The Bike Project
WORKSHEET
1. Suggested Use
Community, volunteering and sustainability focus, followed by B1-level vocabulary and grammar activities.
2. Suggested Activities
A. Project-based learning
Students create a short illustrated storyboard or written chain story showing how one small act of kindness (like donating a bike) can create a positive chain reaction in a community. Students brainstorm small actions that can help others, then in groups they plan a 4-step ‘chain reaction’, e.g. Action → Person helped → Positive effect → Long-term change.
B. Mediation task: Explaining data
Students use a copy of the videoscript to create an information pack using the stats and figures mentioned in the video, e.g. £37, £21, 2013 and any other notes of the main points. They then research the project online and add further figures to their notes to explain The Bike Project to a partner.
C. Pronunciation task: Contrast between /b/ and /p/ sounds
Elicit the pronunciation of both sounds and the mouth position. Then, play the video and have students write down every instance they hear the sounds, e.g. bike, pay, people, project, help, etc. Model and contrast the sounds. Have students repeat the words, then write their own list of words with these sounds to give to a partner to practise.
3. Vocabulary
Community
community
organisation
donating
volunteers
refugees
friendship
support
programme
help
give
project
People
students
university
group
workers
refugees
volunteers
local people
Adjectives
old
new
free
independent
proud
local
active
hard
4. Grammar
Modal verbs:
Helping others in our community can happen in many ways; Even a small action can change someone’s day; A bike can help a lot.
Past simple (narrative tenses):
Jem got the idea for the Bike Project when he was studying at university; He met a boy from Darfur who arrived in the UK aged 16; He ended up getting him a bike and that was the first step into normal living.
Purpose with infinitives:
Takes old bikes to give them to refugees; Bikes help people stay active and go outdoors to feel part of their community.
TRANSCRIPT
The Bike Project
NARRATOR:
Helping others in our community can happen in many ways. Even a small action, like donating an old bike, can change someone’s day — or even their life. In Southeast London, an organisation called the Bike Project takes old bikes and gives them to refugees. These bikes help people feel more free and independent in a new place. Jem got the idea for the Bike Project when he was studying at university. At that time, he was helping a group that worked with asylum seekers.
SOUNDBITE - Jem Stein:
“I met this boy called Adam who was from Darfur in Sudan and he'd arrived here aged 16 with just the clothes on his back and was just £37 a week live off and not allowed to work. One of the big challenges he faced was getting around because the bus pass by itself is £21 a week. So I ended up getting him a bike and that was the first step into normal living for him because all of a sudden he could access education, healthcare.”
NARRATOR:
Since 2013, people across London have been donating bikes at drop-off points. The Bike Project gives about two thirds of the bikes to refugees. They sell the other bikes on their website. This helps them pay for basic things, like tools and tyres. Bikes aren’t just for travel. They help people stay active, go outdoors, and feel part of their community. The Bike Project also has a programme called Bike Buddy. It brings together local volunteers and refugees to give help and friendship. Resom got a bike from the project. Now, he is working there and helping others.
SOUNDBITE - Resom:
“I feel very proud working for the Bike Project because I can help refugees like me to get bikes.”
NARRATOR:
It’s hard to start a new life in another country. But a bike can help a lot. When people give their time, bikes, or support, they help others in their community.