Transport!

Our second unit this year was all about transport, and what a fantastic time we had! In our first week we began by learning about road transport and exploring all the different vehicles that travel on roads. We learned the names of various road vehicles, such as cars, vans, trains, and trams. We also played a fun, hands-on car parking counting game and experimented with ramps to see how the height affects how far a car can travel. We all worked together to paint a big car for our pretend area, which would come to life the following week. The highlight of the week was our entry point: a tram, train, and bus loop. In just one day, we experienced three different vehicles! We took the tram to the train station, bought our own tickets, and observed the numbered platforms. When our train arrived, we were lucky enough to have a look inside the driver’s cab. It was a lovely trip, and experiencing both the train and tram helped us learn to distinguish between the two.

In the second week, our pretend area transformed into a car garage. The children took on the role of car mechanics, fixing wheels or driving cars on imaginary trips with their friends. This week, we focused on patterns and created our own pattern trains using AB, ABC, or ABB patterns – everyone did brilliantly! After learning about road vehicles, we painted our favourite ones and placed them on a large “busy road” we created together. We were also visited by a world traveller who cycles to different countries like China and Turkey. He showed us his bicycle and some incredible pictures from his journeys. We ended the week with a performance of The Wheels on the Bus during the school assembly. It was our first time performing in front of everyone, and the children were so brave – well done!

Our third week focused on road safety. We took a closer look at traffic signs, learning about three types: prohibition signs, warning signs, and mandatory signs. We played a fun game where we changed the designs inside the signs to alter their meaning. We also discovered that the shapes of traffic signs are symmetrical. Using mirrors, we practised completing half-signs to make them whole. Later, we made our own traffic sign, adding matching patterns to the poles. It was a week filled with exciting visitors! On Monday, a real Red Cross ambulance arrived, and the volunteers showed us everything inside. We even got to hear the sirens! On Thursday, we visited Trans-fair, a bike repair shop, where we explored bike parts and learned about reflectors and how to patch tyres. We even assembled a large bike puzzle using real parts. On Friday, we had a surprise visitor who taught us all about electric scooters and segways – and we even got to ride them ourselves!

The fourth week, we spread our wings and soared into the world of air transport. Our pretend area became an airport where many tickets were bought, and snacks were served to the passengers. We enjoyed a big sorting game, placing all the vehicles in their correct categories. We learned how to fold our own paper aeroplanes and helicopters and painted beautiful skies to accompany them. Then we learned that hot air balloons take off because hot air rises, and we conducted an engaging experiment to see this in action. We followed this with a fun hot air balloon counting game, where we counted the balloons, added a chain to each one, and wrote down the numbers. It was a hands-on activity to practise one-to-one correspondence and number formation. Afterwards, we created our favourite vehicles in 3D using recyclable materials. The children’s creativity led to wonderful buses, boats, and aeroplanes. We ended the week with a lovely cloud-writing dance, using shaving cream to form shapes and letting our movements follow the music.

The fifth week, we prepared for the visit of Sinterklaas on Friday. We learned about who Sinterklaas is, what he wears, and, of course, what vehicles he likes to travel in. We saw pictures of Sinterklaas in many silly vehicles, such as a bus or motorbike, but learned that the boat is his favourite. Because of this, our focus for the week was on water transport. We experimented with floating and sinking, noting down our findings. Later, we played a fun hands-on game called Who Sank the Boat?, where we added pebbles to a boat, trying not to make it sink – this led to lots of laughter! We also helped Sinterklaas deliver presents to the correct houses in a playful maths game. Afterwards, we created sailboats and ships using different geometrical shapes. After Sinterklaas’s visit – where luckily everyone had been good – we used the letter cookies he brought to spell out words and our own names. We ended the week with a sailboat-writing dance, combining movement and creativity.

In the sixth week, we moved on to winter and winter celebrations. We discovered how our friends celebrate their winter holidays and enjoyed looking at each other’s pictures. Afterwards, we worked on a new year’s gift for our parents, creating a homemade ornament of our favourite vehicle. To make these, we learned how to use a safety needle and thread, and the results were beautiful gifts to take home. We also played a tree-decorating counting game and enjoyed a fireworks-writing dance. Alongside all this learning, we kept practising for our winter show performance. The children performed beautifully, having so much fun dancing and singing.

The last few days of the seventh week were a lovely conclusion to our unit. We painted together and played a cosy hot chocolate board game, with real hot chocolate to try! Afterwards, we reviewed all the sounds we had learned throughout the year, sorting objects into the correct piles based on their beginning sounds. It was a fun and memorable way to wrap up the year together!

We want to wish all your families a lovely holiday season filled with joy, laughter, and special moments. Here's to a fantastic start to the new year – we can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring!