By Janet Pinto, Chief Academic Officer & Chief Marketing Officer, Curriki
Close to 200 elite cyclists from around the world are pedaling almost 2,000 miles around France this month in the world’s biggest and most revered cycling race, the Tour de France. Nine riders on each of 20 professional teams are riding 21 stages over 23 days, culminating in perhaps one of the most awesome finishes on the planet when the final stage circles the Champs Elysees in Paris and ends at the Arc de Triomphe.
The Tour presents a great opportunity to use cycling to teach all sorts of things – math, culture, food, science, foreign languages – even colors, as the overall leader wears a yellow race jersey, and others wear jerseys color coded to their area of specialty — to kids at every level.
Did you know …
- The Tour de France has been held annually since 1903 (apart from during the two World Wars)
- The race is held primarily in France, but every so often it passes through neighboring countries – for example, in 2014 it came to England
- The first day of the race is known as “Le Grand Depart”
- The average speed of the modern Tour de France is 25 mph
- How many words can you make out of the words “Le Tour de France?”
- Make a colorful Tour de France jersey bunting.
Middle and High School
BBC offers card games, English and French quizzes, even Petanque!
And for the Grown-Ups
Check out more resources on Curriki’s website. And then, get outside and go for a bike ride!
Janet Pinto, Chief Academic Officer & Chief Marketing Officer, leads and manages all of Curriki’s content development, user experience, and academic direction. Learn more at Curriki.org.