COVID-19 has seriously disrupted habitual ways of how we move, learn, work and live.
COVID lockdowns mean that most Australian families now have their kids at home and many parents are readjusting to having to supplement schooling with educational activities at home.
Many parents have serious concerns about how COVID will impact their child’s educational outcomes. This is a concern for many educators as well.
Recently, Dr Sue Whatman, a colleague of mine at Griffith Uni School of Education, published an article for The Conversation entitled: Is it time for Australia to implement kids-only COVID-19 briefings? in which, among many good points, she highlights the pressure teachers and families are under and a need for kids to be included in age-appropriate briefings about COVID.
It is a great article and well worth a read.
It also got me thinking about the additional pressure many parents must be feeling at home now the responsibility for not only the health and wellbeing but now also for their child’s education.
Even for the most creative and resourceful parent this is a big ask.
Schools doing their best to help, but many parents are looking for additional materials, lessons and productive work to keep active minds and bodies on task and learning.
Bike lessons for COVID homeschooling
Regular readers of this blog know I have shared a number of other bike-related school resources including:
This week I came across Teach Starter which is an online teaching platform providing easily downloadable ready-to-use, curriculum-aligned teaching resources expertly designed for primary school teachers and their students.
This website is full of educational resources, videos and worksheets at all primary school levels and perfect for parents to use. There is a small cost for monthly access (under $10).
Thinking of my nieces and nephews, I typed in ‘Bike Riding’ to see what they had and was delighted to see a range of bike-related materials.
Of course, there are heaps of other topics, subjects and learning areas that are full to the brim, but for me, I was most keen to see they had on offer for families like mine, who are bike crazy.
Having resources that fit with family values and activities is a great way to keep kids engaged – and have a read to use worksheet is so helpful for parents who care deeply for their kids but might be close to tearing their hair meanwhile.
Here’s a look at some of the bike-related educational resources I found and there should be something for any primary school-aged rider.
And for all those parents out there – best of luck!
Remember, if it gets all too much – just take ’em for a ride!
All images courtesy of Teach Starter unless of otherwise specified.