Transportation Lesson: Around the World
Lesson Plan
45 minutesGradesK, 1, 2Earth and Space Sciences
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Written by Elaine Makarevich
About this lesson
In this lesson, students explore maps and school transportation around the world.
Inquire: Students read an article and view pictures that show unique ways children travel to school.
Investigate: Students play a MapGo Matching Game to review countries around the world and modes of transportation.
Inspire: Students draw a picture of a new way they would like to travel to school.
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Everything you need to teach it
- Teacher SlideshowOpen
- Student DocumentOpen
- MapGo Game Instructions & MaterialsOpen
- Vocabulary CardsOpen
Teaching tips
Suggestions
- Students learn how students around the world travel to school in unique ways.
- Students explore transportation modes and energy types and learn map skills through gameplay.
- Students collaborate with classmates to share their feelings and design new transportation modes.
- This lesson supports the understanding that all humans can make a difference.
- This lesson can be easily integrated into an existing Social Studies lesson or unit on transportation or map skills.
- This lesson features excellent vocabulary development using the Vocabulary Cards.
- Students may use their design ideas and artwork from this lesson for the next lesson in the Transportation unit.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 3 of 4 in our K-2nd grade Transportation Unit.
- If students did not complete Lesson 1 from this unit, it will be helpful to begin the lesson with a discussion on modes of transportation and the energy sources they use.
- Print out copies of the article in advance if students will be reading it independently or in pairs/groups.
- Prepare copies of the MapGo gameboards and cards, and gather small items or squares of paper to use as markers.
Differentiation
- Students can share their “Wow” feelings and “I Wonder” after viewing the article.
- Students have several opportunities to share feelings and questions about the topic.
- Students can draw a simple map of their current route to school, or to accompany their new route to school. Students can share and compare the two different routes.
- Based on student grade level and ability level, teachers can use the MapGo card game to reinforce the content with pictures, pictures, and text, or text alone.
From the scientist review
With the significance of switching to green transportation in mind, this lesson challenges students to develop a novel method of transportation to school. They will gain knowledge of the effectiveness of environmentally friendly transportation and exchange information on which ones are most suitable for use by schoolchildren in other nations. This lesson is suggested for instruction after a thorough review of the supporting materials.
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About the teacher writer
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Elaine Makarevich
Chief Outreach Officer
Elaine Makarevich, M.Ed., is SubjectToClimate's Chief Outreach Officer. She has over 30 years of experience teaching K–6 across all subjects and holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and an M.Ed. from East Stroudsburg University and Centenary University, along with Supervisor and Gifted Education certifications. Outside of work, she loves gardening — flowers, vegetables, and everything in between.
