Travel Spotters: Key Stage 2 Teacher's Notes

Game 1: Terrific TicketProvides a simple but effective tool for pupils to practise calculating the amount of change to give when buying a ticket and which coins they could use. This game links to Strand 1 “Using and applying mathematics” of the New Primary Framework for mathematics. Calculating the amount of change to give and which coins to use covers the objective “Solve one-step and two-step problems involving numbers, money or measures, including time; choose and carry out appropriate calculations” which runs through Year 3 to Year 6.

Game 2: The Carbon RaceThis game provides a visual demonstration of the carbon efficiency of different modes of transport. It helps pupils to clearly see which transport types can cause the biggest carbon impact. This links to the following QCA KS2 Geography Units – Unit 8 improving the environment, Unit 12 Should the high street be closed to traffic? And Unit 20 Local traffic – an environmental problem.

Game 3: Question/Answer GameThis activity provides a simple test of facts relating to the environmental/geographical issues raised in the comics. If pupils are encouraged to take notes whilst reading the comics and use thisrecorded information to help with the quiz, this could help to develop effective note making skills and thus link to Primary Frameworks for literacy.

Notes on the games

Game 4: Map GameThe map of transport links provides an interactive activity which both develops and tests pupils’ ability to map read and use a key. This links in with all units of work for Geography and is a key skill.

Game 5: Town PlannerTown Planner allows children to think carefully about the type of crossing best suited for different locations within an urban area. This multiple-choice interactive activity links well to the KS2 Geography Units 20 (Local traffic – an environmental problem) and Unit 21 (How can we improve the view from our window?). It could also be used to stimulate discussion and therefore links in with speaking and listening within the Primary Framework for literacy.

Comic Strip 1: Walk with Adil

Adil just loves to walk... and walk and walk! He walks no matter what the season or weather! His poor old dad just can’t keep up with all his walking!

Suggested cross-curricular activities and links to the curriculum: Numeracy 7 handling data - Ma4 1c problem solving and 1f how to organise and present findings Science Sc2 pos 2c, 2d, 2e and 2h human circulation, movement and exercise ICT: Finding things out using a website Literacy: 1, 2, 3 Speaking and Listening

Homework tasks Science/Art/ICT: use the Internet to find out all of the health benefits of walking and create a poster for your local doctor’s surgery. Maths: Look at the following data for people’s heart rates - Activity Heart rate (Beats per min) Sitting in the car 78 beats per min Watching TV 70 beats per min Walking to school 98 beats per min Running for the bus 132 beats per min Sleeping 67 beats per min

What does this data tell you about travelling by car? What is the best activity for a healthy heart? How could you present this data better? Have a go at drawing a simple bar chart for this data.

Comic Strip 2: Plan a Journey

Sophie really wants to go to visit her Auntie during the school holidays. She isn’t sure how to get there, how long it will take and when they will arrive. Mum comes to the rescue and shows her how to carefully plan a journey.

Suggested cross-curricular links and links to the curriculum This story links to the following strands of the new framework for literacy: strands 7 and 8 comprehension. Reading to extract information (timetables). The story also links to the new framework for numeracy: strands 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 calculating elapsed time; data handling (timetables). ICT Breadth of study 5c, everyday uses of ICT – websites to find information.

Homework tasks Literacy focus: Using the resource sheet (comic strip), can you continue the story and show/write what happens to Sophie at the farm and how she plans her journey back home? Does she find it easier this time? How does she solve this problem?

Art/design: Sophie’s Auntie is worried about the farm. It is losing money and may have to close. Sophie thinks it would be great if they could attract more visitors. Can you design and make a poster to help advertise the farm? Don’t forget to include some travel information of how to get there!

Travel Spotters: Key Stage 2 Teacher's Notes

Alisha’s Dad is reading a letter from her school. He tells her that congestion is causing too many problems outside of school. Alisha is confused...what is congestion? Why is it a problem and how can they solve it?

Suggested cross-curricular links and links to the curriculum Literacy: Strands 1, 2, 3 Speaking and listening – holding a class discussion. Geography: Units 12 (Should the high street be closed to traffic?) and 20 (Local traffic: an environmental issue) Science: Sc2 pos 2c, 2d, 2e and 2h human circulation, movement and exercise. Citizenship unit 1 – taking part.

Homework tasks Play the ‘Devil’s Advocate’ game by copying and completing the table to list the reasons for and against walking to school. Which has more reasons? Why do you think this? Are some reasons more important than others? Which ones would affect your decision whether to walk to school or not? Talk about this with a friend or hold a class discussion.

Comic Strip 3: Park and Stride

The school council are having an important meeting about ways to reduce traffic and congestion around school. The children are full of ideas, poor Mrs. Samuel can’t keep up with them all!

Suggested cross-curricular links and links to the curriculum PSHCE 01 Taking part (discussion and debate) Literacy: 1, 2, 3 Speaking and Listening, word structure and spelling Geography enquiry and skills

Homework Tasks Literacy/problem solving: Looking for smaller words within bigger words is a great way to improve your spelling. Solving anagrams and puzzles also helps to exercise your problem solving skills. Look at the following words and see how many words you can make using the letters:

Sustainable =

Environment =

Transportation =

Congestion =

Solution =

For walking to school Against walking to school

Alisha wants to advertise the ‘Park and Stride’ scheme. Can you help her design and make an information leaflet about it? Put in details of where to park, what the benefits are, etc.

Comic Strip 4: Join the Club

PSHCE focus: Do you have a school council? If you do, could you write a proposal to them to suggest ways to cut congestion on the road outside school? Maybe you could create a simple PowerPoint presentation to outline the benefits of walking or a Park and Stride System. If your school doesn’t have a school council, think of ways in which you could encourage your school to set one up. Create a poster or leaflet outlining some of the problems facing your school such as congestion and present it to your teachers.

Travel Spotters: Key Stage 2 Teacher's Notes

Josh is really worried about moving to his new school. He is feeling unsure of how to get there. Luckily for Josh his ‘super’ Grandad is there to help!

Suggested cross-curricular links and links to the curriculum SEAL: New Beginnings topic Art and Design QCA 6C A sense of place: exploring and developing ideas Literacy: 1, 2, 3 Speaking and Listening

Homework Tasks Literacy/PSHCE: Create a feelings web for Josh. Draw a picture of Josh in the middle of a piece of paper and then brainstorm as many different feelings that Josh felt during the comic.

Comic Strip 5: Super Grandad

Do you know what these

words mean?

Can you find them in the dictionary?

What made you feel this way?

Have you ever felt like this?

Art/Design: Imagine that Josh’s Grandad really was a ‘super’ Grandad. Can you help design him a superhero’s outfit? What powers could he have? How could he use these powers to encourage people to walk and use public transport?

Here is an example.

Unsure

WorriedScared

Nervous

Worksheet

Name

Try to find the following words which are taken from the comics in your dictionary.

Write your own definition in the box. Does this help you understand the comics better? Can you find any other words you weren’t sure of and fill them in on the table?

Dictionary DefinitionsWhen we investigate issues such as traffic and environmental problems there are often lots of confusing words! Luckily we

have a special book called a dictionary to help us!

Word Definition

Traffic

Congestion

Stride

Council

Reflector

Atmosphere

Worksheet

Name

That’s right! When we write speech in our stories we have to use speech marks!

“Let’s catch the bus!” shouted Vicky.

Pick your favourite comic. Can you change 5 of the speech bubbles into written dialogue. An example has been done for you.

“Sometimes I have a kick-about on the way!” declared Adil.

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

Speech Writer!In our comics we do lots of talking! We use speech bubbles in

comics to show the dialogue. Can you remember how we showdialogue in stories? What punctuation do we use?

Speech marks either side

Use a dialogue word to show how they are saying it.

Worksheet

Name

Data Handling

1. Look out of your window and create a simple tally chart of the different traffic going past your house for 5 minutes.

Type of vehicle Tally Total

Car

Bus

Motorcycle

Bicycle

Van/lorry

Other

Car

Bus

Motorcycle

Bicycle

Van/lorry

Other

Number of vehicles

How do people travel to your school? What is the traffic like onyour road? We can use our data handling skills to help us sort

this information.

2. Now have a go at completing this simple bar graph of your results. Think about your scale!

Worksheet

Name

Overcoming Worries

Think of all the things that Josh was worried about and how his grandad helped him. Can you draw/write a fact sheet to help other people who might be worried like Josh? Remember to include all the benefits of catching a bus, like meeting lots of people, environmental benefits, help you to visit lots of places etc.

Hi! My name is Josh. In my comic ‘Super Grandad’ I talkabout my worries of travelling on the school bus to school.

My grandad really helped me. Can you design a fact sheet to help other people?

My Fact Sheet

Hi! I’m Beth. When I’m not working hard on the schoolcouncil, I love to set puzzles and problems for my friends.

Can you help them to crack the code and solve my secret messages?

Worksheet

Name

Cracking the Code

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 262210

1.

2.

3.

1820 61 96 33 211 519 1619 1215 2112 920 1415

918 94 714 21 119 95 819 15 2012 258

212 119 518 216 145 19

Now it’s your turn! Can you come up with some of your own secret codes? Write them down here and see if your friends can solve them!

Worksheet

Name

Make a GameLook through all of the comics and pick out some of reasons why it is better to leave the car at home and walk and/or use public transport. Fill in this table with positives reasons for walking and using public transport. Then fill in the ‘negatives’ column outlining some of the problems associated with using your car all of the time.

Positive reasons to leave the car at home Negatives about using your car

Walk helps keep you fit Cars cause traffic

Now, fill in these reasons on some of the spaces on the blank board game sheet. Colour the positives in green and the negatives in red. Decorate your board game with pictures of different modes of transport. Find 2 counters and a dice and challenge a friend or family member to a game. If you land on a ‘negative’ square you must travel back to your original space. If you land on a ‘positive’ square you can roll again!

Worksheet

Name

Make a Game (board game sheet)

Start

Finish

Worksheet

Name

Log on to the website www.networkwestmidlands.com

Click and load the Interactive Rail Map and use it to help answer these questions when planning a journey by rail.

1. Click on Birmingham New Street Station. What is the post code?

2. Look at the Red Line – what is the station just before Lichfield City?

3. What colour line would I be using to get to Coventry?

4. If I get on the train at Stourbridge Junction, how many stops till I reach Birmingham Moor Street?

5. What zone is Solihull in?

6. What does this symbol mean?

7. What would the quickest way be from Wolverhampton to Walsall? Would it be by bus or rail?

8. I am at Witton Station and need to get to Coseley. Can you plan my journey below?

9. I am at Sutton Coldfield and need to get to Longbridge. How can I get there?

10. How many stations are there between Birmingham New Street and Redditch?

Map Reader

Worksheet

Name

Date Number of cars January 84 February 86 March 95 April 91 May 98 June 70

Can you help me with these questions?

1. Using the data above and a piece of graph paper, can you draw a line graph to show the number of cars using the road during this time.

2. Which month had the highest number of cars?

3. Which month had the lowest number of cars?

4. What is the pattern?

5. Why do you think there may have been a sudden increase in May?

6. Do you think car usage will continue to rise?

Reading Data

Hi! I’m Alisha and I am really worried about this thing called congestion.I conducted a car count

once a month for 6 months.

This table shows my data.

Worksheet

Name

Read the sentences on the following PowerPoint slides and fill in the missing information to help Sophie. Can you think of drawings you could include on the slides?

PowerPoint ProblemsHello! My name is Sophie and I have been busy creating a

presentation for my school about travel problems. Unfortunately my computer has got all mixed up!

Can you help me sort out the information?

Using your car everyday causes lots of t and this causes c .

Can you use these slides to make your own PowerPoint presentation on the computer?

Why not use your b to get to work or school? This is a lot better for your h .

A Park and R systemis good for the eand reduces c .

Travelling by b can be fun and it causes less p than travelling by c .

Why not set up a b clubor a w club. Maketravelling to school safe, fun and better for you and the environment.

W is the mostsustainable mode oft and is reallygood for your h .

Worksheet

Name

Each of our characters needs to use a variety of different modes of transport to reach their destinations. Can you use the online map on www.networkwestmidlands.com and help them to plan their journeys? Don’t forget to include walking and using their bicycles!

Journey Planner

Alisha needs to get from her uncle’s house at Cannock to her Gran’s house at Shenstone. Can you plan her journey for her?

Adil wants to walk to the station at Merry Hill Shopping Centre and then needs to get to Priestfield. Can you plan his journey for him?

Beth wants to meet her friends on the School Council. She has ridden her bike to Telford Central station. How can she meet them at Solihull? Can she use the train and the bus?

Josh wants to meet his Grandad. He is at Wolverhampton Station and his Grandad is going to meet him at Aston. What is the quickest route?