Aims | Outline | Curriculum Relevance | Background | Activities | Links |
Making It: Programmes
27–39
Programme 38: Digging Dirt and Making Pannies
After watching the
programme, pupils should be able to:
- measure and mark out materials;
- communicate design ideas in different ways, bearing
in mind aesthetic qualities, and the use and purpose for which the
product is intended;
- explore the sensory qualities of materials and how
to use materials and processes;
- assemble, join and combine components and materials
accurately;
- design and make assignments using stiff and flexible
sheet materials and textiles.
Back to
top
Behind the freeway, a group of Australian teenagers
is hard at work, digging up some waste ground and piling the earth
into ridges and humps. They pour water on the piles of earth and
beat them hard with a spade to make them firm and strong.
When their earthworks have dried out, they make a perfect set of
ramps, slopes, humps and dips for practising with their BMX bikes.
There are semicircular sets of ramps called 'half-pipes' where you
can get up speed to do spectacular jumps, as well as banks and
ledges along the track to climb, jump or swerve around. They call
it 'dirt jumping' and part of the appeal is that you customise your
track to include all your favourite features.
Back to
top
- Art: investigating and making art, craft and
design.
- Science: forces.
Back to
top
The letters BMX stand for Bicycle Motor Cross. BMX
biking started in the late 1960s in Southern California, USA. The
first BMX competition, or 'moto' was organised in 1970. A BMX bike
has smaller wheels than a standard bike and a smaller, lower and
more solid bike frame. The handlebars are longer and BMX bikes only
have a single gear, which puts more pressure on the rider to
perform well.
To make it as a BMX biker, you have to know your slang. Scabs and
scars are known as 'bacon' and can be caused by an accident such as
an 'endo' (going over the handlebars) or even a 'face plant'
(head-on crash). Obstacles on the track include a 'berm' (banked up
corner), 'rollers' (bumps), 'tabletop' (a long flat jump) or
'sweeper' (a wide curve). Tricks include a 'carve' (taking a corner
at high speed) and a 'whoop-de-doo' (three or more short jumps in a
row). You have to be careful not to get 'squirrely' (out of
control) though, or you can end up 'mud-diving' (just what it
sounds like)!
Back to
top
Make a Marble
Run
You will
need: bucket of earth; trowel; watering can; marbles. You
will also need a large, flat area to work on.
- Your aim is to make an obstacle course from earth
that you can race marbles along.
- Add a little water to the bucket of earth, being
careful not to make it too wet.
- Mix the earth and water together with the trowel
until it becomes thick, stodgy mud.
- Find a flat area where it is all right to work.
Using your hands and the trowel, build up a set of ramps, ridges
and dips using the wet earth. Press the earth into shape firmly and
beat it all over with the blade of the trowel.
- At the start of the marble run, you will need a
steep slope, so that your marble can get up some speed before
running into its first obstacle.
- As you make your obstacles, imagine the path your
marble will take. Try the marble on short parts of the run from
time to time. Are there places where it gets stuck? If so, flatten
these out with the trowel and re-model them.
- When your earthworks are finished, let them dry
out.
- Finally, try the marble run. You and a friend could
race different marbles. Do larger, heavier marbles work best, or
smaller lighter ones?
Make a Minute
Timer
You will
need: large metal tray; modelling clay; marbles; watch or
clock with minute hand.
- Press the modelling clay onto the tray to make
ridges, humps and dips that a marble could run along. You will need
to begin with a steep slope, to help your marble pick up
speed.
- Time how long it takes a marble to run from one end
of the tray to the other. Repeat the test and check carefully
– does it always take the same amount of time for the marble
to make its journey?
Can you modify your marble run so that it takes
exactly one minute for the marble to complete it?
Back to
top
BMX photos and videos:
http://bmxultra.com/pictures/
An Australian BMX gallery:
www.bicycles.net.au/gallery/kabmx/
Online BMX museum:
www.bicyclechannel.com/bmxmuseum.htm
Back to
top
