This short, animated video features a playful group of friends who are inspired to write a rap about how walking is better than driving after one of them is late to school because of traffic.
Students will hear some of the many reasons why walking is better for the environment (and their health) than driving.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The characters are entertaining and the graphics are playful, so these videos hold students' attention well.
Music can be a great way to connect with people, so the message in this video may be especially impactful for many students.
Additional Prerequisites
Some students may need background information on the environmental impacts of the transportation sector.
The lyrics are fast-paced, so watching twice and giving students a purpose for listening ("listen to find out...") may help with comprehension.
Differentiation
Provide students with a T-chart and ask them to take notes on both the health and environmental impacts of walking rather than driving.
Ask students to create posters or other advertisements encouraging people in their communities to reduce their carbon footprint by choosing to walk rather than drive more often.
For students who are unable to walk to school, brainstorm other places they might be able to walk instead of driving.
Language Arts or Music classes could put students in groups and have them write poems, rhymes, raps, or songs motivating others to reduce their carbon footprints.
Discuss other low-carbon travel options that may be more feasible in communities that are less walkable.
This video would be a great introduction to another resource about transportation options, such as this video about what makes cities walkable.
Since climate change can often be a heavy, emotional topic for students, consider using this video as a way to wrap up a lesson in a way that is lighter, yet still inspires action.
Scientist Notes
This video centers around a group of friends, along with the green ninja, singing a song about walking as an alternative to driving. This video would make a great addition to a classroom discussing climate change and how walking to school is not only healthy for students but good for the environment.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
5-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 4: Taking Informed Action
D4.7.K-2 Identify ways to take action to help address local, regional, and global problems.
D4.7.3-5 Explain different strategies and approaches students and others could take in working alone and together to address local, regional, and global problems, and predict possible results of their actions.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.2 Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
National Health Education Standards
Standard 1: Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
1.2.1 Identify that healthy behaviors impact personal health.
