Student-Teacher Collaboration: A Skateboard Project That Really Rocks!

This article focuses on the skateboarding project as a tool for student-teacher collaboration. Students educate the teacher on different aspects of skateboarding and skateboard design, while the teacher brings in related academic content. Topics covered include vocabulary, social studies, mathematics, and health. Materials and tools include a skateboard deck pattern, one-fourth- and one-eighth-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets, trucks and wheels, hot-wire bender, heat gun, PVC cleaner and adhesive, clamps, hand and/or electric saws, files, sandpaper, hand and/or electric drills, socket sets, screwdrivers, and allen wrenches. The teacher can show illustrations of a PVC skateboard pattern or start with brainstorming activities with the students. He can give proper safety and tool use instruction. The teacher can ask questions about skateboarding that will elicit the affective and emotional domain responses. After learning safety procedures and proper tool use, students receive the necessary materials and proceed through cognitive/skill domain objectives. Students can teach the teacher how to apply grip tape, logos, and decorations, while explaining how these items fit in with skateboard use and culture.