Public Transportation

Tell children they are going to explore what it is like to use public transportation. Explain that transportation is a way to get from one place to another. Tell the children that public transportation is a way for many people in a town to get from one place to another at the same time and without a car. Explain that train and bus stations often have ticket booths, waiting areas, and shops.

Tell the children that people must buy a ticket in order to ride a train or bus.

Explain that trains and buses follow a schedule that tells passengers what time the bus or train will come. The schedule also tells passengers where they can get on and off the train or bus.

A train or bus travels from one stop to the next. At each stop, some passengers may get on the train or bus, while others get off.

Play the train game with the children. Ask one child to be the train driver. Set up a few stops in the classroom, then divide the rest of the children into groups, and ask each group to wait at a different stop. Tell the train driver to go to the different stops. Tell the children at the first stop to get on the train. When the train stops at the other locations, tell the children that they may get off while others get on.

Show the photograph of the LEGO^® DUPLO^® models for Activity 7.

Consider asking questions like:

• What do you see in the picture?
• Who can name a type of public transportation?
• Have you ever been to a train or bus station? What would you find there?

• Divide the children into pairs.
• Tell them that each pair will build a part of a train or bus station. They may use the
  building cards or photograph for inspiration.
• Help each pair of children choose what to build, so that each of the pairs builds a
  different part of the station (e.g., ticket booth, shop, waiting area, train or bus, etc.).

Create a space where the children can combine all of their models. Ask each pair of children to present their model. Discuss the importance of public transportation (e.g., reduced air pollution, less traffic, availability for people who do not own cars, etc.). Consider asking questions like:

• Why is the part of the station you built important?
• Why is public transportation important?
• When would it be a good idea for a person to walk or ride a bicycle instead of taking the bus or train?

Tell the children to choose one or two LEGO DUPLO figures to play with. Encourage the children to take turns in their pairs acting as the driver and as a passenger. Suggest that they role-play buying a ticket and boarding the train or bus.