Ice skating

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ice-skating

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the estimated origin period?Around 3,000 years ago in Northern Europe
2. What is the friction reduction mechanism?Pressure-induced melting of ice creating a lubricating water film
3. How do ice skaters glide so smoothly?The thin steel blade presses hard on a tiny spot of ice, which melts a little and creates a thin water layer. This water reduces friction, letting the skater glide easily.
4. When did people first start using ice skates?The earliest ice skates were made about 3,000 years ago in Northern Europe, using sharpened animal bones attached to shoes.

Pressure Melting: The phenomenon where increased pressure lowers the melting point of a substance, like ice.
Rocker: The curved profile of an ice skate blade, affecting maneuverability.
Hollow Grind: A manufacturing process for skate blades that creates two distinct edges for better control.