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Playing Preschool - Unit 10: Transportation

Updated: May 26, 2021

A Companion Guide to Busy Toddler's Playing Preschool Curriculum


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Let the Good Times Roll

Coming off the Community Helpers unit, I was glad that this was another high-interest subject so we could keep the momentum going. I also liked that there was plenty of opportunity for our learning to carry over into free play. This unit really embodied the concept of learning through play.



Building Background Knowledge

Most children can identify different types of transportation, but perhaps not the nuance between say, a sailboat and a rowboat. This unit gave us a chance to explore some of those differences. Also, my son was more familiar with trucks and trains than planes and boats. So before reading Airport by Byron Barton I thought it was important to start with Planes by the same author. Steve Light also has books on each type of transportation (see additional non-fiction book list).


Video Links


Suggested Books

*Books with an asterisk are my Top 5 Picks to Add to Your Home Library for this unit

Additional Book List

Books in bold are also suggested books in another unit.




Non-Fiction

Cars and Trucks

Trains

Planes

Boats

Other

Fiction


Cars and Trucks

Planes

Trains


Boats


Other


Additional Resources/Activities


Puzzles and Stickers


Role Play



Figures and Vehicles


Activities

  • Developing Life Skills: Have your child help you wash the car. Talk about the different parts of the car (tires, rims, headlights, windows) and talk about the function of each. It's sure to be a soapy good time!

  • Field Trip: If you don't usually ride public transit, take a train, ferry or bus. Talk to other (friendly) passengers about where they are going and talk to your child about how transportation is an important part of our daily lives because it helps people get where they need to go.

  • Imaginative Play: Drive around town on Busy Toddler's Box Road

  • Sensory Bin: Sticky, mess play with Busy Toddler's Sticky Boats

  • Craft idea: Make an airplane out of Popsicle sticks

  • Gross Motor Skill Activity: Make a train track obstacle course using masking tape

  • Name Recognition: Build a name train poster

  • Letter Tracing: Let your child drive toy card on Alphabet Road Letters

  • STEM Activity: Try Busy Toddler's Train Track Skee Ball

  • Outdoor Game: Teach your child about traffic lights by playing "red light, green light" and finish it off with a graham cracker traffic light snack.


Scaffolding/Extension


  • With self-correcting puzzles, start with just a few and build from there.

  • To keep the fun going, check out the book Old Tracks, New Tricks by Jessica Petersen.



What was your favorite part of this unit? What other books did you read? What other activities did you do? Please share your photos and feedback in the Playing Preschool with Busy Toddler Curriculum Facebook Group in Photos/Albums/Year 1 Themes Transportation.


Until next time, may your coffee be warm and your toddler be busy!

Up Next: Playing Preschool: Unit 11 - On the Farm




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