Young Children Are Often Fascinated by Trains

Your child can learn:

• Transportation means moving people or things from one place to another
• People can move themselves by walking, running, swimming, and crawling
• People can be moved by animals- riding one, or being pulled by one in a cart, sled or wagon
• People can be moved by a machine – car, train, plane, ship, bus
• Machines need something to make them go – gas, wind, water, steam, or people
• A person who drives a machine is called a driver
• We may buy a ticket to ride on a machine
• People who own their own car must take good car of it and buy gasoline and oil for it
• We can travel or carry things on the ground, in the water, and in the air
• People can do many things while they travel – they can eat, read, sleep, talk, and sometimes stand or walk around.
• Drivers must pay attention when they drive and follow signs and safety signals
• There are many specially trained people who help us with transportation, like conductors, flight attendants, pilots, captains, bus driver, taxi driver

Riding the Schoolbus

Young children are often fascinated by trucks, planes, trains, boats and automobiles. My granddaughter has gone on several dog sled rides. Even if you own a car, consider taking a city bus sometime this week. The destination isn’t important. Go to the library by bus, or to a favorite restaurant for lunch. But show your child the ticket – let him hold it- or let him drop in the coins or tokens for the ride. Point out the driver’s uniform, and how he must pay attention to the traffic as he drives, yet you and your child do not. You can look out the windows, sing songs, talk, read a book – even close your eyes if you wish.

If your town doesn’t have a city bus, talk to the school about riding the school bus. Ask a friend to pick you up and bring you back. Or check out a tour bus, if there is an affordable trip you’d be interested in. Contact your Chamber of Commerce for other transportation ideas – is there a train excursion available? Even a roller-coaster might work, although you won’t find me getting on one!

How Many Different Types of Vehicles Can You Find

Some day as you’re leaving the grocery store, point out all the different vehicles in the parking lot. Are there any motorcycles, scooters, delivery trucks, pickup trucks, SUVs, Humvees, Jeeps, hybrid cars, convertibles, antique cars, or school buses? Point out the license plates (are they on front and back in your state, or only the back?) Are there some of different colors and designs (out of state)? Why are there so many different shapes and sizes? What color does your child like best? What kind of car would he like to be, if he were a car?

Young Boy Riding a Horse

Take a New Car Out for a Test Drive

You could visit a car dealership, and test drive a new car with your child. Many dealerships are having awesome sales this year, but even if you aren’t in the market, it can be a fun afternoon activity. Bring along your car seat and don’t go too far! Fifteen minutes is a long time for a two year old.

If you have a friend in the fire department, see if you can visit him “on the job” and let him show your child around. Do you have a friend who is a police officer or sheriff? A bus driver? A taxi driver, or a chauffeur in a limousine? There are so many possibilities! If one hundred people do this Transportation Week, they might do it one hundred different ways. Leave a comment, and tell us all about your field trip.

Most of all, have fun!

Lesson Plans for Transportation Week

Five-Star Picture Books for Transportation Week

• The Airplane Ride by Howard White
• The Noisy Airplane Ride by Mike Downs
• Tupelo Rides the Rails by Melissa Sweet
• The Little Engine That Couldby Watty Piper
• Scuffy the Tugboat and His Adventures by Gertrude Crampton
• Busy Boats (Amazing Machines) by Tony Mitton
• Noah’s Ark (Caldecott Honor Book) by Jerry Pinkney
• Sled Dogs Run by Jonathan London
• The Littlest Sled Dog by Michael Kusugak

Quality Toys and Games for Transportation Week (optional)

• Sevi Play Puzzle Transportation
• PlanToys Road & Rail Play Set
• Transportation Floor Puzzle
• Melissa & Doug Deluxe Vehicles in a Box
• Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden town set
• Road Signs by Play Smart
• Learning Carpets Giant Road Carpet

Worksheets (optional)

Words that begin with T

Photo Credits:
Top: photo by by Cliff1066
Middle: photo by by Jack Vinson
Bottom: photo by Alicia Nigdam