Preschool Transportation Lessons for Circle Time

Air travel comes alive with real photos of airplanes and helicopters as we talk about flying and read Betsy’s First Airplane Ride. Kids will label airplane parts, recite a transportation-themed poem, and play a shape identification game. At home, they can fold and fly their own paper airplane. We’ll also share Amazing Airplanes by Tony Mitton.

Chug along as we look at toy trains and real train photos while talking about where trains go and who’s seen one. Kids will recite the “Train” shape poem and sing the “TRAIN” song to practice letters. At home, they can try writing the letter X like a railroad crossing sign. We’ll also enjoy I’m Taking a Trip on my Train by Shirley Neitzel.

Vroom vroom! We’ll look at photos of cars and trucks on the highway and talk about how they carry people and goods. Kids will join in with the “Sheep in a Jeep” flannel board poem and practice numbers with “Zoom Zoom.” At home, they can roll toy cars through paint to make colorful tracks. We’ll finish with Gus’s Garage by Leo Timmers.

We’ll look at photos of different kinds of boats and talk about any rides kids might have taken. Children will listen to Little Bear’s Little Boat on the flannel board and sing “Have You Ever Seen a Sailboat?” We’ll sort pictures by air, land, and sea travel, then at home, they can create floating boats from aluminum foil. The read-aloud is Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera.

Finish up the week of the preschool transportation lessons with a look at photos and sharing ideas. Kids will count along with the “Five Hot Air Balloons” poem and move their bodies to match different vehicles during movement poems. They’ll also test their memory with a transportation tray activity. The read-aloud is Down by the Station by Jennifer Riggs Vetter.