Transportation Lesson Plans

Learners engage in an 8-day study of different modes of transportation. They explore the concept of location and define the physical characteristics of places, such as, land forms, bodies of water, natural resources, and weather.

Students view murals that depict various modes of transportation. They discuss the importance of maps to navigation and create a map. They compare and contrast transportation of the past with modes of transportation used today.

Young researchers peruse several websites to find informational texts that will help them decide the best mode of transportation for planning a pretent trip from their hometown to New York City. They create charts and graphs with spreadsheet software to display data they've collected, and they then write a narrative explaining which mode of transportation they have chosen, including supporting details and textual evidence in their decision. All handouts and rubrics are included. 

Young scholars examine transportation and the environment. In this creative problem solving lesson, students examine new projects and ideas that address some prominent urban issues. Young scholars will work in teams to solve a current New York City transportation problem.

Eleventh graders focus on the role of transportation. In this transportation lesson, 11th graders look at the lives of Americans at the turn of the centuries. They compare and contrast 2000 to 1900. 

Students recognize modes of transportation. They research historical data from a variety of primary and secondary sources including the Harriman expedition journals, related web sites, and photographs from the expedition. Students compare modes of transportation used by the past Harriman Alaska Expedition of 1899 to the Harriman Expedition Retraced in 2001.

Students develop and organize their own transportation museum in the classroom. They brainstorm a list of vehicles and bring in models to display or draw a picture to display.

Young scholars consider the effects of green transportation.  In this environmental stewardship instructional activity, students determine how transportation has changed throughout history and then collaborate to solve New York City transportation issues.

Learners examine various modes of transportation used throughout the history of the United States. They explore various websites, answer discussion questions, construct a conestoga wagon using Tinker Toys and construction paper, and create a PowerPoint presentation about different modes of transportation.

Students research women who made history in development of different forms of transportation, including boats, railroads, automobiles, airplanes, and space shuttles, and create timeline/collage depicting some of their contributions.