Transportation is an area of our everyday lives which is greatly impacted by technology. This lesson presents a wide variety of modes of transportation, as well as a simple understanding of the technology of the wheel and bridges.

"Setting the Stage" - Before starting the program, ask the students: How did you get to school today? Think of a different way you could get to school. What are other ways that you have traveled? Who has been on an airplane? A train? A helicopter?

"Introduction to Transportation"
This lesson begins with the story of Chris and his family as they prepare for a vacation to visit friends and family far away. As information and questions are presented, students are encouraged to think about different ways Chris can get to his destination.

"Early Transportation"
To illustrate early transportation technology, students are shown how early humans wished to move from place to place, as well as transport goods, but had not yet developed a way to do these things. What could people do to solve their problem?

"Wheels"
The video presented illustrates the initial concept of trying to move things from one place to another by rolling the objects on logs. In this case, students use pencils and a book.
Hands-on activity - this is more clearly understood by the students if they actually conduct the experiment themselves. Provide a heavy book or box and some round pencils or markers. As shown on the video, students should first try to move the heavy object across the table or floor. Dragging and pushing works, but can be slowed by carpet and the weight of the object. Next, place pencils (3 or 4 first, then try 6) under the book or box. Talk about how much easier it is to move a heavy object by rolling it across the pencils. Encourage the students to notice that this is easier, but the pencils will still move around. What if they were attached somehow? Hands-on activity - this is a very simple experiment that illustrates very clearly how the shape of the wheel makes a big difference in its performance. As shown on the Learning Station, provide: raw potato slices, craft sticks Slice the potato into different shapes - round, square, triangular. Talk about the different shapes and their names. Choose two slices of potato and attach to each end of a craft stick to make a wheel base. This is illustrated on the Learning Station. Roll the different shapes across the table. Which works best? Why? Encourage the students to create full sentences to describe what is happening and why.

"The Train"
As the story of Chris and his family continues, trains are introduced as an early and common method of transportation. Talk about the different types of trains, i.e., cargo, passenger, slow-moving steam trains, fast modern trains. Encourage students to talk about their train experiences.

"Cars and Trucks"
As Chris and his family reach their train station, another method of transportation is presented - the taxi. The family takes a taxi to Chris' grandfather's house. Various cars and trucks are presented. Students should use their listening skills to answer the many questions presented during the story.

"Vehicle Matching Game"
Touch-screen game - this matching game on the Learning Station presents a variety of vehicles without wheels. The wheels are shown on the bottom of the screen. Students must match the correct wheels with the vehicle. Encourage the students to explain their choices. The game will advance when all of the wheels and vehicles have been matched.

"Helicopters"
As Chris and his family arrive at Grandfather's house, he has a big surprise for them. They will be taking a helicopter ride. Talk about the different ways helicopters are used.
Hands-on activity - Using the pattern provided on the disk, print the helicopter pattern onto stiff paper. You will also need scissors and paperclips (to weight the bottom of the helicopter). The directions will be given on the Learning Station. Students are encouraged to listen very carefully to insure the success of their helicopters' flight, just like pilots. Talk about why pilots need to follow directions, too. The teacher should demonstrate how the helicopters 'fly' and spin by dropping one from high above the floor. As students are short, their helicopters may not twirl as effectively, but will still work. In one school, it was fun to drop the helicopters from the top of the playground slide to achieve some 'altitude' and spin. As this is an activity-filled lesson, you may want to precut these patterns and instruct the students to make the appropriate folds (dotted lines), then add the paper clips.

"Boats"
As the story continues, Chris learns that he and his family will be crossing the ocean. Students are asked to think of how many ways this can be accomplished. Again, remind the students to use their listening skills, as many questions are asked to get them thinking about as many methods of transportation as possible. A variety of boats and ships are introduced and many of these may be new to some students. Talk about the different boats they have seen or sailed upon.
Teacher Trivia - what's the difference between a boat and a ship? A boat will fit on a ship, but a ship won't fit on a boat!
Touch-screen activity - different boats and ships are presented on the Learning Station. Students must match the correct sails or engine smokestacks to the corresponding boats. The game will advance when all the matches have been made.
Hands-on activity - using the worksheet pattern provided on the disk, print the handouts prior to class time. Students are instructed to complete the pictures of the different boats and ships. Use the picture on the Learning Station as a guide.

"Bridges, Ferries and Tunnels"
Because many students may not live near water, ferries, bridges and tunnels are introduced through Chris' travel story. This is another opportunity for students to talk and learn about travel technology they may have never seen before. After discussing ferries and tunnels, bridge technology is presented in a video experiment.
Hands-on experiment - This experiment illustrates how a bridge can support cars by using an arch shape in the center of the bridge. After viewing the video, have students recreate what they were shown.
Supplies:
blocks to support the bridge
Stiff paper or cardboard
A small car

View the experiment on the video ahead of time to get a better idea of the size of paper, etc. and how to construct the arch. (Taping the blocks together as shown is helpful.) Students enjoy this experiment and understand how the problem is solved right away.
Videotaping activity - After students observe this experiment, often each student wants to perform the experiment him/herself. This is a great opportunity to videotape their demonstration. Encourage the student to explain exactly what is happening and why.

"Airplanes"
Chris and his family have decided they will be flying an airplane to cross the ocean. How many students have been on an airplane? Where did they go?

"Questions on Transportation"
Touch-screen activity - Throughout Chris' travels, he took photographs of many of the different vehicles he learned about. These 'photos' are shown on the Learning Station. Students are asked questions and must answer by choosing the correct corresponding photograph. Encourage students to explain their answer using full sentences, rather than just making a correct match.

Before Students Go Home - Review
Why do we need different types of transportation?
What new method of transportation did students learn about today?
In what kind of jobs are helicopters helpful?
How does a bridge support so many cars and trucks?

Supply List for Activities
"Today I Discovered" - parents handout
heavy book or box to roll
round pencils or markers to roll box across
raw potato slices - square, round, triangular 'wheels' craft sticks to create wheel base with the potato 'wheels'
patterns of helicopters (provided on disk) to cut out, assemble and 'fly'
scissors, large paper clips
preprinted worksheets (pattern on disk) of incomplete boats and ships for students to complete and color
bridge-building supplies -
stiff paper for bridge span and arch blocks to hold up the bridge
small car
(review the video movie before class to see supplies used - "Bridges, Ferries & Tunnels" on your pull-down menu) Videotape