Start with the story. Then go through each chapter, one lesson at a time. Each lesson has three short checks. Each chapter ends with a review. The unit ends with a wrap-up.
Before a skater rolls, they get ready. They buckle a helmet. They strap on pads. They pick a safe, smooth place. A grown-up comes along.
Next, they learn to stand still on the board. They start on grass or carpet. They bend their knees and hold their arms out. They look ahead.
In this unit you will learn to check a helmet, fall small and find your front foot. You will see that balance grows with practice.
When it happened
Step 1
Put on a helmet. Set it low, make a V with the straps, click the buckle.
Step 2
Strap on knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards.
Step 3
Wear flat sneakers and tie the laces.
Step 4
Pick a smooth, dry, flat place far from cars, with a grown-up nearby.
Step 5
Practice falling small on grass: get low, arms bent, roll.
Step 6
Set the board on grass or carpet so it cannot roll.
Step 7
Front foot over the front bolts, back foot over the back bolts.
Step 8
Bend your knees, arms out, look ahead. Practice every day.
3
Chapter
Helmet First
Safety
Big questionWhat do skaters do before they roll, so a fall is a small one?
The story
The Strap Check Line
No one rolls yet. First, every helmet gets checked by a friend.
It is skate day in the gym. Six boards rest on the floor. Nobody stands on them yet. Coach Rivera claps two times. The class lines up in pairs. Each child holds a helmet.
"Helmets on," says Coach. Maya puts hers on. It sits low on her forehead. Her partner, Jon, holds up two fingers. They fit between her eyebrows and the helmet. "Good," says Jon.
Next, Jon checks her strap. It is buckled. He slides one finger under it. The strap is snug, not tight. Then Maya checks Jon. His buckle hangs open. He clicks it shut.
Then come the pads. Knee pads. Elbow pads. Wrist guards. Everyone wears flat sneakers. Coach looks down the line. "Now we are ready to learn," she says.
Talk about itWhy do you think the class checks helmets before anyone stands on a board?
Section 1
Your Helmet
3.1
A Helmet Guards Your Head
Main ideaA helmet has soft foam inside that keeps a bump from hurting your head.
Your head holds your brain. Your brain helps you think, see and move. A fall can bump your head. A is a hard hat that guards it.
Look inside a helmet. You see thick foam. The outside is a hard shell. If you fall, the shell spreads out the bump. The foam squishes. It soaks up the hit, so your head does not get it all.
Skaters wear a helmet every time they ride. Put it on before you step on the board. A helmet that took a hard hit may be worn out. Ask a grown-up to check it.
Words to know
helmet
a hard hat with soft foam inside that guards your head
foam
soft, squishy stuff inside a helmet that soaks up a bump
Check yourself
1. What does the foam inside a helmet do?
Why: The foam squishes when you fall. It soaks up the hit so your head does not get it all.
2. When should a skater wear a helmet?
Why: Skaters wear a helmet every time they ride, even on flat ground.
3. What should you do if your helmet took a hard hit?
Why: A helmet that took a hard hit may be worn out. A grown-up can check it.
3.2
Snug and Buckled
Main ideaA helmet works best when it sits low, fits snug and is buckled.
A helmet must fit. It should be . Snug means close, but not squeezing. Shake your head. A snug helmet does not wobble or slide.
First, set it low on your forehead. About two fingers fit between your eyebrows and the helmet. Next, the side straps make a V under each ear. Then click the under your chin.
Now open your mouth wide. You should feel the helmet pull down a bit. About one finger should fit under the chin strap. A helmet tipped back or left open cannot do its job.
Words to know
snug
close and steady, but not squeezing
buckle
the clip under your chin that holds the helmet strap shut
Check yourself
1. Where should a helmet sit?
Why: A helmet sits low on the forehead, about two fingers above the eyebrows.
2. What does snug mean?
Why: Snug means close and steady but not squeezing. A snug helmet does not slide.
3. What do you do right after the side straps make a V?
Why: First the helmet sits low. Next the straps make a V. Then you click the buckle.
Section 2
Pads and Shoes
3.3
Pads and Wrist Guards
Main ideaKnee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards cover the parts that hit the ground first.
When people fall, knees, elbows and hands often touch down first. Pads cover those spots. A has a hard cap on the front. It lets your knee slide instead of scrape.
Elbow pads work the same way. A has a stiff piece along the palm. Wrists get hurt a lot in skating. Wrist guards help keep them safe.
Pads must fit too. Pull each strap so the pad stays put. A pad that slides down cannot cover your knee. Wear all your pads while you learn.
Words to know
knee pad
a cover with a hard cap that guards your knee
wrist guard
a glove-like brace with a stiff piece that guards your wrist
Check yourself
1. Which body parts often touch the ground first in a fall?
Why: Knees, elbows and hands often touch down first. Pads cover those spots.
2. What does the hard cap on a knee pad let you do?
Why: The hard cap lets your knee slide on the ground instead of scraping.
3. Why do skaters wear wrist guards?
Why: Wrist injuries are common in skating. Wrist guards help keep wrists safe.
3.4
Flat Shoes That Grip
Main ideaFlat sneakers with rubber soles help your feet stay on the board.
Look at the top of a skateboard. It feels like rough sandpaper. This is . Flat rubber soles hold onto it, so your feet do not slip.
Wear flat sneakers that cover your toes. Tie the laces. Loose laces can catch on the wheels. Sandals, flip-flops and boots are not good for skating.
A thin, flat sole lets you feel the board under your foot. You can tell where your feet are. That helps you stay steady.
Words to know
grip tape
the rough, sandpaper-like top of a skateboard that keeps shoes from slipping
sole
the bottom of a shoe
Check yourself
1. What is grip tape?
Why: Grip tape is the rough, sandpaper-like top of a skateboard.
2. Which shoes are best for skating?
Why: Flat rubber soles grip the board and cover your toes.
3. Why tie your laces before you ride?
Why: Loose laces can get caught in the wheels. Tied laces stay out of the way.
Section 3
Where and Who
3.5
A Safe Place to Ride
Main ideaRide on smooth, dry, flat ground, far away from cars.
Small wheels stop fast on a pebble. A stick or a crack can stop them too. Then the rider tips forward. So pick ground that is , with no rocks or cracks.
Pick dry ground too. Wet ground is slippery. Pick flat ground for learning, so the board does not roll away on its own.
Stay far away from cars. Never ride in a street or a parking lot. Never ride down a driveway that goes into a street. A playground blacktop or a skatepark is a good place.
Words to know
smooth
flat and even, with no bumps, rocks or cracks
Check yourself
1. What can happen if a wheel hits a pebble?
Why: Small wheels stop fast on a pebble. Then the rider tips forward.
2. Which place is safe for learning?
Why: A dry, smooth, flat place away from cars is safe for learning.
3. Why is wet ground a bad place to ride?
Why: Wet ground is slippery, so shoes and wheels can slide.
3.6
A Grown-Up Nearby
Main ideaYoung skaters ride with a grown-up close by to help.
Doctors who care for children give advice about skating. They say children under 5 should not ride skateboards. Children 6 to 10 should have a grown-up watching.
A grown-up can check your helmet and pads. A grown-up can pick a safe spot. If you fall, a grown-up can help right away.
A grown-up can also hold your hand while you learn. That is called . Lots of skaters start this way.
Words to know
spotting
when a helper stands close and holds on to keep you steady
Check yourself
1. Children 6 to 10 should skate with whom?
Why: Children's doctors say kids 6 to 10 should have an adult watching.
2. What is spotting?
Why: Spotting is when a helper stands close and holds on so you stay steady.
3. What can a grown-up do if you fall?
Why: A grown-up nearby can help right away if you fall.
Section 4
Falling Small
3.7
Get Low, Then Roll
Main ideaIf you start to fall, bend low and roll so the fall is short and soft.
Every skater falls. Falling is part of learning. You can learn to fall . A small fall is short and soft.
First, bend your knees and get low. Low means you are close to the ground. You have less far to go. Next, step off the board if you can. Then roll onto your side or slide on your knee pads.
Rolling spreads out the bump. Your back and side share it. No one part takes the whole hit.
Words to know
fall small
to bend low and roll so a fall is short and soft
roll
to turn your body over on its side to spread out a bump
Check yourself
1. What is the first thing to do when you start to fall?
Why: First you bend your knees and get low, so you have less far to fall.
2. Why does rolling help?
Why: Rolling spreads the bump over your back and side, so no one part takes the whole hit.
3. Which one is a small fall?
Why: Getting low and sliding on knee pads makes the fall short and soft.
3.8
Bent Arms, Not Straight
Main ideaDo not catch yourself with straight, stiff arms; keep them bent and soft.
When people fall, they often throw their hands out. They lock their arms straight and stiff. Then the whole fall lands on the wrists. Wrists can get hurt this way.
Instead, keep your arms . Bent arms work like a spring. They give a little. Tuck them close and roll.
Practice on grass or a mat first. Get low. Keep your arms bent. Roll to your side. Practice makes this move happen by itself when you need it.
Words to know
bent
curved at the joint, not straight and stiff
Check yourself
1. What happens when you catch a fall with straight, stiff arms?
Why: Stiff, straight arms send the whole fall into the wrists.
2. How should your arms be when you fall?
Why: Bent arms give a little, like a spring. Tuck them close and roll.
3. Where should you first practice falling?
Why: Practice falling on soft grass or a mat first.
Chapter review
Helmet First
0 / 6
1. How many fingers should fit between your eyebrows and your helmet?
Why: A helmet sits low, about two fingers above the eyebrows.
2. What is the hard cap on a knee pad for?
Why: The cap lets your knee slide on the ground instead of scraping.
3. Which is the best place to learn?
Why: Smooth, dry, flat ground far from cars is a safe place to learn.
4. What should you wear on your feet?
Why: Flat sneakers grip the grip tape. Tied laces stay out of the wheels.
5. You start to fall. What do you do?
Why: Getting low and rolling with bent arms makes a fall small.
6. Who should be nearby when a 7-year-old skates?
Why: Children 6 to 10 should skate with an adult watching.
Send it to your teacher
4
Chapter
Balance Is Something You Practice
Balance
Big questionHow does your body learn to stay steady on a board?
The story
The Board That Stayed Still
On the classroom carpet, a skateboard waits. It will not roll. Everyone gets a turn.
Mr. Kim sets a skateboard on the reading rug. He gives it a push. The wheels barely turn. "The carpet holds it still," he says. "That makes it a good place to start."
Lena goes first. She wears her helmet. She puts her front foot on the board. Then her back foot. She wobbles. Mr. Kim says, "Bend your knees. Put your arms out." She does. The wobble gets smaller.
Next is Theo. He puts his other foot in front. "Is that wrong?" he asks. "No," says Mr. Kim. "Some people ride that way. Both ways are fine."
By the end of the week, everyone can stand still for a long time. Nobody got a new body. They just practiced, a few minutes every day.
Talk about itWhat helped Lena's wobble get smaller?
Section 1
Start on Something Soft
4.1
Grass or Carpet First
Main ideaStand on the board on grass or carpet first, so it cannot roll away.
On smooth ground, a board rolls with a tiny push. On grass or carpet, it stays put. The soft ground grabs the wheels. This grab is called .
So start on grass or carpet. Put on your helmet and pads first. Step on and just stand. You can learn how the board feels without rolling.
When standing feels easy, you are ready for more. Then a grown-up can help you roll slowly on smooth, flat ground.
Words to know
friction
the rubbing grab between two things that slows or stops motion
Check yourself
1. Why start on grass or carpet?
Why: Soft ground grabs the wheels, so the board stays still while you learn.
2. What is friction?
Why: Friction is the rubbing grab between two things. It slows or stops motion.
3. What comes after standing feels easy?
Why: Next, a grown-up helps you roll slowly on smooth, flat ground.
4.2
Feet Over the Bolts
Main ideaPut your front foot over the front bolts and your back foot over the back bolts.
Look at the top of a board. Near each end you see four small . They hold the trucks on. The are the metal parts that hold the wheels.
Stand with your feet across the board, toes pointing to one side. First, put your front foot over the front bolts. Next, put your back foot over the back bolts.
Feet over the bolts sit right above the wheels. The board is steady there. Feet too close to the ends can tip it up.
Words to know
bolts
the small metal screws on top of the board that hold the trucks on
trucks
the metal parts under the board that hold the wheels
Check yourself
1. Where does your front foot go?
Why: Your front foot goes over the front bolts, right above the front wheels.
2. What do the bolts hold on?
Why: The bolts hold the trucks onto the board.
3. Which way do your feet point?
Why: You stand with your feet across the board and your toes pointing to one side.
4.3
Knees Like a Spring
Main ideaBent knees work like a spring and help you stay steady.
Stand up straight with stiff legs. Have a friend give a tiny nudge. You tip. Now bend your knees and try again. You stay up.
Bent knees work like a . A spring squishes and pops back. Your knees soak up wobbles the same way. Bending also brings your body lower, closer to the board.
On the board, bend your knees a little. Not a deep squat. Just soft, like you are ready to jump. Keep your back tall.
Words to know
spring
a coil that squishes and pops back
Check yourself
1. How do bent knees help?
Why: Bent knees squish and pop back like a spring, so they soak up wobbles.
2. How much should you bend your knees on the board?
Why: Bend a little, like you are ready to jump. Not a deep squat.
3. What happens with stiff, straight legs?
Why: Stiff legs cannot soak up a nudge, so you tip more easily.
Section 2
Arms and Eyes Help
4.4
Arms Out Wide
Main ideaHolding your arms out helps you catch your balance.
Watch someone walk on a curb. Their arms go out to the sides. Arms out make easier. Balance means staying steady without falling.
On the board, hold your arms out low and loose. If you tip toward your toes, your arms can lean back. If you tip toward your heels, they lean forward. They help pull you back to the middle.
Keep your arms soft, not stiff. Little moves are best. Big flapping can make the wobble bigger.
Words to know
balance
staying steady without falling over
Check yourself
1. What does balance mean?
Why: Balance means staying steady without falling over.
2. How should you hold your arms on the board?
Why: Arms out low and loose help you catch your balance with small moves.
3. Why are little arm moves better than big flapping?
Why: Big flapping can make a wobble bigger. Little moves help you get back to the middle.
4.5
Eyes Where You Go
Main ideaLook up and ahead to where you want to go, not down at your feet.
Your eyes help you balance. Your body tends to follow where your head points. If you stare at your feet, you lean forward. Then you can tip.
So keep your chin up. to where you want to go. Pick a spot, like a tree or a door. Keep your eyes on it.
It is fine to peek down to check your feet. Then bring your eyes back up. When you start to roll, looking ahead also helps you see what is coming.
Words to know
look ahead
to keep your eyes up on where you want to go
Check yourself
1. Where should your eyes be on the board?
Why: Keep your chin up and look ahead to where you want to go.
2. What can happen if you stare at your feet?
Why: Your body follows your head. Staring down makes you lean forward.
3. Is it okay to peek down at your feet?
Why: A quick peek is fine. Then bring your eyes back up to your spot.
Section 3
Your Way, Every Day
4.6
Regular and Goofy
Main ideaSome riders put the left foot in front and some the right; both are normal.
Skaters do not all stand the same way. Riding with the left foot in front is called . Riding with the right foot in front is called .
Goofy is just a name. It does not mean silly. Lots of great skaters ride goofy. Lots ride regular. Neither one is better.
To find yours, stand on the board on carpet. Try one foot in front. Then try the other foot in front. Pick the way that feels steady. The foot in front is your front foot.
Words to know
regular
riding with the left foot in front
goofy
riding with the right foot in front
Check yourself
1. What is regular?
Why: Regular means riding with the left foot in front.
2. Ben rides with his right foot in front. What is that called?
Why: Riding with the right foot in front is called goofy. It is a normal way to ride.
3. How do you find your front foot?
Why: Try both ways on carpet. The way that feels steady shows your front foot.
4.7
Practice Makes Steady
Main ideaBalance gets better each time you practice.
Nobody is born knowing how to skate. Your brain and body learn by doing. Each time you stand on the board, they learn a little more. This is called .
Short practice helps a lot. Stand on the board on carpet for a few minutes. Rest. Try again another day. Wobbles get smaller as you go.
Count how long you can stand still. Write it down each day. Watch the number grow. A wobble just means you are learning.
Words to know
practice
doing something again and again to get better at it
Check yourself
1. How does balance get better?
Why: Your brain and body learn by doing, so practice makes balance better.
2. What kind of practice helps a lot?
Why: Short practice with rest, repeated on different days, helps a lot.
3. What does a wobble mean?
Why: A wobble is part of learning. Wobbles get smaller with practice.
Chapter review
Balance Is Something You Practice
0 / 6
1. Where should you first stand on a board?
Why: Grass or carpet keeps the board from rolling while you learn.
2. Where does your back foot go?
Why: Your back foot goes over the back bolts, right above the back wheels.
3. What do bent knees act like?
Why: Bent knees squish and pop back like a spring, soaking up wobbles.
4. Where should you look while you balance?
Why: Looking ahead keeps your head up and your body steady.
5. Kai rides with his left foot in front. Mia rides with her right foot in front. Who is right?
Why: Regular and goofy are both normal ways to ride.
6. Why hold your arms out low and loose?
Why: Arms out help pull you back to the middle when you tip.
Send it to your teacher
★
Unit wrap-up
Safe and Steady
Twelve words, twelve meanings
0 / 8
Tap a word, then tap its meaning. A right pair locks in green.
Words
Meanings
Unit test
Fifteen questions across the unit
0 / 10
1. What part of a helmet soaks up a bump?
Why: The foam squishes and soaks up the hit.
2. About how many fingers fit under a buckled chin strap?
Why: A snug strap leaves room for about one finger.
3. Which gear guards your wrists?
Why: Wrist guards have a stiff piece that helps keep wrists safe.
4. Why not wear flip-flops to skate?
Why: Flip-flops slide off. Flat sneakers grip the board.
5. Which place is NOT safe for skating?
Why: Never ride in a street. Stay far away from cars.
6. When you fall, what should your arms do?
Why: Bent arms give like a spring. Straight arms send the fall into the wrists.
7. Why stand on the board on carpet first?
Why: Carpet grabs the wheels with friction, so the board stays still.
8. Where do your feet go on the board?
Why: Front foot over the front bolts, back foot over the back bolts.
9. Which helps you balance?
Why: Bent knees soak up wobbles, and arms out help you catch your balance.
10. A rider puts the right foot in front. What is that called?
Why: Right foot in front is goofy. It is a normal way to ride.
Send it to your teacher
Spiral review
Five questions from earlier units
0 / 5
1. (Unit 1) About when did stores start to sell skateboards?
Why: Ready-made boards were sold in stores around 1959.
2. (Unit 1) What do bearings help the wheels do?
Why: Bearings have tiny steel balls inside that help the wheels spin.
3. (Unit 1) In 2021, skateboarding was in what big games for the first time?
Why: Skateboarding was first in the Olympics in 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
4. (Unit 1) Who invented the very first skateboard?
Why: There are many stories, but no single inventor is known.
5. (Unit 1) Why did people call it sidewalk surfing?
Why: Riders leaned and turned like surfers, but on paths and sidewalks.
Send it to your teacher
Write it
Tell a friend how to get ready to stand on a skateboard. Name the safety gear and how a helmet should fit. Then tell where the feet go and two things that help balance.
Start with the helmet: low, a V under each ear, buckled.
Name the pads and the shoes.
Say front foot and back foot, and where the bolts are.
Use the words knees, arms and eyes.
0 wordsSaved on this device as you type.
Practice rooms
Rooms already on the site that belong to this unit — cards, quizzes, a lab.
Every lesson keeps its own three checks; a lesson is ticked when all three are right. Chapter reviews, the unit test and its spiral review (five questions from earlier units in this band) score on the page. When the site is connected to your sheet, or the link carries ?dest=, each one also has a Send box: the first-try score, the standards, the supports used, the attempt number and the minutes go to your sheet as an IEP data point.
Print this page for a paper copy of the readings, the sources, the words and the questions; the answers print as dashed boxes under each question.
Fact-check notes for this course live in the handoff: quotes marked (paraphrased) were set that way on purpose.
