Kids' Science Challenge: Fun Educational Science Resources!



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Theme: Sports Science

Title: “Skateboard Design and Construction”

Overview: Riding a skateboard can be taken for granted. The technology and consideration of materials that have gone into making the final product has been substantial. All things have been considered: weight of materials, energy transfer, cost, material location, etc., to provide the best product for your money. This lesson will look into some of those considerations – why it was designed and how it was constructed. This lesson is about the anatomy of a skateboard.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subject Matter:

• Physics

• Engineering

• Science and Technology

Duration: 3-5, 50-minute lessons

National Standards Addressed:

Science and Technology

Abilities of technological design

Understandings about science and technology

Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

• Identify the necessary materials that go into skateboard construction.

• Specify why a skateboard is designed the way it is.

• Outline how a skateboard is constructed from raw materials to the final product.

Materials:

• Computers

• Internet access

• Disassembled skateboard

Procedure:

1. Hook

2. Skateboard Materials

a. Brainstorming activity

i. To do this activity ask around and see if you can obtain a skateboard from one of your students. Disassemble the skateboard (or have the student do it) down to the deck, trucks, and wheels.

ii. Pass out the three parts to three large groups in your class. Assemble the large groups ahead of time.

iii. Have the students brainstorm/contemplate the following:

1. What kinds of materials make this up?

2. What processes were involved in making this?

3. Devise a plan to construct the item you are holding.

iv. Have your students write their results on a whiteboard and share them with the class.

b. Pass out the handout entitled “What’s is a Skateboard.”

c. Students should work alone or in pairs depending on how many computers you have available to you.

d. Throughout this lesson provide a means for the students to listen to the Pulse of the Planet programs.

3. Skateboard Design

a. Start this portion of the lesson by asking the following questions:

i. (hold up the deck) Why is the deck curved? What purpose might that serve? Listen to answers.

ii. (hold up the trucks) How can you steer a skateboard with these? Listen to answers.

iii. (hold up the wheels) Why does this material give skaters a better ride/”feel?” Listen to answers.

b. Hand out the assignment entitled: “Skateboard Design.”

i. Describe the assignment to the students.

ii. The students may work in pairs.

iii. Establish a due date.

iv. Provide at least one full period to work on it in class. This will provide time for you to answer questions and give direction if needed.

4. How a skateboard is made

Handouts:

What’s In a Skateboard

Answer the following questions.

1. The three parts of a skateboard are ________________, __________________, and ______________________.

2. The average dimensions of a skateboard are: _______ x _______.

3. The wheels range is size from _____ to _____ and are made out of ______________________.

4. What are skateboard decks made out of?

5. Why is maple wood the consistent choice for skateboard decks?

6. How many plies of wood are used to make a deck? ____________

7. What are “trucks?”

8. What are trucks made out of?

9. What is grip tape used for?

Resources

• Pulse of the Planet program 4361: Skateboard 101

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Skateboard Design

Deck Design

Write a (bulleted) list of facts about the design of a skateboard deck. Use a separate piece of paper. Use the following list of words and phrases to guide you: curvature, concave, strength, plan form, symmetrical, longboards, retroboards, Maplewood, ply vs. waffled wood, sizes vs. purpose/age.

Resources

• Pulse of the Planet program 4366: Skateboard - Waffled

• Pulse of the Planet program4363: Skateboard - Wood

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Wheel Design

Write a (bulleted) list of facts about the design of skateboard wheels. Use a separate piece of paper. Use the following list of words and phrases to guide you: durometer (hardness durability, speed), nylon, size, urethane – pro’s & con’s, dye’s vs. pigments, deformation, hard vs. soft, rebound factor.

Resources

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Truck Design

Write a (bulleted) list of facts about the design of skateboard trucks. Use a separate piece of paper. Use the following list of words and phrases to guide you: baseplate, hangar/axle, bushing, pivot point, kingpin nut (tight vs. loose), durameter, energy dispersion, impact.

Resources

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Construction of a Skateboard

Objective: Understand how a skateboard is assembled by writing a how-to manual for constructing a skateboard.

Final Product: a “manual” on how to construct a skateboard from start to finish.

The how-to manual should include:

• Materials list

• Mention of the type and location of the wood.

• Construction of the deck

o Veneer/plies

o Glue

o The machines used and the process to form and trim the deck

o Sealer

• Construction of the trucks

o Sand molds

o Aluminum ingots

o Assembly of the trucks:

▪ Kingpin

▪ Pivot cup

▪ Risers

▪ Baseplate

• Construction of the wheels

o Mixed polyurethane

o Curing

o Lathing

o Artwork

• Assembly of the skateboard

o Application of grip tape.

o Attaching the trucks

o Bearings and wheel attachment

Resources

• Pulse of the Planet program 4363: Skateboard - Wood

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o Please cite all resources at the end of your manual.

o If different sites are used for this manual, please reference them at the end of the manual.

Additional Resources

Web Sites

Kids’ Science Challenge (click on the skateboard at bottom of page) – Pulse of Planet



Skateboard FAQ’s –



How Skateboarding Works –



The Basics of a Skateboard –



How to Build a Complete Skateboard – Dick’s Sporting Goods







Video

Skateboarding (webcast) – Exploratorium.edu



Skateboard Videos (skate ollie, finger board, skate factory) –



About the Create a Skate Program –



Make a Skateboard –



Learn the Basics of Setting Up a Skateboard –



Step By Step Guide to Making a Skateboard –



Audio

“My Fellow Americans: Barbara Odanaka, Skateboard Mom” (1/14/05) - NPR



Other

Skateboard Projects (PDF) – Pulse of the Planet / Kids Science Challenge



Special thanks to the following scientists for their help with this project:

Pulse of the Planet Programs: 4361 Skateboard 101, #4363 Skateboard - Wood, 4366: Skateboard - Waffled

Paul Schmitt

Founder,

Header Image

Name: Skateboard Clip Art 1

Credit:

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