Lesson Overview:

Based on the work of Henry David Thoreau and the brilliant adaptation by D.B. Johnson, this lesson asks students to consider and compare two different forms of transportation; walking vs taking a train.  Thought provoking and challenging, students must decide which mode of transport is “best” and why.

Lesson Plan:

Suggested Grades:

K-2

Objective:

Identify and describe two forms of transportation presented in the story.  Give at least three characteristics of each.

Suggested Time:

35-45 minutes

Success Criteria:

Each student will complete a T-Chart that will help them draw conclusions about the forms of transportation.  The T-Chart will give them material to structure their thinking.  If students can’t write the words, they can make simple sketches to remind them of the parts of the story.

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction:

Every day when I come to school I have to decide whether to come by a) car b) bicycle or c) train.  I have choices.  Sometimes my choice depends on the weather or how I am feeling.  Sometimes my choice depends on what is available.  Example: My bike has a flat tire.

In today’s story, two characters have to make a choice about how they will travel.  Listen carefully.  Keep track of what the characters do.  See if you can figure out why each character made his particular choice.

2. Main:

Show the book’s cover.  Get the kids to talk about visual clues from the cover.  Pass out the assignment.  Go over the instructions together.

Teach the story, allowing kids to fill in the T-Chart and take simple notes.  Scribe for them on a flipchart so that they do not get hung up on spellings

Down one side, list the chores done by Henry’s friend.  Down the other side, list the adventures Henry has on his hike.

3. Conclusion:

Ask the students if they think each of the friends was satisfied with his choices.  Then complete the first two questions together:  What did Henry’s friend choose?  What did Henry choose?  Talk about it and give the kids a moment to answer these questions.

Finally, as the students to think about what they would choose if faced with the same decision.  Would they work to earn money for a ticket or would they walk?  Have them write their answers (or discuss their answer with an elbow partner if you are running short on time.)  This is a great reflection/thinking question.  After the story, the children should have enough ideas and evidence to form a convincing opinion.

additional Resources:

1. Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D.B. Johnson.
2. Flipchart
3. Markers
4. Copies of the student handout
5. Pencils
6. Clipboards

Notes:

Johnson’s book is a children’s adaptation of some of the work of Henry David Thoreau.  Johnson’s other books in the Henry series evoke the ideas in Walden beautifully and effectively.   I am a huge fan of the Henry series and find that the texts adapt for many purposes.  For example, I use Henry Hikes to Fitchburg for lessons on:

• Beliefs and values
• Transportation
• Business/Economics

Also note that a lot of today’s children do not have experience completing these simple chores.  I am often shocked at how few of them have swept out a room.  Be careful with parts like “cleaning the henhouse.”  Most kids think that that means collecting eggs!

Key Terms:

Trains, Chores, Riding, Walking, Money, Nature, Values, Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Work

Amazon Link:

Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D.B. Johnson.

student handout:

Student Handout, Henry Hikes to Fitchburg

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, students will think creatively about designing their own car.  Cars have changed a lot over time, and this lesson gives children a chance to imagine a fantasy car or a car from the future.

Lesson Plan:

Suggested Ages:  Grades K-2

Objective:

Students will use their imaginations to design a fantasy car.

Suggested Time:

30-45 minutes

Success Criteria:

Each student will complete an original drawing of a car with unique, imaginative features.

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction:

We’ve been looking at forms of transportation in this unit, but once each of our modern forms of transportation only existed in the dreams of their creators.  The planes of the past had no meal service or entertainment packages.  Cars of the past did not have GPS or back-up assist cameras.  Trains of the past were loud and dirty!  We only have new and modern forms of transportation because people used their imaginations and creativity to imagine something better!

2. Main:

Share If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen.

Ask the children what they would do if they could design the car of their dreams.  What would be inside?  A sweet shop?  A super slide?  A trampoline?

Show the student handout and tell the children that they will have 15 minutes to design their own, imaginative car, just like the boy in the story.  What will they design?

3. Conclusion:

Bring the class back together and have a few students share what they have created.  If there is space, make a display in the library.   If not, prepare the pieces for display elsewhere in school.

additional Resources:

1. If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen.
2. Student Handout (see attached)
3. Colored pencils or crayons

Notes:

Students should notice that the book rhymes!  They will enjoy this because well-crafted rhyming books are always kid-pleasers.

Be sure that kids do their own thinking and do not copy one another.  Encourage the children to do something different from their neighbor.  I’ve seen too many nearly-identical cars.  So, if several children insist that they want the same feature, be sure that they distinguish their work with different colors, different flavors, different features, etc.

Key Terms:

Cars, Car Design, Transportation, Future, Stories in Rhyme, Imagination, Creativity

Amazon Link:

If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen

Student handout:

Student Handout, If I Built a Car

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, students learn about the first documented hot air balloon flight.  The passengers were not people!  Who were they?  Teach this lesson and your children will find out the astonishing truth behind one of aviation’s exciting first flights.

Lesson Plan:

Suggested Grades:

K-2

Objective:

Children will be able to retell the first hot-air balloon ride from aviation history.

Suggested Time:

30-40 minutes

Success Criteria:

Each child will take notes which will then be used to retell the story of the first hot-air balloon ride.

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction:

Remind the children that last week the class worked on identifying different forms of transportation.  Did they discover any new ones since last week?  Did they have any new transportation experiences?

How long do you think people have been riding horses?  (Answer: About three thousand years.)  Driving cars?  (Answer: About 120 years, but not in all parts of the world.)  Flying in airplanes?  (Answer: About 115 years).  This week we will learn about a hot-air balloon ride that happened over 230 years ago – long before cars or airplanes were invented.

2. Main:

Teach Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride by Marjorie Priceman.

Use a globe or atlas to show children where France is.

Give the children time to complete their notes (see student handout.)

Ask questions to encourage deep thinking such as:

• Why do you think that animals were sent up before people?
• What do you think people thought when they saw something in the sky that was not a bird?
• Would you have been brave enough to go up in an early hot air balloon? Why or why not?
• What do you think the animals felt when they were in the air?
• Why do you think the Montgolfier brothers wanted to invent something so new and different? Were they thinkers?  Risk-takers? (Try to tie to the PYP Profile.)

3. Conclusion:

Using your notes, what can you tell me about the first hot-air balloon ride?  Go over what you have written and try to retell the story to your parents tonight.  Next week we will still be learning about transportation, but we will have some rhyming fun.

Additional Resources:

1. Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride by Marjorie Priceman.
2. Clipboards
3. Pencils
4. Globe or atlas

Notes:

Key Terms:

Hot Air Balloons, Transportation, Test Flights, France, Aviation, Aviation History, Transportation History

Amazon Link:

Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride by Marjorie Priceman.

student handout:

Student Handout, Hot Air

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, students are introduced to twelve forms of transportation and a non-fiction series of books on transportation.  Be sure that you order the Let’s Go series beforehand so that you have all the necessary books in the collection.

Lesson Plan:

Suggested Grades:

K-2

Objective:

To learn at least two new forms of transportation.

Suggested Time:

30 – 40 minutes

Success Criteria:

When given three characteristics of forms of transportation, every child will successfully identify two forms of transportation she didn’t know before the lesson.

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction:

Remind children that last week they “tuned in” to the unit on transportation.  Ask them to tell you what the Little Blue Engine said when he was asked to help.  Did anyone use that motto during the week to achieve something that might have been difficult in the beginning?

2. Main:

Gather all the books in the Let’s Go! series.

Hide the covers of the books so that they can’t see them.  Give between one and three clues from the text.  Let the kids guess which form of transportation is featured in the book.  When they guess correctly, reveal the book.

If you choose to use cards instead of the Let’s Go! series, hide the picture on the front of the card while reading clues from the back.  Again, let the kids work out which form of transportation is featured on the card.  When they guess correctly, reveal the card.

Expand this lesson by letting the kids tell you about some of their more unusual travel experiences.  Some of them will have ridden on a motorcycle, in a recreational vehicle (RV), or perhaps even in a hot air balloon.  Teachers can often contribute exciting stories as well.  If no stories are forthcoming, use short video clips so that the kids can virtually experience the transportation themselves.

3. Conclusion:

Encourage the children to be on the lookout for new forms of transportation in the news or in the travels or reading.  Praise them for the thinking and work today.   Promise that next week we’ll follow-up with a mostly-true story about one of these forms of transportation!

Additional Resources:

Let’s Go! (series) by Anders Hanson, consisting of 12 books:

1. Let’s Go By Cable Car
2. Let’s Go By RV
3. Let’s Go By Hovercraft
4. Let’s Go By Hot Air Balloon
5. Let’s Go By Helicopter
6. Let’s Go By Motorcycle
7. Let’s Go By Boat
8. Let’s Go By Airplane
9. Lat’s Go By Train
10. Let’s Go By Truck
11. Let’s Go By Car
12. Let’s Go By Bus

Notes:

This is a great lesson because the kids are certain that they know everything about transportation.  This will challenge them a bit to think about non-traditional forms of transportation and perhaps variant forms of common transportation.  Example: Maglev train or steam train rather than just “train”.

At the time I posted this lesson plan, the Let’s Go! books were available from the publisher, ABDO, and from Follett.  However, they were unavailable on Amazon.  So, you may need to plan ahead for the materials.

If you can’t get the books, don’t worry!  You can easily improvise a substitute.  Choose some uncommon forms of transportation, make a one page visual, and write three clues on the back.  Kids can guess and you can give the same lesson, just with different materials.

If I were creating my own transportation guessing game, I would consider including these forms of transportation:  rickshaw (human powered), tuk-tuk (engine powered), taxi, water taxi, maglev train, ferry, canoe, caravan – be creative.  If you live in the Middle East, you could even work in a camel train!  If you are in the Netherlands, you could use a canal boat.  The kids will LOVE to try to work out the clues and guess the transportation.

If you are very adventuresome, create a set of game cards for each class so that they can take their cards with them, play again, and use the cards as a display in the classroom.

A writing extension would be to get the kids to create a simple story about one of these forms of transportation.

The lesson requires very little preparation yet provides a strong tie to the unit.  This is a staple in any transportation unit for Early Years through to Early Elementary.

Key Terms:

Transportation, Cable Car, RV, Hovercraft, Hot Air Balloon, Helicopter, Motorcycle, Boat, Airplane, Train, Truck, Car, Bus

Lesson Overview:

In this lesson, children will be introduced to story books and nonfiction titles about forms of transportation.

Lesson Plan:

Objective:

To introduce children to stories and information books with a transportation theme.  To teach the children the famous classic by Watty Piper, The Little Engine That Could.

Suggested Time:

30-40 minutes

Success Criteria:

Each student will be able to state the phrase, “I think I can”, when asked what the “Little Engine That Could” said to himself as he faced a challenge.

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction:

Ask what new unit the students are beginning.  Follow up by explaining that people have always had a need for transportation and that a lot of stories, poems, and even songs are written about transportation (example: “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver.)

Today you will get to explore some of the library’s collection that connects to the idea of transportation.

2. Main:

Teach The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.  Children may need help with some of the vocabulary.

Have the children repeat the phrase, “I THINK I can, I THINK I can”, once you come to it in the story.

Ask questions that check for understanding.  Why did the other engines not help?

• What was the passenger engine’s excuse?
• What was the freight engine’s excuse?
• What was the rusty engine’s excuse?
• What do we think about when we have chances to help and make a difference?
• What would you do if you were asked to help? Especially if helping might inconvenience you.

Encourage children to explore the transportation themed books while browsing and checking out today.

Ties to PYP Learner Profile:  Caring, Courageous (Risk Taker), and Principled.

3. Conclusion:

Everybody feels like the Little Blue Engine when we are asked to try new things we have never done before.  Is it usually good to try?  What happens if we try our hardest for as long as we can?  (Answer: We usually achieve our goals and grow in the process!)  Big ideas:  Perseverance and Courage.

Print and show the children a copy of the classroom poster (PDF below).  I like to print, trim, and mount the poster on a brightly colored piece of cardstock.  Tell the children that the poster will go back with them to their classroom so that they can remember the example of the Little Blue Engine and remember to always work hard and their best.

Additional Resources:

1. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.
2. An assortment of nonfiction books on transportation, arranged on tables where the children can easily access them.
3. An assortment of fiction storybooks on transportation, arranged on tables where the children can easily access them.
4. One copy of the classroom poster (see attached file)

Notes: 

Kids love to look at themed collections.  This one is exciting because children have a natural interest in trucks, cars, planes, motorcycles, helicopters, etc.

If you do not have time to pull all the books, let the first class help you do this.  Kids are brilliant at finding materials, and it’s good thinking and helping practice for them.  If the first class pulls the materials, you’ll have everything set for the following classes.

Recommended books for this lesson:

1. I cannot recommend the Let’s Go series highly enough.  It contains unusual titles including cable car and hovercraft.  Even better, there are simple diagrams that show how each form of transportation works.  Be sure to add this series to your library – nothing else compares to it.

Key Terms:

Watty Piper, Trains, Transportation, Cars, Ships, Planes, Airplanes, Trucks

Amazon Book Links

Some of my favorite transportation-themed books:

1. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.
2. Let’s Go series by Anders Hanson (12 titles, nonfiction)
3. Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw and Margot Apple
4. My Truck is Stuck by Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk
5. Hot Air by Marjorie Priceman (Historical Fiction)
6. Freight Train by Donald Crews
7. Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
8. Going on a Plane by Anne Civardi
9. The Old Steam Train by Heather Amery
10. Little Bear’s Little Boat by Eve Bunting
11. Captain Duck by Jez Alborough (will leave them laughing!!)

CLASSROOM Poster

Watty Piper, I think I can, Classroom Poster