Program

The first CYCLE Kids programs were piloted in the fall and winter of 2004 in Somerville, MA through the 21st Century federal grant program and in Brighton, MA in conjunction with Citizen Schools, a national non-profit after school program provider.

The 2005-2006 school year saw  CYCLE Kids teaching in five elementary schools in Somerville, MA and two in Cambridge, MA. The response our program received in it's pilot years were beyond our expectations.

Today, the CYCLE Kids programs are being taught in physical education classes, community centers, and after school programs both in the Metro Boston area and in NYC through the Children's Aid Society.

Why the Bicycle?
Today's children desperately need more physical activity. A bike is a fun way to encourage an increase in the amount of activity a child is getting. Cycling is not just exercise; it's a practical part of every day life that often becomes a passion. It can easily provide the 30 to 60 minutes a day needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The bicycle can be play for a child, transportation for the commuter, recreational activity for the weekend warrior, or serious competitive sport for the athlete.

The Curriculum
CYCLE Kids curricula are based on experiential learning. Classes, some given during the day and some after school, cover bicycle handling and safety skills, simple physics related to the bicycle, and basic nutrition. Kids learn why and how to wear a helmet, the rules of the road, how to use hand signals, how to care for a bike, even how to balance while riding slowly through an obstacle course. At the end of the program, they take part in bike rodeos, with their families, friends, and schoolmates all invited to attend.

Learning
Children enrolled in the CYCLE Kids program learn the answers to such mysteries as why bicycles stay up, how gears and chains multiply their energy when they pedal, and how to check air pressure in tires. In food science experiments, they make butter to learn about fat, and use magnets to learn about iron. They learn how to calculate their heart rates, how to eat for energy, and how to make healthy food choices. Sometimes they even take those lessons home to their families!

Environment
Whether they’ll be riding on city streets or country roads, CYCLE Kids students learn to respect the environment, both natural and man made. To ensure the CYCLE Kids programs work with each schools particular environment, our staff meets with teachers, volunteers, and community organizations. All of this means the riders of CYCLE Kids learn to think not only about their own neighborhoods, but also about the wider world beyond.

The Program

Length of program	8-10 Sessions
Length of each session	45 minutes to 1.5 hours each
Leaders	It is recommended to have one leader and one or two volunteers to assist
Number and age of students	10 - 20 students in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade
Program recruitment	The program can be taught to students during physical education classes, as part of the after school program offerings a city is making available, or through a community center.
Program requirements for participants	A child needs to bring their bicycle and helmet to every session if equipment is not provided.
Program curriculum	The curriculum covers bicycle handling skills, nutrition basics, and simple physics concepts related to the bicycle.
Program milestones	Students will learn The importance of wearing a helmet when riding a bike, and how to wear it properly, Safe bike handling skills, and the importance of communicating with others when riding a bicycle, and Basic bike maintenance skills.
Program culmination	At the end of the program, children will demonstrate their achievements through riding a complex course, using hand signals, verbally communicating with others while they are riding, and showing confident bike handling skills. The school, their family and friends, and the community are encouraged to attend to support the continuation of this new learning.

^ Top