Way to Go Teacher Guide Way to Go
Teacher Facilitation Guide
1st Grade Social Studies
Time: 40 Minutes
Lesson Objective
Students will identify land and water on a map and explain why specific transportation is chosen for different distances and terrains using a simple sentence frame.
Materials Needed
Adventure World Map Poster
Travel Agent Kit (Scenario Cards)
"Way to Go" Slide Deck
Pencils & Crayons
Key Vocabulary
Transportation:
Ways we get from place to place.
Human Power:
Using our bodies to move (bikes, walking).
Land vs. Water:
Identifying green/brown (land) and blue (water) on maps.
Distance:
How far away something is.
Instructional Steps
5
Warm-Up: Map Detectives
Project the Adventure World Map . Ask students to point to where they see water (Blue) and where they see land (Green/Yellow).
10
Video & Discussion
Watch the video from 5:49 - 6:29 . Pause when the host shows the map of the USA and Europe.
Discussion Anchor:
"The host wants to go to Europe. It's across the ocean. Why did he choose a plane instead of a boat? How long would a boat take?"
15
Activity: The Travel Agent
Distribute Scenario Cards . Students work in pairs or independently to pick a vehicle for their destination. They must complete the sentence: "I will take a [vehicle] because [reason]."
Example: "I will take a bike because the park is very close."
5
Closure: Silly Commutes
Ask the class: "Why wouldn't we take a rocket ship to go to the grocery store?" Discuss how rockets are for very far distances (space) and are too big/fast for our neighborhoods.
Extension Activity
Have students draw a "My Commute" map. They draw their home on one side, their school on the other, and the vehicle they use to get there. Challenge them to add one "land" feature (like a tree or park) and one "water" feature (like a pond or puddle) they pass by.
Way to Go Slides Way to Go
Maps & Transportation
Map Detectives
Where is the Water?
Look for the BLUE parts!
Where is the Land?
Look for the GREEN and BROWN parts!
What is Transportation?
It's how we get from
Let's Watch!
Embedded media
Pay attention to the World Map!
Plane vs. Boat
Taking a Boat
It takes a long time to cross the ocean!
Taking a Plane
It is much faster to fly over the clouds!
Which one would you choose?
Travel Agent
Help people choose their ride!
Your Goal:
1
Look at the destination card.
2
Pick the best way to get there.
3
Use your sentence frame to explain why!
Wait a Minute...
Why don't we take a
My Route Map
Draw a map of how YOU get to school.
Home
School
Include your vehicle!
Travel Agent Kit Worksheet Travel Agent Kit
Case Files: Destinations
Name: __________________________
Date: ___________________________
Cut out these cards and choose the best way to travel!
The Local Park
It is just two blocks away from your house. It is a very sunny day!
Grandma's House
Grandma lives in a different state. It would take 10 hours to drive there!
A Secret Island
This island is in the middle of the deep blue ocean. There are no roads!
Grocery Store
You need to get milk and bread. The store is across the busy city.
Across the Lake
You want to visit a friend on the other side of the big, blue water.
The Big School
It is Monday morning! You need to get to your classroom on time.
My Travel Plan
Pick one scenario and finish the sentence:
I will take a
because
My Route Map
Home to School Adventure
Map Checklist:
Draw your Home
Draw your School
Draw your Vehicle
Add Land (Green) & Water (Blue)
Draw your map here!
Start
Finish
Land
Water
Roads
Adventure Map Poster Adventure World Map
Look for Land and Water!
North America
USA
South America
Europe
Africa
Asia
OCEAN
Water
Ocean & Lakes
Land
Continents
Destinations
Places to Visit
