transportation theme

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Book List Cars, Trains, Planes, and Trucks (Fisher-Price Little People Flip & Learn) - Nancy Rindone Chugga Chugga Choo Choo - Kevin Lewis Go, Dog, Go - P. D. Eastman I Love Trains - Philemon Sturges My Car - Byron Barton My Truck Is Stuck! - Kevin Lewis The Little Engine That Could - Wally Piper Trucks - Byron Barton Wheels on the Bus (Raffi Songs to Read) - Raffi Songs & Fingerplays Down by the Station Down by the station Early in the morning See the little puffer bellies, All in a row See the station master Turn the little handle Puff, puff, toot, toot, off we go I'm a Little Airplane - sung to "I'm a Little Teapot" I'm a little airplane, I can fly, Here's my throttle, Give me a try. When I get all revved up, I can fly,

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Page 1: Transportation Theme

Book List

Cars, Trains, Planes, and Trucks (Fisher-Price Little People Flip & Learn) - Nancy RindoneChugga Chugga Choo Choo - Kevin LewisGo, Dog, Go - P. D. Eastman I Love Trains - Philemon SturgesMy Car - Byron Barton My Truck Is Stuck! - Kevin LewisThe Little Engine That Could - Wally PiperTrucks - Byron BartonWheels on the Bus (Raffi Songs to Read) - Raffi

Songs & Fingerplays

Down by the Station

Down by the station Early in the morning See the little puffer bellies, All in a rowSee the station master Turn the little handle Puff, puff, toot, toot, off we go

I'm a Little Airplane - sung to "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a little airplane, I can fly, Here's my throttle,Give me a try. When I get all revved up, I can fly, Off the runway, To the sky!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, 

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Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.

Arts & Crafts

Paint and Car Wash

Fill pie pans with different colors of paint let the children drive matchbox cars through the paint and onto paper. When finished...they can wash their cars in the car wash!! Just use a tub of soapy water and toothbrushes.

Margarine-Tub Sailboat

Need: Margarine tub, clay, paper, crayons and markers, straw

Press a ball of clay in the bottom of a margarine tub. Insert a straw in the clay; then tape a decorated paper into the top of the straw.

In The Kitchen

Apple Sailboat Snack

Have the children make apple sailboats from an apple slice, a triangular piece of cheese, & a toothpick.

Marshmallow Trains

Make marshmallow trains. Use pretzel sticks to hook the "cars" together and use peanut butter to glue cheerios on as wheels and other features.

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Theme Ideas

At our school (we teach Special education preschool, so our 3-5 year olds ride the bus), we film each child getting off of the bus or out of their car on the first day of school. We then let the children watch the video tape during circle time. Then we sing "this is the way we go to school, go to school, go to school, this is the way we go to school early in the morning."

~Submitted by Kristi in Tennessee

Links!

Transportation Activities - DLTKTransportation/Vehicles - Enchanted LearningPreschool Transportation Theme - Everything PreschoolTransportation - Preschool Activities and Crafts - First SchoolTransportation Theme - Preschool Education

*Air Transportation

*Poem

Airplane Art©Poetry Play For PreschoolersBy Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Zigging, zaggingWay up highPainting picturesIn the sky!

Read the story "It Looked Like Split Milk." Print the poem "Airplane Art" by Kimberly M. Hutmacher. After reading the poem have the children complete the illustration for the poem.

Click here   for a printer friendly version of the poem "Airplane Art."A new window will open.

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  The white shape silhouetted against a blue background changes on every page. Is it a rabbit, a bird, or just split milk? Children are kept guessing until the surprise ending--and will be encouraged to improvise similar games of their own. Blue and white pictures. Age 4 to 6.

*Learning Centers

Runway

In the block area build a runway with long planks or unit blocks. Have wooden or unbreakable model airplanes available for takeoffs and landings.

Airport

A plank laid across a wooden box could make an airplane. Add a steering wheel or dial panel. Propellers can be cut out of cardboard and taped to the edge of the plank. A step can be pushed up to the plane for passengers to get on or off the plane. A wagon or rolling platform can be used to take passengers' luggage to and from the plane.

Airplane

Poetry Play For Preschoolers

By Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Poems and activities to challenge and enhance children's creativity.An A to Z Kids Stuff Ebook Exclusive.

Set up 2 rows of chairs with an aisle between. Section off a galley with a three-way play screen or other room divider. Provide tv dinner trays with play food and cups for the flight attendants to serve to the passengers.

Tongue Depressor Airplanes

Staple two craft sticks together to form a "t". Have children use craft scraps to decorate the tongue depressor airplanes.

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*Other Sites

Artie the Airplane color pages.

*Road Transportation

*Fingerplays/Songs

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 roundAll through the town.

Other verses:The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish.The doors on the bus go open and shut.The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep.The driver on the bus says, "Move on back."The people on the bus go up and down.

Wheels

Wheels big,  (form big circle with fingers)Wheels small,  (form little circles with fingers)Count them one by oneTurning as they're pedaled  (make pedaling motion with hands)In the springtime sun,1-2-3-4-5  (count fingers)

 DVD-Scholastic Video Collection

Hop on the bus and sing along with "The Wheels On the Bus" and other classic sing along stories, plus two bonus stories on the DVD edition.

Enjoy luscious colors, clever characters, and eye-popping animation and lively musical scores. A perfect blend of story and song. True to the original

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adaptiaons of classic and award winning books by renowned authers: Paul O. Zelinsky, Bob Baner, John Langstaff and, Rose Bonnie and Alan Mills. Age 3 to 9.

 

*Art

Wheels On A RoadNeed: small outline of a school bus, long strips of white paper, crayons.

Give each child a long strip of white paper with a small paper schoolbus glued on the left-hand side. Have the children lay the long strip of paper on the floor. Tell the children that this is the road the bus drives on, and ask them to draw all the things that are on each side of the road.

Yellow Bus

Need: bus pattern, yellow paint, sponges, black construction paper.

Before painting have children print their name on the back. Sponge paint your bus yellow. Cut black squares and place on your bus for windows. Color the tires and bottom front bumper black. On a seperate paper ask each child "Where is your bus going?" Write down what the child says.

Car Wheel PaintingNeed: small cars and trucks, paint, construction paper.

Provide large sheets of paper and low flat pans of tempera paint (pie tins). Encourage the children to place the small cars and trucks in the paint. They can then make car and truck tracks onto their construction paper.

Traffic Lights

Provide red, yellow, and green construction paper circles, glue, and construction paper for the children to create a traffic light.Contributed by: Carie Summer

Transportation College

Using magazines have children cut out pictures of cars and trucks. Children then glue their pictures onto construction paper

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Cars on the go - Transportation Mural Need: sponges craft glue butchers paper paint textas/crayons Mural Adult to draw a road across paper. Allow children to dab car stamps in paint and press onto paper mural. (Stamps need to be made up at home.) . Child can also draw trees with texta/crayons and other surroundings, to finish off the mural.(If done outside there will be less mess to clean up at the end.)

Stamps Cut out cars shapes from sponges and glue onto an off cut of wood. Allow to dry.(Other transportation stamps could be made to fit with the theme also!) Contributed By: Debbie

*Learning Centers

Bus

Set up a bus by lining up chairs in one or two long rows. Provide a steering wheel for the driver. A money bucket and play money. Can use anything round as the steering wheel. A pizza cardboard works great.

Taxi

Set up two rows of chairs side by side to represent a taxi. Provide a steering and hat for the driver. Provide dress-up clothes for the passengers. Make and place a "Taxi" sign on the chairs.

Sand Table

Add play cars and trucks to the sand table. Wet down the sand.

Add gravel and small toy cars and trucks.

Gears

Collect a variety of gears and place on the science table.

Tire Rubber

Cut off several pieces of rubber from old tires. Place the tire rubber pieces on the science table with magnifying glasses.

Car Mechanic

If you have any broken riding toys or vehicle parts(such as wheels, tires) place them outside with tools. The children can experiment with the tools.

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*Math

Wheel Sequence

Cut out various sized circles from posterboard to represent wheels. Have the children sequence the wheels from largest to smallest.

Math Groups-Car Dice RollNeed: dice, dice car pattern

Roll a die and count the dots. Then color in that number of dots on your car. Keep playing until all the dots on your car is colored in.

*Snack

The Snack BusNeed: graham crackers, yellow food coloring, cream cheese, cheeze-it crackers, ritz-bits crackers, cinnamon red- hot candies

Color the cream cheese with yellow food coloring. For each child one graham cracker (2 squares). Take a graham cracker and frost with yellow cream cheese. Lay the graham cracker length wise.

Place 3 Cheeze-It crackers near the top for the windows. Add 2 Ritz-Bits crackers for wheels. Add cinnamon red-hot candies (1 near top right and 1 near bottom left) for the lights. A fun snack for children to make!

Twinkie Bus

Take a Twinkie and cut out a small rectangle from one end to make it look like the hood and windshield (so that it is shaped like a bus). Frost the entire cake yellow, can also frost the front with blue frosting for a windshield. Add Oreos for wheels and you have a bus cake. Perfect activity to do with the "Wheels On The Bus" song.Contributed by: pricepm

Cheese Wheels

Cut cheese slices using a cookie cutter into circle shapes to represent wheels. Top each round cheese slice with raisins or serve with crackers.

*Rail Transportation

*Fingerplays/Songs

A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track(Tune of Polly Wolly Doodle)

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A peanut sat on a railroad track,His heart was all a-flutter,Round the bend came number ten,Toot! Toot! Peanut butter! SQUISH!!!

*Art

Train

Using contruction paper rectangles and black circle wheels. Have children print their name on the front of the construction paper rectangle. Decorate the rectangle with many different kinds of spankels. Add 2 black circles for wheels.

Prints Available atAllPosters

   Train Art PrintKennedy, Lila...Buy at AllPosters.com

Cut out a talk bubble from white paper (shaped like smoke). On the bubble write "I think I can." Ask children to tell you something they would like to do in school. Write their answer on the bubble

Connect the train boxcars and place an engine in the front. Have the car run up and over your closets, bullentin board etc... With the caption "We know we can."

Shape Train

Provide the children with circles and rectangles of various colors and sizes to paste on construction paper to create railroad cars.

*Water Transportation

*Art

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Boat Collage

Have children look through magazines and cut out pictures of boats and ships to paste on blue construction paper.

Sailboat

Use a sailboat stencil to draw sailboats onto blue construction paper. Have the children spatter paint onto the sailboat outline with any color of paint they choose. Add triangles cut from paper as sails.

*Learning Centers

Ticket Booth

Place in your dramatic play area pictures of ships and travel brochures. Have suitcases available for packing. Add play money to purchase tickets. Set up a ticket booth.

A Boat

Using postal tape outline a boat in the block area. Add a 8 foot line on the floor as the plank of the boat. Offer ideas to the children on how to use the plank ( balancing on one foot, hopping, walking backwards etc.)

*Science

Transportation: Sink or Float Need: water, clay, random items from your classroom

Make a boat shape out of clay and float it on the water. Explain the the children that the boat floats because of it's shape and then crumple the boat into a ball and show how it will sink when it's not in that shape. Ask the children to pick an item from the classroom. Let each child guess whether their item will sink or float and why and then let them drop their item in the water and see if they were write. Make a poster board with a line down the middle that has sink on one side and float on the other and write which ones did which. Contributed By: Lauren

Art Activities

Transportation Theme Art

Traffic Lights

Materials Needed: Cardboard egg cartons (in sections of 3); craft sticks; paint; clay

Provide red, yellow and green paint. Place craft stick into bottom. Once painted, place stick into a piece of clay as a base. These are great to use with cars, trucks etc. or in the block area!

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Vehicles That Color

Materials Needed: crayons, masking tape, small toy vehicles such as cars, paper

Tape 2-3 crayons to the front or back of a toy car. Tape so that the points of the crayons are slightly lower than the bottom of the car. Encourage the children to "drive" the vehicles on paper. Have many of these made in advance...this is a big hit with our preschoolers!

This can also be done with markers and chalk!

Sponge Painting

Materials Needed: soft sponges cut into vehicle and other transportation theme shapes, paint, shallow trays, paper, Optional: clothes pins

Put paint in shallow trays. Put out paper, sponges and the paint and let the children's imaginations take over! You can also clip clothes pins on the backs of the sponges to make it easier for the children to dip them into the paint.

Extension: Provide paper with pre-drawn "roads" wide enough for the sponge vehicles to fit in between. Encourage the children to sponge paint cars on the roads.

Additional Extension: For older preschoolers, encourage them to make an AB or ABC pattern of cars on the roads (blue, yellow, blue, yellow, etc.) or make up their own patterns if you have covered patterns with them!

Cloud Painting

Transportation in the Air! Materials Needed: Blue paper, cotton balls or pom-poms, clothes pins, white and gray paint

Encourage children to paint clouds in the sky. Will they have storm clouds? White, fluffy clouds?

Extension: Encourage children to cut out their own "in the air" transportation vehicles. Just let them cut paper into their own shape and create their own! Then have them glue their air vehicles in their clouds!

Hot Air Balloons

Matierials Needed: Round balloons, watered down glue (or other paper machie recipe you like), strips of newspaper, colored tissue paper, yarn, colored paper or strawberry baskets

Help children (if needed) to cover balloon with at least one layer of newspaper. It may be easier if you encourage them to completely "paint" the balloon with the glue or machie liquid and then cover with strips of news paper and then "paint" over the newspaper.

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(Preschoolers tend to give up quickly when they have to pick newspaper out of a tray of glue and water. It is a lot of fine motor activity for them all at once.). After a layer is covering balloon, encourage them to place colored tissue paper over the newspaper and re"paint" with glue.

Let dry for several days. Pop balloons (favorite part in our classroom!). Hole punch a hole on each side of the opening of balloon shape. Using yarn, Tie strawberry baskets onto balloon shape (or have children paint paper to make their own baskets and tie them on).

Extension: Hang Hot Air Balloons in classroom. A great story to read before making these is Altuna Baboona or read the story after they are hung up (or both!). Encourage the children to tell a story of where they would go in their hot air balloon!

Additional Extension: Make a class book of the children's hot air balloon stories complete with a picture of them holding their balloon!

Car Painting

Materials Needed: Small transportation theme vehicles (small cars, trucks, etc.), shallow paint trays, several colors of paint, paper Does it need to be said?!! Let 'em roll! Try to choose vehicles that have different textured and sized wheels. They make great design discussions as the children roll the cars from the paint trays to their papers!

I Think I Can

Materials Needed: Construction paper; watercolor paint; precut wheels; precut conversation bubbles that say "I think I can!" Ask them where they would travel to if they could go ANYWHERE they wanted! Write down their answers on a piece of paper for later reference! You are going to make these into trains later!

Have the construction paper out with the paints and just let the children paint! When they are done and dry, give them wheels to glue on as well as a conversation bubble.

Write down on each child's train where they said they'd like to go!

Use these to make a classroom book to read over and over throughout the year labeled "Where we'd like to go!". Use these to make a "border" on your classroom wall or bulletin board.

Variation: Instead of asking where they'd like to go, talk with them while they are painting about what they'd like to learn, or be when they grow up!

Write down what they say for your own reference. When these are dry, add wheels to the bottoms and the "I think I can" bubble to each one. Hang them on a wall or bulletin board with a large title called "WE KNOW WE CAN" or "WHAT WE WANT TO BE WHEN WE GROW UP" or some other saying.

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Block Area

Transportation Theme Block Center Ideas

Ramp It Up!

Materials Needed: Triangular blocks, flat blocks, transportation theme vehicles with wheels

Show the children how to make ramps for their vehicles. Discuss the distance they go on each ramp. Ask questions to get them thinking such as "I wonder why this car went this far on this ramp but only this far on the other ramp". "I wonder how we can make the car go further? faster? slower?".

Variation: Make two or three different ramps that have different heights (declines). Ask a child to let his vehicle go down the first ramp. Mark where it stops with a piece of tape (masking or painters tape) on the floor/carpet. Then ask same child to let the same vehicle go down the next ramp and mark where it lands. Discuss results. Try this with different vehicles.

Home Made Blocks and Transportation Theme Vehicles

Collect boxes of different sizes (from families or your own recycling from home!) including cereal and other food boxes, gift boxes, etc.

Wrap them in brown and colored paper.

Encourage children to make them into houses (by drawing windows and doors), transportation theme vehicles and boats (by drawing wheels and windows for cars and trucks).

Help the children use them along with the blocks already in your block area to build cities and towns. Don't forget to add an airport or lake!

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Circle Time Activities

Transportation Theme Circle Time Ideas

Circle Time is such a great time for children to learn the social skills of being together as a large group AND to learn more about your Transportation Theme!

Puppet Show: Getting From Here To There-Help Me!

Materials Needed: Puppet, large bag of transportation theme vehicles and items (such as helicopter, train, airplane, car, truck, motorcycle, boat, rocket ship, horse, etc.)

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Place the transportation items in the bag with the puppet. Introduce the puppet to the children. "Hi everyone! I'd like you to meet my friend___!" Give the children time to introduce themselves or just say "Hi" to each child with your puppet!

Have a conversation with your puppet about the problem he or she is having: He has several trips he needs to take is not sure how to get there. Below is a sample script, but change it meet your needs!

You: "______(puppet's name), the children here have been learning a lot about transportation. Maybe they can help you decide how to get where you need to go?"

Puppet: "Transportation?" (have him look at the children) "What does that mean?"

You: "Transportation is the word we use to talk about ways we get from one place to another."

Puppet: "OH! Yes, please! If you have all learned about that, I think you really could help me?"

You: "Here are some different ways of transportation." (Place each of the items from the bag on the floor in front of the children. Encourage the children to name each one while you take it out of the bag. Have the puppet repeat each word as the children name it.

You: "Where is the first place you would like to go to?"

Puppet: "I need to go to the supermarket. It is right here in (name of town or city)."

You: "Children, how do you think puppet can get to the supermarket?"

The children may answer Walk, ride a car, horse! Accept all answers and then ask the puppet which way he would like to go.

Keep on asking How can I get to _____ type questions that would use the items you have placed on the floor for as long as interest is high with the children.

Be sure to have the puppet thank the children for their help before he says goodbye!

Water, Sky, Land

Materials Needed: Large piece of paper with blue paper glued on top, green paper glued on bottom (leave middle white) and a darker blue circle shape glued somewhere on the green. The top blue is for SKY, the green for LAND and the darker blue for WATER; transportation theme items and vehicles (small toy cars, horses, airplanes, hot air balloons).

Pass out one transportation theme items to each child to hold. Give each child a turn to tell what item she has and where it is used (Water, Sky or Land) and ask them to place the item where it should go on the paper.

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Extension: Instead of just passing out the items at circle time, try placing them in a bag. Give each child a turn to reach in and choose one. You can also place one item in the bag and as each child reaches in, ask if they can guess what form of transportation it is just by feeling it and not looking in the bag!

How We Travel

Materials Needed: Large chart paper; Marker

Prepare in advance a large piece of paper separated by lines into 2 columns, with the left column being not as wide as the right column. Label the chart How We Travel

In the right column, draw pictures (or glue on pictures) of different ways the children might travel (car, truck, van, bus, horse, airplane, etc.).

During Circle Time, show them the chart and read the label. Ask if any of the children have ever traveled in a car. Write down the names of the children who have in the right hand column. Continue this for each mode of travel you have listed.

Extension: Help your children with name recognition by preparing in advance pieces of paper with each child's name on it. Make enough name tags for each child to be able to put their name next to every mode of travel (just in case they have traveled on each type!). When asking if they have ever traveled by car, have them glue or tape their name next to the picture of the car. Continue for each mode.

Extension: Add a third column to the right of where the children's names will be. When done with this activity, have the children help you count the names next to each mode of travel and write that number in the box to the right. When completed, ask which row has more (or ask, which is more 10 children or 6 children). This extension activity can be done later in the day or on another day rather than all at one sitting.

Show and Tell Materials Needed: Transportation Theme Toy or vehicle from home from each child.

Send a letter home in advance announcing "Transportation Show and Tell Day" to the families.

Ask children to place their Show and Tell item behind their backs. Take turns asking each child to show the item they brought in and encourage them to tell their friends about it.

Note: Some children are not sure what to say! This is a GREAT opportunity to help them to develop their group speaking and social skills. Our goal for Show and Tell is for the children to share information about something of theirs in order to get to know each other better! A personal Show and Tell time is great for this! However, if there is concern about bringing items in from home (such as concerns that it will get lost or broken), rather than ask families to send

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something in, take the children on a Show and Tell hunt in your classroom and have them choose ONE transportation item from the classroom to bring to Circle Time to talk to their friends about.

Be ready with some questions such as "Does it work in the water? Does it have wheels? Where would you go if you could travel on that?"

Additional Note: Some children will forget to bring in a show and tell, it's inevitable! Encourage that child to choose their favorite transportation item from the classroom. When it is their turn, in addition to questions about the item itself, ask why they like to play with that one in school.

What Has Wheels?

Materials Needed: Large piece of unlined chart paper and a marker.

Draw a large circle on the paper. Tell the children "This is a wheel. What types of transportation vehicles have a wheel or wheels?". List all their answers inside the wheel.

Extension: Write down exactly what they say in the wheel surrounded by quotes and then list their name next to it. Example: "My bike has 3 wheels" --Sherry Post the chart for families to see!

Extension: Post the list near the art area or writing table and encourage children to paint, draw or sculpt (with playdough or clay) the item they listed!

Flannel Board Sorting

This activity is much like the Water, Land, Sky activity listed in this section.

Materials Needed: Flannel pieces of transportation theme vehicle items; flannel board

You can make pieces from felt in advance. You can also laminate pictures of items and glue a piece of flannel to the back. Some teachers have found that using a piece of a fabric softener sheet on the back works just as good as felt and is less expensive!

Show the flannel board. Teach them spatial relationship words by explaining that the sky is on the TOP, the BOTTOM is the road or ground and the SIDE (add some blue for water to the side) is the water.

Give each child a flannel piece. Take turns asking what item they have and invite them to place their piece on the board where it would travel. Ask them "Would your airplane go in the air on TOP, on the ground in the MIDDLE or in the water on the SIDE?

Extension: Make a duplicate set of what you have. Give out one piece of one set to the children and keep the duplicate set. Show one of your pieces. Ask the children what it is. Ask them

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WHERE it should go on the board. Place it on the board. Then invite the child with the matching piece to come up and place their piece NEXT TO yours.

Extension: Place the board and the pieces in your Library Area for the children to use during Center Activity Time.

Let's Move!

Materials Needed: Toys that represent different modes of travels (or pictures).

Ask the children to all stand up. Tell them you are going to show them different modes of transportation and when you do, they should move like that item. Encourage them to also make the sound that goes with it! Be sure to join in the fun to model this. Example: "Yes! It's an airplane! Let's move like airplanes! Let me hear your best airplane noise! Are they loud or quiet?"

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Cooking Recipes

Snack Recipe Ideas to Cook Up for Your Transportation Theme!

Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation! Ask many questions while cooking with your children to encourage conversation! Be sure to ask specific transportation theme questions while making these fun snacks!

Apple Boat

Ingredients and Items needed: Apple, slice of cheese, mini pretzel stick.

Core the apple, do not slice. Slice the apple into 4 quarters. Slice cheese into 4 triangles.

Have children place a pretzel stick into the apple quarter. Wrap a cheese triangle around the top of the pretzel for a sail.

Cracker Wheels

Ingredients and Items needed: Round crackers, cheese spread or cream cheese, a red pepper sliced into thin strips, plastic knives.

Supervise the children as they cut the pepper strip into small pieces. Encourage them to spread the cheese onto crackers and then sprinkle some cut peppers on!

Talk about what they have learned during your Transportation Theme as you eat snack together!

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Traffic Lights

Ingredients & Items needed: Graham crackers, cheese spread or cream cheese, apples (red, yellow and green), plastic knives.

Cut apples so that you cut 4 sides off of the core. Then cut into circle shapes. Give each child a whole graham cracker (rectangle) for the traffic light post.

Supervise them as they spread cheese onto cracker.

Give each child one red, yellow and green apple circle to place on the cheese in the order of traffic lights.

Banana Boats

Ingredients & Items needed: Bananas, yogurt, small cups, plastic knives, spoon.

Help children to cut the banana in half both lengthwise and widthwise. They should spoon yogurt into their cup and then place 2 pieces of banana on each side of the cup.

Travel Trail Mix

Ingredients and Items needed: cheerios, raisins, pretzels and other healthy snacks each in their own bowls; a spoon in each bowl; plastic baggies

Children place one spoonful of each item into their Travel Snack Baggies

Wheels

Ingredients and Items needed: Round, healthy foods in their own containers. Examples- blueberries, banana slices, carrot rounds, etc.

Have child spoon one spoonful of each food into a bowl. You could have some vanilla or strawberry yogurt to top it off.

Covered Wagon Wheel Pancakes

Ingredients: For pancakes: 2 cups flour, pinch of salt, 2 well beaten eggs and milk; banana slices and strawberry slices. For butter: 1 pint of whipping cream, glass jar with cover (such as a baby food jar).

Make the pancakes with the children. Have children each put an ingredient in. They all love to be part of the cooking process! If necessary, due to the number of children, simply have each child add 1 spoonful of the flour into a bowl until they have all had a turn! With the children, stir the ingredients until smooth. Spray or oil a pan and cook pancakes for snack.

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Make butter! Pour whipping cream into a glass jar (only fill jar 1/4 to 1/2 full). Cover jar and shake! Be sure all the children have a turn and be sure to help as well. As cream solidifies, pour out some of the excess liquid and then continue shaking. It will eventually become a yellow solid of butter! Add a bit of salt to flavor if desired.

Have children decorate their own pancake with the fruit. Encourage the children to spread some of their home made butter on their pancake and top with the fruit!

Bubbly Drink

Combine 12 ounces of frozen apple juice concentration, 3 cups of water and 1 liter of club soda. Great way to cool off after a car wash!

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Dramatic Play Ideas

Transportation Theme Ideas to Transform Your Dramatic Play Area

Gas Station

Materials Needed: Different sized boxes; toy tools (wrenches, hammers, etc.); cash register and money; assortment of transportation theme vehicles including toy cars and trucks; pads of paper and markers.

To do: Make some of the boxes into items for your gas station and/or mechanics garage. Make things such as a gas pump, mechanics tool box, etc. Have a cash register and paper and pencils/markers to write up repair orders or receipts. Use your toy cars from the classroom to have them repaired in the shop!

Use donated boxes to make child sized cars. Cut out top and bottom flaps. Make small, rectangular holes in top area of both sides for the children to put their hands in to hold box up while they stand in it and "ride" to the gas station for gas or for repairs! It would be a GREAT art project for the children to paint and decorate their cars!

Vacation Station

Materials needed: Chairs for an airplane, bus, boat or train; pretend food and trays, backpacks, suitcases, extra clothing; paper and markers to make tickets; hold punchers to punch tickets as passengers board.

DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)

Turn your dramatic play area into the DMV! Hang a chart with alphabet letters on the wall for eye tests. Have a list of questions on a clip board (such as How old are you? What color are your

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eyes? What is your first name? What is your last name?, etc.). Set up a picture booth (hang a piece of fabric on the wall, a chair near the wall and a pretend camera to take pictures (or a real one for you to take their pictures!). Provide a piece of paper for their Preschool License. Develop it to look similar to your state's driver's license.

Before "approving" a child for a license, have them complete an obstacle course either with a car made from a box (see Gas Station above in this section) or with a small, toy car in their hands. Set up a course that challenges the gross motor areas you are working on (jumping 2 inches over a rope, crawl through a tunnel, balance on a beam, catch a ball, etc.).

Travel Agency

Obtain travel brochures from local travel agencies. Also look for maps and other items for your Transportation Theme dramatic play area! While you're at it, ask the travel agency manager if they have a staff member that would come to your preschool group to talk about their job and bring brochures, etc. If you are willing to send some information home from the agent, they should be willing to donate their time!

Set up your area with a table for a desk, clipboards, pictures, pens, pencils, paper, perhaps a keyboard that someone is not using for them to "type" into.

Also provide paper and markers/crayons for the children to make tickets and their own brochures!

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Easel Ideas

Transportation Theme Ideas for your Easel--More Than Just Painting (Although that is always THE favorite in our classroom!)

Transportation Shape Vehicle

Precut different shapes and colors and place them in the tray of the easel along with glue sticks. Encourage children to design their own mode of transportation! Ask them where they would go, what they will call their vehicle, etc.

Extension: Encourage the children to cut or rip their own shapes! You can provide paper with pre-drawn shapes for them to cut out as well as plain paper for them to choose their own shape to cut.

Sticker Fun

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Clip large, white paper on the easel. Provide paint and transportation stickers. Encourage the children to paint the sky, ground and some water and then place transportation theme stickers on the appropriate part of the paper.

Extension: Instead of paint, provide the children with markers or crayons or chalk and water! Change it up a bit!

Painting

Materials Needed: Tempera Paint and brushes. Instructions: NONE!

That's right, none! Remember that just because we have a set transportation theme for a week or more, does not mean that ALL activities have to revolve around it! Children at this age are beginning to experiment with representational pictures, but are not quite there yet! Be sure to allow activities where they can just explore and use materials such as painting just to paint and cutting paper just to cut paper!

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Gross Motor Games

Transportation Theme Large Group Games that help build their muscles while they have fun together

Stay on the Road!

Use chalk to draw roads for the children to ride their ride-on bikes or cars on. This can be done outside or inside. If you do not have child size ride on cars or bikes, have the children drive toy transportation theme vehicles within the roads.

Extension: Provide stop and go signs, have one of the children become a traffic office to stop traffic and let them go again!

Musical Transportation Theme Chairs In advance, make a set of papers with transportation theme items on them. Make 2 of each. Include pictures of cars, trucks, buses, horses, people walking etc.

Place the same number of chairs back to back that there are children in your group.

Place one card in each chair. Give a matching card to each of the children.

Explain that when the music is on, they should all walk around the chairs and look for their matching card, but don't touch it, keep walking. Tell them that when you stop the music, you will yell "Time to Park!" and they should find the matching card in the chair and sit on that chair.

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Show them the direction you want them to go when the music is playing or they are walking (so they don't bump into each other!).

Start the music and play. Play as many times as there is interest. This is a NON competitive game. Competition at this age can be unhealthy. The purpose of games at this age should be to promote social skills and following directions, not "winning" or being "better"...promote teamwork!

Extension: Instead of using chairs and music, try no music and blowing a train whistle when they are to find their chairs.

This game can be played outside or inside. When outside, instead of moving chairs outside, draw circles with chalk for them to sit in!

Car Wash

Provide the children with sponges, soapy water and towels and clean your outdoor ride-on cars! If you are brave, try a car wash for your REAL cars (the teachers' and/or parents' cars)!

Land the Airplane

Provide the children with premade paper airplanes (if you are not sure how to make them, ask a parent if they can!).

Have a large box (or laundry basket) for them to throw their planes into. We recommend slightly folding the "nose" of the plane a bit to avoid eyes being poked. Another way to avoid this is to provide the children with safety goggles that you may have for your science center. They can wear these while playing and pretend to be Pilots!

Again, this is an indoor or outdoor activity.

Row Your Boat Parachute Game

Have the children shake the parachute up and down to the tempo while they sing along to Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Start by singing the song at regular speed/tempo. Then sing fast, then very slow.

Extension: Have one child be the "Rower"...they are OUTSIDE the parachute and pretend rowing around the outside of the children while they sing. When done singing, everyone freezes, and whomever the "Rower" is standing behind is the next Rower, so they switch places.

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Library and Literacy

Transportation Theme Ideas for Your Library and Literacy Activities for your Preschool

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Classroom

Book Suggestions for the Library

Altoona Baboona by Janie Bynum

Barney's Big Balloon by Barney

Bears On Wheels by Jan and Stan Berenstain

The Boat Book by Samantha Berger & Pamela Chanko

Bumper to Bumper by Annie Owen

Cars! Cars! Cars! by Grace Maccarone

Down By the Station by Will Hillenbrand

Engine Engine Number Nine by Stephanie Calmenson

Finding the Titanic by Robert Ballard

Go Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman

Ghost Liners by Robert Ballard

Into The Sky by Ryan Ann Hunter

I've Been Working on the Railroad by Nadine Westcott

The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper

The Little Old Train by Margaret Otto

Little Red Caboose adapted by Steve Metzger

Machines That Work by Usborne Books

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee

Railroad Toad by Susan Schade and Jon Buller

Sailaway Home by Bruce Degen

Scuttle The Stowaway Mouse by Jean and Nancy Soule

Thomas The Tank Engine Stories by Christopher Awdry

Thomas The Tank Engine's Big Yellow Treasury by Christopher Awdry

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Trains by Gail Gibbons

I have a selection of Transportation Themed books on sale:

Click here to see Transportation Books for sale

Library Wall Transportation Theme Decor

Hang pictures on the wall of different modes of transportation including walking, horses, hot air balloons, trucks, etc.

Obtain brochures from local car dealerships, travel agencies as well as on the internet.

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Down By the Station A classic transportation song suggested by Pam S.

Down by the station  Early in the morning  See the little pufferbellies All in a row  See the station master  Turn the little handle Puff, puff, toot, toot  Off we go!   

Wagon Improvise a tune to this song offered by Pam S.

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon  Bumping up and down in my little red wagon  Bumping up and down in my little red wagon  Let's ride off together!   Repeat using   * My little brown donkey  * My little black buggy  * My little blue trolley  * My little green airplane  * My little white sailboat  

Lonely Bus Driver 

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Pam S. offers this transportation and counting rhyme. Improvise a tune and it's a song!

 One lonely bus driver all alone and blue  He picked up a passenger and then there were two.  Two people riding, they stopped by a tree  They picked up a passenger, and then there were three.  Three people riding, they stopped by a store  They picked up a passenger, and then there were four.  Four people riding, happy and alive,   They picked up a passenger, and then there were five.  Five people riding open swung the door  Four passengers got off the bus,   The driver's alone once more.

The Wheels of The Bus Children perform actions and sounds suggested by the words The wheels of the bus go round and round, Round and round, round and round The wheels of the bus go round and round  All through the town.

The driver of the bus says Move On Back!  Move On back!  Move On Back! The driver of the bus says Move On Back! All through the town.

The people on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down. The people on the bus go up and down all through the town.

Substitute these also: The horn of the bus goes beep beep beep. The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish. The doors on the bus go open and shut. The bell on the bus goes ding-ding-ding. The driver on the bus says, "Move on back"... The lady on the bus says, "Get off my feet"... The baby on the bus goes, "Wa-Wa-Wa"... The people on the bus say, "We had a nice ride"...

Use a child's name as in "Mark on the bus say Let Me Off!" etc. 

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I'm A Little Airplane Thank you Pam S. for this cute action song! (tune "I'm a Little Teapot")

I'm a little airplane, (children raise arms at sides to shoulder height.) Now watch me fly! (They spin one of their arms in front of them as if it were a propeller) Here are my instruments From down low to up high. (With their other arm, they reach from the ground to above their heads.) First I get revved up. (Children make engine noises while still spinning their arms.) Then I can fly, (Children raise arms to shoulder height.) Lifting off the runway (They start walking forward.) Up into the sky! (They go up on their tiptoes and continue to move forward. Let them circle awhile before returning to their original positions.)  

Airplane

I press on the starter, The propeller whirls around My airplane and I Brush over the ground. I lift from the field, The motor roars out loud, Far below is the earth, Above me a bright cloud. I dip and I drop I swoop and I rise-- Oh, it's fun to be flying Way up in the skies!

The Bus

There is a painted bus, With twenty painted seats, It carries painted people Along the painted streets. They pull the painted bell, The painted driver stops, And they all get out together At the little painted shops.  

Row, Row, Row Your Boat Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, 

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Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.  

The Airplane

The airplane has great big wings:    arms outstretched Its propeller spins around and sings, "Vvvvvv!"   make one arm go round The airplane goes up:    lift arms The airplane goes down:   lower arms The airplane flies high    arms outstretched, turn body around  Over the town!   

Train is A-Comin' (Spiritual)

Train is a-comin', oh, yes Train is a-comin', oh, yes Train is a-comin', train is a-comin' Train is a-comin', oh, yes Better get your ticket, oh, yes Better get your ticket, oh, yes Better get your ticket, better get your ticket, Better get your ticket, oh, yes Room for many more, oh, yes Room for many more, oh, yes Room for many more, room for many more Room for many more, oh, yes Train is a-leavin', oh, yes Train is a-leavin', oh, yes Train is a-leavin', train is a-leavin' Train is a-leavin', oh, yes.  

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Airplanes Oh, look, see our airplanes   look up Away up in the sky   point Watch us gliding through the air  fly around the room This is how we fly.

Trains Here's a little choo-choo train Chugging down the track Now it goes forward Now it goes back Now the whistle blows Whooooo, Whooooooo! What a lot of noise it makes Everywhere it goes Chooo-chooo-chooo! The train comes running back.

The Little Train

The little train, Goes up the track. It says, "Toot, toot", And comes right back.    

Tugboat

Chug, chug, chug, I'm a little tug. I pull a big boat, Chug, chug, chug.

  Little Red Caboose

Little red caboose, Chug!  Chug!  Chug! Little red caboose, Chug!  Chug!  Chug! Little red caboose, Behind the train, Train, Train, Train, Smokestack's on his back, Back, Back, Back. Comin' around the track, Track, Track, Track. Little red caboose, Behind the train. Woooooo!   Woooooo!

The Train

Choo choo choo choo choo choo choo choo! Billy and Johnny, Maria and Sue, All of them watch for the train to pass through.   Substitute the names of children in your group

Ding dong, ding dong, ding dong ding! See the engine puffing, hear the bell ring. Click clack, click clack, click clack clack, Tell me please, will you come back? 

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Engine On The Track

Here is the engine on the track hold up thumb Here is the coal car, just in back pointer Here is the box car to carry freight middle Here is the mail car. Don't be late. ring Way back here at the end of the train. little Rides the caboose through the sun and rain.  

Windshield Wipers

The windshield wipers on our car are busy in the rain

hold hands with palms turned out and move them from side to side

They swing and swing, Clup - clup - clup - clup Then back and forth again.      

Get A Ticket

Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the train. Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the train. Don't stand out in the wind and rain. Get a ticket, ticket, ticket for the train.

Additional verses make the following substitutions: Bus; Climb aboard, you can ride with us. Plane; Don't stand out in the wind and rain. Boat; The water's too cold to swim or float. Bike; It's way too far to walk or hike. 

transportation preschool lesson plans

Art

Sponge Painting

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You can find already shaped sponges at most art and craft stores or you can make your own. Obtain sponges shaped as cars, buses, trains, airplanes etc. Have your child dip the sponges into paint and press on a piece of paper to create scene.

Tire PrintsClick here to see an example.In a pie tin, place 3 to 5 teaspoon sized portions of different colored tempera paint evenly spaced about the area. Supply the children with washable toy trucks, cars, airplanes or trains that have wheels that roll. Have the children dip the wheels in the paint and roll across the paper.

Train Cars:Give each child a small rectangle shape to decorate as they wish. Ie with crayons, markers, paint, glitter, string etc. After each child is done, add two wheels and display the papers as if each were a box car on a train, add an engine and caboose.

Train Whistles:Supply each child with an empty plastic soda bottle. Invite the children to decorate the bottle however they wish. With stickers or glue on paper etc. To make the whistle sound, blow across the bottle's opening. Have the children blow all at once and pretend to be a train. 

Train ShapesSupply the children with many different shapes. Show them how to make a train from their shapes. 

Riding Toy ArtBest done outside, on a mild day. Have children ride a tricycle or other riding toy on white paper. Place a little paint on the paper where they will start, or paint the tires. 

Math/Science/Games 

Balloon Powered Train/Car:You will need scissors, tape, a straw and a round balloon. Cut off the lip of the balloon. Cut the straw in half. Stick the straw into the balloon and tape it in place, be sure to make a tight seal. Tape the straw to the top of a car or train so the straw is off the end. blow up the balloon

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through the straw and seal the balloon by pinching the straw. Set the car down on a smooth surface and let it go.

All Aboard the Color Train:Cut out many "tickets" from different colors of construction paper. Give each child three or four tickets. Tell the children that you are the conductor of a Color Train and they can ride the train if they have a ticket that matches the color you call. Set up chairs or have the children line up to march around the room. Announce "All aboard the Red Train" or the color of your choice. Have the children give you their ticket and have them march around the room. After a minute, announce a new color. Variations: use numbers, letters or shapes instead of colors.

Clickety ClackHave the children spread out around the room. Pick one child to be the engine of the train. Give each child a ticket with a number on it. The ticket should be large enough so the number can be clearly seen. Have the child who is the engine pick up the passengers in order. For younger children, just have them pick up the passengers, or have them use color tickets, pick up the red, then orange and so on.

Train MovementDivide your class into three groups. Have each group form a train. Instruct the children to move around the class and remain connected (hands on the shoulders on the person in front of them). Every minute or two switch engines.

Whistle GameHave all the children line up and make a train. Instruct the children that one short whistle means stop and two short whistles means go slowly. If they do well with the two signals add more, three whistles mean back up, 1 long whistle, stop and turn around etc. 

Train SortSet up a few boxes to make them look like train cars. Supply the children with different things (cargo) to sort into the boxes. Ask them to sort by color, shape, texture etc. Or let them sort and tell you how they chose to sort the items. 

Number TrainCut out a train engine and 5 box car shapes from construction paper. (You may choose to laminate them to make them last longer. Number the cars from 1 to 5, then ask the children to

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line the cars up in order. 

How Far will it GoPlace a train at the top of a ramp and ask the children how far it will go. Record their answers with making tape with each child's name on it. If you do this on carpet first switch to a smooth surface and try it and vice versa. Try a different train or a car. 

Box Car TrainConnect three or four boxes together to form a train for the children to play in. Decorate the boxes like a train. 

Teddy Bear TrainObtain a box that the teddy bear will fit into. Have the child decorate as desired. When dry, poke a hole big enough to thread a piece of yarn through. Tie a piece of yarn, just long enough for the child to hold, while the box rests on the floor. Let the child pull the train around with their Teddy Bear. 

Be an ______Have the children pretend to be an airplane, train, car etc. 

BoatMake a boat of a old box with low sides. Provide the children with life preservers and sailors hats to wear. 

Block Area IdeasHave the children create an airport, neighborhood, highway, lake etc. 

BikesBring small bikes and riding toys inside for a change of pace on a rainy day. 

Songs and Group Time 

The Journey Home From Grandpa'sHop in the yellow car and look out for all the other forms of transportation on the way home from Grandpa's. A beautiful, double-page spread at the end features all of the colors and modes of transportation from the story. Book with CD editions include song sung by acclaimed children's performer Fred Penner.

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Down by the stationDown by the station Early in the morning See the little pufferbellies All in a row 

See the station master Turn the little handle Puff, puff, toot, toot Off we go! 

Train/Bus/Airplane RideSet up chairs in your class to mimic a train/bus/airplane. Have tickets for the children to "buy". Take the tickets as the children enter the vehicle. Pretend to go on a trip. I usually play a crazy driver. The kids love it! 

Hurry, Hurry, Drive The Firetruck Featured on Barney's Greatest Hits Vol. 1   By BarneyHurry, hurry, drive the fire truckHurry, hurry, drive the fire truck Hurry, hurry, drive the fire truckDing, ding, ding, ding, ding!

Hurry, hurry, climb the ladderHurry, hurry, climb the ladderHurry, hurry, climb the ladderDing, ding, ding, ding, ding!

Hurry, hurry, squirt the waterHurry, hurry, squirt the waterHurry, hurry, squirt the water Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! 

EnginesSpread peanut butter on a graham cracker, add two banana slices for wheels and a triangular piece of cheese for the front of the engine. Use a small cracker for the smoke stack and away we go....

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Bread EnginesCut a bread square into two rectangles. Put one of the rectangles on a piece of foil and cut the other into two squares. Put on of the squares above the rectangle to make a cab for the engine and cut the other square into two triangles. Put one triangle above the cab and the other in front of the engine. Spread the train with tomatoe sauce, sprinkle with cheese and add sliced tomatoes for the wheels. Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees.

Crafts & Activities

Lacing Cards Cut car shapes out of heavy cardboard; laminate or apply clear contact paper.  Punch holes around outside edge of car shape; make more holes inside the shape where a window might be.  Use colorful shoe laces or heavy yarn (dip ends in glue and allow to dry for easier lacing) for lacing.

Add small cars & trucks to the sand box.  Along with the tools to dig roads, build bridges....

Make Tracks Dip or roll small cars & trucks into paint so that only the wheels have paint on them.  Let the children make "tracks" all over their paper. 

Dramatic Play - Mechanic Clipboard, telephone book, pieces of coated wire, measuring tape, rulers, pencils, tools: vice grip, wrench, screwdrivers, hammer, pliers, oil can, plastic goggles, plastic hard hats, penlights, aprons or coveralls, nuts and bolts, gloves, telephone, toolbox, workbench or table, posters or pictures of mechanics at work 

Dramatic Play - Ice Cream Truck Paint a large box (with a lid that can be opened like a freezer door) white and attach to the inside of a child size wheelbarrow.  Attach a bell to the handle - to create the sound of the ice cream truck.  As a project for the kids have them make "popsicles & fudgsicles" out of heavy cardboard and paint and attach to a popsicle stick!  Make cones out of heavy paper or use the dispenser type cone shaped paper cups.  For "scoops" of ice cream purchase colorful large pompoms.  Other items to include:  ice cream scoop, money, white jacket, hat/visor, coin changer/fannypack.

Dramatic Play - Airport, Train or Bus small chairs, hats , tickets, a hole punch, rubber stamps, ink pads, table, old suitcases (small), and pictures of airplanes, buses, and trains, conductors hat and vest,  dress up clothes for travellers, train whistle.

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Dramatic Play - Travel maps, travel books and pictures, car keys, tickets, money, suitcase, clothes, grooming items, pajamas and sunglasses, travel brochures from local travel agent.

Box Cars Using large boxes, make one or more "box" cars.  Let the kids decorate as they wish.  Add cardboard wheels.

Make a Bus Pick up refrigerator box from an appliance store (they will usually give for free if for a daycare) and cut out doors and bus.  Use clear cellophane for the windows.  Let the children help paint & decorate.  Add a name to the side of your bus.  Small chairs could be added inside for seating. 

Play Cars Using duct tape or wide masking tape make road ways on the floor, cement patio or driveway.  Make steering wheels using paper plate. Make a stop sign..and let the kids take turns holding up a stop sign at the cross road. You could also use streamers and make them on the grass in the back yard (use rocks to hold the streamers in place on the ground).

Let's Roll Attach a 6-8' length of PVC pipe to the wall or along a fence, at a slight angle.  The kids can have fun running the cars thru the pipe. 

Things That Go Collage Look through magazines or catalogs to find pictures of things that go on land, things that go in water, things that go in the air. Make a big poster of each group.

Make drivers licenses for the kids.  Draw or glue a picture the child to the license.     

 Songs, Finger Plays, Nursery Rhymes

My Little Red Wagon (makes a cute felt story or finger play)   (tune on Raffi's Singable Songs for the Very Young cassette)    All sit in a circle, legs stretched in toward center.  Bounce up and down on bottoms. 

Bumping up and down in my little red wagon. Bumping up and down in my little red wagon. 

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Bumping up and down in my little red wagon. Won't you be my darlin!

One wheel's off and the axle's broken... Freddie's gonna fix it with his hammer... Laura's gonna fix it it with her pliers... Bumping up an down in my little red wagon...

You can change names to suit; and add different tools so that each child is mentioned in the song.

Ring Around the Rocket Ship (Game)    Play this version of "Ring Around the Rosie".  All join hands in a circle and slide to the right.  Reach up high for a star, and fall to the floor.  Repeat verse sliding to the left.

Ring around the rocket ship, Reach for a star, Stardust, stardust, Fall where you are.

The Airplane The airplane has great big wings (arms outstretched) Its propeller spins around and sings, (make one arm go around) "Vvvvvvvvvv!" The airplane goes up; (lift arms) The airplane goes down; (lower arms) The airplane flies high All over our town!  (arms outstretched, turn body around)

Flying-Man, Flying-Man (Nursery Rhyme) Flying-man, Flying-man, Up in the sky, Where are you going to, Flying so high? Over the mountains And over the sea, Flying-man, Flying-man, Can't you take me?

My Bicycle One wheel, two wheels on the ground; (revolve hand in forward circle to form each wheel) My feet make the pedals go round and round.  (move feet in pedaling motion) 

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Handle bars help me steer so straight, (pretend to steer) Down the sidewalk, through the gate.

Riding    Suit actions to words. Riding in a train I go, Rocking, rocking, to and fro, Side to side and to and fro, Riding in a train I go.

In an airplane I fly, Up, up, up, into the sky, Up, up, up, so very high, In an airplane I fly.

Riding on my bike today, Pedal, pedal, all the way, Pedal fast and pedal slow, Riding on my bike I go.

Helping Mommy Drive (or Daddy, Grandpa or Grandma or ......)    Suit actions to words. Open the car door.  Climb inside. I get to help my mommy drive. Fasten the seat belt.  Shut the door. Start the motor.  Hear it roar. Brr! Brr! Brr! Turn the corner, step on the gas. If the road is clear we may pass.

Here Is A Car Here is a car, shiny and bright. (cup one hand and place on other palm) This is the windshield that lets in the light. (hands open, fingertips touching) Here are wheels that go round and round. (two fists) I sit in the back seat a make not a sound. (sit quietly with hands in lap)

I'm A Little Airplane    (Tune: I'm A Little Teapot)

I'm a little airplane: (raise arms to side at shoulder height) I can fly, (turn right arm in front of you for propeller) Here is my throt-tle; (reach hand out to instrument panel) Give me a try. (push throttle in) When I get all revved up (make engine noises) 

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Then I fly (keep moving forward) Off the run-way (keep moving forward) To the sky! (go up on tiptoe running forward)

 Books, Videos, Music

Books to Read Aloud

Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car by John Burningham (Also see: Mr. Gumpy's Outing) The Bus Stop by Nancy Hellen Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats The Wheels on the Bus by Maryann Kovalski The Train by David McPhail Angela's Airplane by Robert Munsch (Also see: Johathan Cleaned Up) Tooth-Gnasher, Superflasher by Daniel Pinkwater The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper The Wheels on the Bus by Paul Zelinsky

Non Fiction: Airport by Byron Barton Dinosaurs Travel: A Guide for Families by Laurene Krasny Brown Flying by Donald Crews (Also see:  Carousel; Freight Train; Harbor; Truck Books) Cars and How They Go by Joanne Cole Flying by Gail Gibbons (also see:  New Road!; Fill It Up!; Trucks; Trains and Boat Books) Boats by Ken Robbins Boats by Anne Rockwell (also see: Planes)