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Summer skating and hockey can be affordable on synthetic ice, for a tiny fraction of the cost of a real ice rink! But when investigating the types of synthetic ice, the news is even better: some synthetic ice costs even less than traditional flooring!
Consider the following comparison prices, taken recently from a major USA retail home improvement company: Carpet: $0.38 to $10.55per square foot Ceramic Tile: $0.79 to $3.00 per square foot Laminate Flooring: $0.99 to $2.99 per square foot Hardwood Flooring: $3.79 to $7.50 per square foot Marble Tile: $4.00 to $9.65per square foot
Now, consider the cost of synthetic ice: Major USA Brand: $16.00 per square foot Although this cost seems quite large upfront, it is actually not as exorbitant as the cost of a real rink, which requires expensive ongoing refrigeration expenses. But the news is better when examining the low-cost alternative to synthetic ice, purchased directly from a plastic company! HDPE Plastic from USA (3/16" Thickness): $2.00 per square foot Now, consider the following higher-quality solution: Ultra-HDPE Direct from China: $1.20 per square foot, Including Rink Sideboards Note that these cost estimates have been made in 2014 and 2015, and may vary over time and with respect to the size of the order. Shipping costs may also vary due to destination and other considerations. The next question on the mind of potential consumers pertains to the quality of skating on these surfaces. The author, investigating the quality of an 8 foot square HDPE surface, found it suitable for hockey practice, and some figure skating. A YouTube Video Playlist, Skating Science Demos, includes samples of skating on the surface.
Additional information on the science of ice skating, including both hockey and figure skating, can be found on the blog, Ice Skating Science. Additional information on the science of ice skating are available in a free pamphlet from the publisher's webpage. The following books from Schottenbauer Publishing contain graphs and data pertaining to the science of ice skating, figure skating, and hockey:
Teachers who want to include graphs into a traditional science, math, literature (science writing), music, health, and/or physical education lessons can find ample resources in lab manuals published by Schottenbauer Publishing. Over 100 different collections of graphs and anthologies are available, with most translated into both English and German.
Also available are a set of anthologies, each consisting of 28 graphs selected from the above categories. Each anthology is focused on a specific theme, and contains a variety of types of graphs. In order to highlight the selections of graphs available, four lab series are described in more detail below: ball sports, hockey, figure skating, and athletic training. These series provide excellent examples of sport science data which can be integrated easily into traditional classes:
These graphs can be used as part of virtually unlimited lesson plans, including: Possible Lesson Plans
Graph Reading
Identifying Minimum & Maximum
Determining Graph Shape
Redrawing the Graph on a Different Scale
Mathematical Modeling
Writing the Graph's Equation
Transforming the Graph's Equation
Theoretical Analysis
Describing the Scientific & Mathematical Concepts Related to Graph(s)
Describing the Scientific & Mathematical Theories Related to Graph(s)
Identifying the Theoretically Ideal Graph & Comparing to Individual Graph(s)
Understanding Measurement Error & Other Types of Error
Comparison & Contrast of Specific Graphs
Science Writing
Describing a Graph in Words
Written Comparison & Contrast of Graphs
Describing Scientific Concepts & Theories Relevant to Graphs
Developing Theories Based on Graphs
Re-writing Graph Titles in Scientific Format
Practicing Different Styles of Writing about Graphs (e.g., Journalistic, Scientific, Practical/Colloquial)
Exploratory Research
Data-Mining
Developing Theories Based on Graphs
Open-Ended Questions (e.g., Look at this book of graphs and write about a topic of interest.)
Estimation Skills
Understanding Range & Order of Magnitude
Developing Theoretical Comparisons from Commonly Available Data (e.g., Here is a graph of someone throwing a shot put. What would a graph look like if it were thrown by a child? By an Olympian in 1950? By an Olympian today?)
