"Rolling into Learning": Enhancing Gross Motor Skills and Social Development With Tricycles

School:: Maude Saunders Elementary
Subject:: Teaching Quality
Teacher:: Tracey Dickey
: Ian George and Chris Hogans
Students Impacted:: 297
Grade:: K-5
Date:: October 10, 2025

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

The St. Joe Community Foundation - $2,000.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 297

Impact Statement: "Rolling into Learning"

Project Overview
The "Rolling into Learning" initiative introduced six age-appropriate tricycles into the K-2 Physical Education curriculum. The project aimed to bridge developmental gaps in gross motor coordination while fostering essential social-emotional skills through structured, active play.

Physical & Developmental Impact
The introduction of tricycles provided a high-engagement platform for students to develop bilateral coordination, lower-body strength, and spatial awareness. For many Kindergarten students, pedaling provided a necessary challenge to their motor planning skills, leading to measurable improvements in balance and core stability. By the end of the program, 80% of participating students demonstrated increased proficiency in steering and navigating obstacles, foundational skills that translate to improved confidence in other physical activities.

Social & Behavioral Growth
Beyond the physical benefits, the tricycles served as a "mobile classroom" for social development. Students practiced:

Turn-taking and Patience: Navigating shared "roadways" required students to wait, signal, and respect the space of others.
Cooperative Play: Peer-to-peer coaching emerged naturally as older or more skilled students helped beginners master the pedaling motion.
Conflict Resolution: Students learned to manage traffic "bottlenecks" and share equipment.

Conclusion
The Walton Education Grant has transformed our Hardtop into a dynamic learning environment where students are not just moving but growing. "Rolling into Learning" has proven that when students are given the right tools, they don't just meet developmental milestones, they peddle right past them with confidence and a smile.

grant photo

Photos

Original Grant Overview

Goal

"Rolling into Learning" project will incorporate Tricycles into the physical education curriculum for all Kindergarten through second grade students. This initiative directly addresses a need for increased physical activity that develops foundational gross motor skills, including balance, coordination, leg and core strength, and bilateral coordination. The tricycles will be utilized in structured lessons and imaginative play scenarios to improve physical literacy, spatial awareness, and problem-solving skills, while also boosting student confidence. This project will provide a safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate activity that supports students' holistic growth and lays the foundation for future athletic achievement.

What will be done with my students

1. Skill Development Stations: Students will rotate through stations that challenge steering, braking, and pedaling on designated courses marked with cones and pavement chalk.

2. "Traffic Safety City" Game: Students will navigate a designated "city" on their tricycles, following road signs and rules. This develops spatial awareness and safe navigation skills.

3. Collaborative Races: Students will engage in supervised, low-speed races that promote friendly competition, teamwork, and turn-taking.

November 2025: Grant funding awarded. Order and receive tricycles and other materials.

December 2025: Tricycles assembled and safety inspected.

January-March 2026: Implement tricycle activities into the K-2 physical education curriculum.

April 2026: Final report and post-assessment submitted.

Benefits to my students

The " Rolling into Learning" project is a simple, yet highly impactful and a cost-effective initiative that will directly benefit 297; K-2 students. By providing durable, child-safe tricycles, we can enhance students' foundational motor skills in a fun and engaging way,
setting them up for a lifetime of physical activity and wellness. This grant aligns directly with the Walton Education Foundation's commitment to supporting innovative classroom projects that improve student success.

Budget Narrative

Investing in a set of metal tricycles for our K-2 Physical Education Department will provide a powerful tool for holistic child development. The "Rolling into Learning" project will not only improve students' physical health and motor skills but also build critical social and emotional foundations. This grant will provide a sustainable resource that fosters active, confident, and collaborative learners for years to come. Thank you for considering this request.