Safe Riding Choices

Curriculum Area and Level

Subject: Physical Education (PE)
Curriculum Area: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) – Physical Development
Level: Reception (Ages 4-5)

EYFS Goals Covered:

• Moving and Handling: "Children show increasing control when riding bikes and scooters."
• Health and Self-Care: "Children talk about ways to keep healthy and safe."
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development: "Children take account of one another’s ideas and respond to guidance from teachers."

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Lesson Overview

In this lesson, children will develop their confidence and control on Strider bikes while responding to teacher feedback. They will also explore how to make safe choices when using their bikes. The session will be interactive, practical, and designed to encourage children's independent thinking skills regarding safety.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will:
✅ Adjust their riding technique based on teacher feedback
✅ Recognise and practise making safe choices when using their bikes
✅ Develop confidence and control while riding
✅ Show that they can listen, respond and make corrections to improve their balance

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Lesson Structure (30 Minutes)

1. Warm-Up (5 Minutes) – “Follow the Leader”

• Gather students in a circle and introduce the lesson focus: safety and feedback.
• Begin with a teacher-led movement warm-up imitating riding actions without bikes:
  • Marching on the spot (to warm up legs)
  • Arm circles (to get shoulders ready for balance)
  • Slow side-stepping (to introduce controlled movements)
• Once warmed up, ask students: "Why do we need to be safe when riding bikes?" Encourage quick responses.

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2. Main Activity (20 Minutes)

A. Controlled Riding Practice (10 Minutes) – “Listen & Ride”

• Children collect their Strider bikes and line up at a starting point.
• The teacher gives an instruction like:
  • “Ride slowly like a turtle.”
  • “Stop when you hear me say ‘red light!’”
  • “Glide like a bird for three seconds.”
• Pause after each attempt and give individual feedback. Encourage improvement by saying:
  “Can you keep your balance longer before stopping?”
  “Try keeping your feet up when gliding. Let’s see if that helps!”

B. Safety Scenarios Activity (10 Minutes) – “Safe or Silly?”

• Gather children in a designated "safety zone" and present simple bike-related scenarios.
• Examples:
  • “Riding without looking where you’re going.”
  • “Stopping when the teacher says ‘red light’.”
  • “Zooming too fast into a group of friends.”
  • “Wearing your helmet before riding.”
• Ask students to respond with thumbs up for safe or thumbs down for unsafe.
• Discuss each one briefly and invite children to demonstrate better choices if needed.

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3. Cool-Down & Reflection (5 Minutes) – "Bike Park Chat"

• Gather in a circle and park the bikes.
• Ask students:
  “What was the best feedback you got today?”
  “How does making safe choices help us have more fun?”
• Celebrate good listening and improvements by recognising individual progress:
  • “I saw Emily really listening when I asked her to glide for longer!”
  • “Noah made a great safe choice by checking before he started riding!”
• End with a simple breathing exercise to calm down before moving on to the next lesson.

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Assessment for Learning (AFL) Strategies

✔ Observation of children’s response to feedback – do they adjust their riding?
✔ Engagement in safety discussions – do they understand rules?
✔ Final reflection – can they express what they learned today?

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Resources & Equipment

🟢 16 Strider bikes
🟢 Helmets for all children
🟢 Coloured cones for space markers
🟢 Visual prompt cards showing safe vs. unsafe choices

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Differentiation & Inclusion

• For less confident riders: Offer additional encouragement, one-to-one guidance in stopping and gliding.
• For more confident riders: Introduce an extra challenge (e.g., control exercises such as weaving through cones).
• For children with sensory needs: Use clear visual and verbal instructions, allow more time for transitions.

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Teacher's Notes

• Keep energy positive and focus on praising effort and improvement.
• Reinforce listening skills by making feedback a fun, interactive part of the lesson.
• Encourage peer support – ask confident riders to demonstrate a skill for the group.

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👏 Wow Moment for the Teacher
To truly impress the class, consider using a golden feedback flag! Tell children that when they listen and respond well to feedback, they get a quick wave of the flag as a reward. This adds excitement and reinforces positive behaviour without interrupting the flow of learning!

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🚲 Keep Rolling & Stay Safe! 🚲