Introducing the concept of transportation

A fun method of introducing the concept of transportation to preschoolers is to begin with looking at the word "transportation" itself.  It has 14 letters and is probably one of the longest vocabulary words they have encountered to date!  Print the word on a long piece of cardstock or oaktag and post in your room as a visual reminder.  On a large sheet of chart paper, the teacher should prepare a simple drawing of the land, a body of water, and clouds/sun in the air.  Explain that transportation is defined as "a way to get from one place to another."  Further explain that  forms of transportation can be classified into 3 groups (land, water, air).  It might be helpful to start the discussion with asking what kind of transportation each child used to get to school that day.  Print the answers in the appropriate area on your drawing.  The discussion can then proceed with asking the children to name all types of transportation from hot air balloons to the space shuttle!

Durango-Silverton Narrow Guage Train--Durango, Colorado

Don't forget to include feet as a form of transportation--the kind we have with us all the time.  It would also be appropriate to point out that a wheelchair is a valid kind of transportation!  As a home follow-up, send a note home asking the children to bring a magazine picture to school that shows one of their favorite kinds of transportation.  Display on a bulletin board or make into a class book!