MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
(Open thematic poster)
CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK, MONTH, YEAR: The task train. Add tasks to
encourage children to accomplish new responsibilities. (Open the task train) Print,
laminate and cut out the task train. Hang it at children’s eye level near the area used for
circle time.
Here are a few suggestions which will help you distribute tasks. Place all pictograms
representing tasks on the floor face down, have children pick a pictogram or ask children
which tasks they would like to be responsible for. You may also want to place pictograms
face down on the floor, pick one at a time, and ask children to raise their hands if they are
interested in being responsible for it. If you wish, play musical ball. The child who has
the ball when the music stops, chooses his task.
CIRCLE TIME
I’m going on a trip and I’m packing…
Have the group sit down. Begin the game by saying, “I’m going on a trip by…” (ex.:
airplane). The game continues with a child saying, “I’m going on a trip by airplane and
by train.” Each child adds another means of transportation.
AREA SETUP
Place chairs in a row one behind the other. Children board the bus and take turns being
the bus driver. You may add accessories such as backpacks, lunch boxes, etc. Repeat
having children pretend they are in an airplane. Accessories can range from suitcases and
hats, to Hawaiian necklaces, etc.
For a boat, set a large blanket on the floor. Be sure to make it clear that the surrounding
area is the water. Use a small spray bottle to spray children who touch the water (floor
around the blanket).
For a train, children hold on to each other’s waists and walk around the daycare. You can
add obstacles such as a cushion on the floor for them to avoid. They mustn’t let go or the
train will be derailed.
VARIOUS WORKSHOPS
Have fun with these great workshop ideas provided by Caroline Allard.
Building blocks:
 Now is the time to use everything you have pertaining to means of transportation
 Add cardboard rolls (toilet paper, paper towels, wrapping paper, etc.) to create
tunnels
 Cut off the ends of 2-liter soft drink bottles. Glue them together to form a mega
transparent tunnel
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Flexible dryer hoses can also make excellent tunnels
Use a play mat or use colored ribbons to create roads (they can even climb up the
walls!) String can easily be used to make winding streets, it is simple to change
the configuration as often as children wish
Add colored tiles to the floor (without gluing them, of course). They can be
found at dollar stores and add a touch of color to your area at a low cost
Turn your corner into a construction site with various construction vehicles
(tractor, crane, dump truck, etc.) If you feel up to it, why not fill a small pool with
sand and let children play with the vehicles….the walls can be decorated with
different pictures too!
Arts & Crafts:
 Decorate the arts & crafts area with pictures of cars (using old calendars for
example). This may inspire children in their own creations
 Means of transportation stencils
 Light blue sheets of paper (for sky), brown and black paper (for ground), and dark
blue paper (for water). Children can glue or draw their favorite means of
transportation onto the paper
 Small cars and paint…children roll the cars in the paint and then roll them on
construction paper. Children may also try trucks and observe the differences
between the tracks left on the paper
 Cardboard, recycled materials and imagination to create reduced models of means
of transportation
Role Play:
 Transform your role play area into an airplane, a train, a boat… follow your
imagination! A few chairs paired with some decorations often do the trick.
Children will have fun for hours! Add clothes (captain’s uniform, pilot’s
uniform…) and discuss professions related to each means of transportation. You
can use the word flashcards!
 Create a garage area! Work clothes, gloves, and a few tools will do just fine. If
possible, add an old tire, children will love it!
Manipulation:
 Means of transportation memory game using Educatout pictures
 Board games in relation to means of transportation
 Modeling clay with pastry cutters in the shape of means of transportation
 Puzzles with pictures of cars, trucks, or other vehicles with characters well-known
by children
Reading/Relaxation:
 Books about means of transportation and related professions
 Cars book/CD with headphones
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Cars movie or Mighty Machines movie
Picture book representing various means of transportation in everyday life
Felt mural divided into three parts (sky, ground, and ocean) along with felt shapes
of different means of transportation to place in the correct area
Music/Motor skills:
 An obstacle course for children to “drive” through using a steering wheel (plate)
 Make a sequence of sounds following an announced means of transportation
which is spoken or illustrated
Sensory bins:
 Water table: Charlotte is in a boat which floats on water. Raoul has a truck which
sinks to the bottom. Use a variety of objects which sink or float. Children make
predictions
 Sand (or dirt) table: Add small cars or other means of transportation
ACTIVITY SHEETS
Print and laminate. Follow instructions.
(Open activity sheets-transportation)
PICTURE GAMES
The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group.
Use them to decorate the daycare or a thematic corner. (Open picture gametransportation) Print, laminate, and store in a “Ziploc” bag or in your thematic bins.
WORD FLASHCARDS
The flashcards may be used during circle time, in your reading and writing corner, or to
identify your various thematic bins.
(Open pdf word flashcards-transportation)
Airplane, train, boat, car, bus, bicycle, taxi, subway, helicopter, motorcycle, hot air
balloon, truck
ACTIVITIES
Transportation dominoes
(Open transportation dominoes) Print, and glue onto cardboard. Laminate and cut out.
This game is for 2 to 4 players. Each player picks five cards. Make a pile with the
remaining cards on the table. Place one card to begin. The first player then attempts to
match one of his cards to the initial card. If he has an identical card he places it side by
side with the card already on the table. The second player does the same and so on. If a
player cannot play one of his cards, he must pick an additional one from the pile. If this
card cannot be played either, it is the next player’s turn. The game ends as soon as one
player has emptied his hands.
A very long trip-mime game
Invent a story in which you are leaving on a very long trip with the group. Throughout
your very long trip, you will use many means of transportation. Begin with a car to drive
to the airport (children pretend to drive). Next, get on a plane (children pretend to board a
plane), and so on until the end of the trip. You can then make the return trip by reversing
the order of the means of transportation, a good memory exercise for children.
Red light, green light
Prepare green, yellow and red cards to represent street lights (or use crayons). Children
walk around the daycare. Show the green card and say, “Green light.” Children must
walk faster without running. Show the yellow card and say, “Yellow light.” Children
must walk slowly as in a slow motion movie. Display the red card and say, “Red light.”
Children must stop and remain still. Alternate the different colors.
Giant tic-tac-toe
On a large piece of white cardboard, trace lines representing a tic-tac-toe game. (Open
pdf train/boat) Trains are the equivalent of “x’s” and boats are the equivalent of “o’s”.
Have one child use trains and another use boats. They take turns placing trains and boats
on the game. The first player to place three identical means of transportation in a row or
diagonally wins.
Thank you Mr. Policeman
Select a child to play the role of the policeman. You request his help to locate a lost child.
Describe another child in the group (the one you are trying to locate). See if the child
playing the role of the policeman can identify the correct child.
I am a pilot
Encourage children to move about the daycare as if they were airplanes to the sound of
rhythmic music. Have them fly on their tiptoes then come back down on their heels. Start
the engine and spin around twice. Stretch your arms out to the side.
Air, earth and ocean
(Open pdf air, earth, ocean) Print and laminate the game. Use the word flashcards. With
Velcro, children associate the means of transportation to the areas in which they travel.
(Open pdf word flashcards- transportation)
Safe or dangerous
You need a red piece of construction paper and one green one. Write “Danger” on the red
paper and “Safe” on the green paper. Have children cut out pictures in magazines, flyers,
catalogues, etc. Glue pictures representing safe things on the green paper and dangerous
things on the red paper.
At the train station
You will need four corners marked off with circles made with hoola hoops or cord.
These four corners represent train stations. Children become passengers. The leader of
the game is the train station master. When the signal is given, the train station master
must say, “Passengers, change stations.” Children run to another corner (train station).
During the change, the train station master attempts to catch passengers (children). Each
passenger the master catches becomes a train station master too. The game ends when all
the passengers are caught.
The helicopter
Standing, legs slightly apart, arms to the sides, the helicopter will slowly start. One arm
draws a large lateral circle backwards. It then picks up speed slowly (without abrupt
movements). After ten rotations, the other arm begins to turn backwards also. Repeat
making forward circles, etc.
Which means of transportation am I?
Play transportation sounds for the children. Have them guess which means of
transportation it is. You can provide pictures to ensure proper association.
CULINARY ACTIVITY
Sailboat sandwich
Cut a sandwich into four triangles. Cut an apple making 1cm slices. Place a quarter of a
sandwich on top of each apple slice.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Sailboat
Use half a walnut (if children are allergic to nuts, use a Minigo container). Fill the nut
with modeling clay. Insert a toothpick into the middle of the clay. Cut out a small white
triangle. Have children decorate it then attach it to the toothpick. (If you use the walnut,
the sailboat will float)
Fireman helmet
Create a fireman’s helmet by cutting out a large strand of red construction paper. Make a
headband with it by stapling at the back. (Open craft-fireman helmet) Print. Children
color and decorate the shield as they wish then cut it out and attach it to the strand of red
paper.
COLORING PAGES
(Open coloring pages for theme-transportation)
SONGS & RHYMES
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS
The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round
Round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round
All through town
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep
Beep, beep, beep
Beep, beep, beep
The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep
All through town
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish
Swish, swish, swish
Swish, swish, swish
The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish
All through town
The doors on the bus go open and shut,
open and shut
open and shut
The doors on the bus go open and shut
All through town
By Patricia Morrison, sung to Row, Row, Row your boat
DRIVE YOUR CAR
Drive, drive, drive your car
To the traffic light
Rapidly, rapidly, rapidly, rapidly
If the light is green
Drive, drive, drive your car
To the traffic light
slowly, slowly, slowly, slowly
When the light is yellow
Stop, stop, stop your car
At the traffic light
Awaiting, awaiting, awaiting, awaiting
When the light is red
Have a good week!
Marie-Josée, Karine, Caroline, Nancy, Sonia, Magalie, Patricia, and all our collaborators.