, the
students are able to demonstrate competency in numerous physical skills on the skateboard, including standing,
pushing, gliding, skating forward and backward, balancing on one foot, hopping, jumping, turning forward and
backward, and navigating safely through the playground.

Students demonstrate safe and responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings:

In Open Road skateboarding classes, students learn and are able to demonstrate safe behavior while using a
skateboard. This includes the proper way to wear and care for the equipment, the safe way to fall and get up,
and how to distinguish between safe and unsafe skateboarding behavior. All of the skills learned will include
the proper and safe way to execute each maneuver, with discussion of the possible consequences of not
executing the maneuvers safely. Students learn safe ways to assist someone who has fallen, to avoid bumping
into other skateboarders, and to respectfully alert other skaters who may not be aware of their proximity.

This curriculum is registered under Creative Commons license 2011. You may download, modify, edit and share modifications. Only
non-commercial use and modifications are permitted, with attribution (including modifications) required. Credit: Open Road.