Cars

SPECIAL TOOL

This tool was created in response to a special request received. (Open group identification-Cars) Print and laminate. Use the items to identify children’s cubbyholes and personal belongings.

CIRCLE TIME

I can talk about cars…using a puppet

Use a puppet to encourage children to speak about various subjects related to the theme. The puppet may help children who are shy overcome their shyness. It may also be helpful for those who struggle with language development. One thing is certain, the puppet will encourage children to talk!

Animated discussion-Cars

(Open picture game-Cars) Print and laminate the pictures in the format you prefer. Use them to spark a discussion with your group and ask children questions.

Poni discovers and presents-Cars

(Open Poni discovers and presents-Cars) Print, laminate, and cut the cards. Use your Poni puppet or another puppet that children are familiar with to present the cars to your group.

Circle time conversation starters:

• Ask children to name different means of road transportation.
• Invite children to use their mouth to represent sirens, motors, etc.
• Ask children to share a picture of their favorite car with the group and encourage them to explain their choice.
• Which means of transportation do children use on a regular basis?
• Have children name the color of their mother’s car and their father’s car.

Using masking tape, draw roads on your daycare floor, walls, and furniture. Set a bin filled with various means of road transportation on a table and observe children’s reaction.

Go for a walk with your group and help children notice the different means of road transportation that you see.

Visit a local garage or car dealership with your group.

AREA SETUP

Thematic poster-Cars

(Open thematic poster-Cars) Print, laminate, and display where parents are sure to see it.

Educa-theme-Cars

(Open educa-theme-Cars) Print and laminate. Use the different illustrations to decorate a corner of your daycare and present the theme to your group (and their parents).

Educa-decorate-Cars

(Open educa-decorate-Cars) Print, laminate, and cut out the various items. Use them to decorate your daycare and set the mood for the theme.

Stickers-Cars

(Open stickers-Cars) Print the illustrations on adhesive paper and use them to create unique stickers.

Family car

Ask each family to provide a picture of their car. Use adhesive paper to laminate and press the pictures on the floor in your circle time area. Each child can sit on his family car during circle time or story time.

Comfortable seats

In your reading corner, set a few old children’s car seats or a minivan’s bench-type seat. Children will love sitting on them to look at your books.

Educa-decorate-Means of transportation

(Open educa-decorate-Means of transportation) Print, cut out, and laminate. Decorate your walls with the items to set the mood for the theme.

Garland-Means of transportation

(Open garland-Means of transportation) Print and let children decorate the items. Cut them out and use them to create a garland that can be hung in your daycare or near your daycare entrance.

Arrange chairs one behind the other. Invite children to ride your “bus”. Let them take turns playing the role of the bus driver. You can add accessories such as backpacks, lunch boxes, etc.

PICTURE GAME

The picture game may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with your group. The pictures may also be used simply to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner.  (Open picture game-Cars) Print and laminate. Store the game in a “Ziploc” bag or in your thematic bin.

ACTIVITY SHEETS AND WRITING ACTIVITIES

Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets-Cars)

Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets-Means of transportation)

Writing activities-C like car

(Open writing activities-C like car) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

Stationery-Road transportation

(Open stationery-Road transportation) Print. Use the stationery to communicate with parents, in your writing corner, or to identify your thematic bins.

Educa-nuudles-Cars

(Open educa-nuudles-Cars) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet and use Magic Nuudles to give it a three-dimensional look. If you don’t have Magic Nuudles, simply ask children to fill the spaces with bingo markers or stickers.

To order Magic Nuudles

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Word flashcards

Use the flashcards to spark a conversation with your group, in your reading and writing corner, or to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Cars) (Open giant word flashcards-Cars) car, golf cart, sports car, luxury car, small car, electric car, race car, convertible car, police car, vintage car, driver, delivery person (Open word flashcards-Means of transportation) (Open giant word flashcards-Means of transportation) airplane, train, boat, car, bus, bicycle, taxi, subway, helicopter, motorcycle, hot air balloon, truck

Let’s chat

Print and laminate the word flashcards. Have each child pick a flashcard and take turns presenting the item to the group. Discuss each item to see what children know about the theme.

Sequential story

(Open sequential story-On the road) Print and laminate the illustrations. Children must place them in the correct order.

Scene-On the road

(Open scene-On the road) Print, laminate, and cut out the items. Children use them to decorate the scene.

Picture clue story-Vacations

(Open picture clue story-Vacations) Print. Sit in a circle with your group and begin reading the story. Pause when you reach a picture clue and point to it. Encourage children to guess the missing word.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Communication signs-Naptime

(Open naptime signs) Print for each child. At the end of your naptime routine, children can set their stop sign next to their mattress as a reminder that it’s time for them to stop and rest. When they wake up, they can turn their sign over to display the green light. Explain how this will help you know when they are ready to resume their activities without them having to speak.

Game-This is my spot-Road transportation

(Open game-This is my spot-Road transportation) Print each illustration twice. Use adhesive paper to secure one copy of each illustration on the table. Deposit the second copy of each illustration in an opaque bag and invite children to pick a card that will determine their spot at the table (corresponding illustration). The illustrations can also be used to determine children’s naptime spots or their place in the task train.

My road

(Open my road) Print, laminate, and use adhesive paper to stick the illustrations on the floor, creating a path that leads to various areas frequently visited by the children in your group (bathroom, cloakroom, etc.). If you prefer, you can also use the illustrations to delimit workshops or corners within your daycare.

Clean hands bin

Fill a bin with various games related to the theme. Children will love exploring the contents of the bin as they wait for their peers once they have washed their hands.

Take your seat

Press a number or picture on each chair, making sure you keep a copy for yourself. At lunch or snack time, call children as if you were in a bus terminal, a train station, or an airport. Have them pick a card to determine where they are to sit. Each child must sit where the corresponding number or picture is displayed.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Lacing-Cars

(Open lacing-Cars) Print, laminate, and punch holes around the contour of each model. Children thread a shoelace, string, or ribbon through the holes.

Felt roads to create and recreate

Cut rectangles and arches measuring approximately 15 cm long and 10 cm wide out of gray felt. Using a black permanent marker, draw a dotted line down the center of each piece to represent road segments. Set your felt board on the floor and encourage children to position the road segments as they wish to represent a road network that they can roll toy cars on. They can change the disposition every time they play.

Hop in the tires

Ask parents or your mechanic if they have old tires. Lay tires flat throughout your yard. Arrange other tires upright. Children will love jumping in the tires or crawling through them. If you wish, you could also set various objects inside each tire. Children will have fun moving from one tire to the next to discover the items. You can, for example, fill one tire with books, another one with stuffed animals, and yet another one with figurines.

On our way

Invite children to pretend they are in a car. Tell them they are the drivers. Describe a wide range of imaginary situations they meet on their drive. For example, begin by telling them they are driving along an unpaved country road. Children can bounce up and down to represent the bumpy road. Next, announce that they are driving fast down a highway. Children can lean back to represent their speed. Suddenly, tell them they are stuck in traffic. They lean forward because they must brake quickly. You could also invite children to imagine various situations to make this activity last.

Modeling dough activity placemats-Cars

(Open modeling dough activity placemats-Cars) Print and laminate. Let children pick a placemat and provide modeling dough. Encourage them to use the dough to fill or reproduce the shapes that are on their placemat.

Fine motor skills-Crumpled tissue paper cars

(Open models-Cars) Print for each child. Have children tear tissue paper into tiny pieces. Next, have them fill a car shape with white glue before pressing the balls of tissue paper all over it. Display their work.

Lacing-Means of transportation

(Open lacing-Means of transportation) Print, laminate, and punch holes around the contour of each model. Children thread a shoelace, string, or ribbon through the holes.

Tiny motor game

Each child sets a sponge (his tiny motor) on his head. Have children start their motor (begin walking). If a child’s tiny motor falls, he must stop and wait for one of his peers to pick it up for him and set it back on his head (without losing his own motor). Once they succeed, both children can start moving again. This challenge involves teamwork.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Driving along

Children pretend they are driving a car. Determine a course they must complete and give them a series of instructions. You can, for example, have them drive slowly to begin, speed up, press on the brake, turn right, etc.

Drive-through

In your yard, set a bin filled with plastic food items in a playhouse. Select two children who will be inside the playhouse, one who will take their peers’ orders and one who will prepare their orders. Gather all your cars and tricycles. Children can ride them to the drive-through window, order their food, and drive off with it. If you wish, you could create a menu containing the plastic food items you have in your bin with your group and display it.

Remote-controlled car

Each child finds a partner. One child from each team plays the role of the car while the other child is the driver. The child who represents the car stands in front of the driver. The driver directs the car by touching him. For example, if he touches his partner’s right arm, he must turn right. If he touches his head, he must stop, and so on.

Traffic lights

Prepare three construction paper circles: a green one, a yellow one, and a red one. If you prefer, you could also use crayons. Children move around the daycare. Show them the green circle and say “green light”. Children must walk faster, without running. Raise the yellow circle and say “yellow light”. Children slow down, like in a slow-motion movie. Raise the red circle and say “red light”. Children must stop moving. Alternate colors.

MUSICAL AND RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

Motor sounds

Ask children to make train, boat, airplane, truck, and car sounds. Have fun exploring different sirens too.

What is this means of transportation?

Have children listen to various means of transportation and see if they can identify them. You may use pictures of the different means of transportation to help children visualize them.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Counting cards-Cars

(Open counting cards-Cars) Print and laminate. Prepare a series of wooden clothespins on which you have written or painted numbers 1-9. Children must count the items on each card and place the corresponding clothespin on the correct number.

Roll and color-Cars

(Open roll and color-Cars) Print for each child. This game can be enjoyed individually or as a group. Children take turns rolling a die, counting the dots, and coloring the corresponding part.

String activities-Cars

(Open string activities-Cars) Print for each child. Children trace the lines with waxed string pieces (Wikki Stix). Variation: Trace the lines with glue and press string on the glue-covered lines.

Wikki Stix are sold on the educatall online store.

Game-Four cars

(Open game-Four cars) Print, glue the cards on opaque cardboard and cut them out. Arrange all the cards upside down on the floor or table (so you can’t see the illustrations). Children take turns rolling a die. Every time a child rolls a “1”, he can turn a card. If he doesn’t already have this car in front of him, he keeps it and places it in front of him for everyone to see. The first child who has collected all four cars wins.

Cars for all

(Open cars for all) Print and laminate the document. Children use figurines to add a driver and the correct number of passengers to each car. If you prefer, print the document for each child and invite children to draw the passengers inside the cars.

Race cars

(Open race cars) Print for each child. Invite children to color each car using the following colors: red, blue, yellow, and green. Once this is done, have them cut out the four cars. Read the instructions for your group. Children listen closely and position the cars on the road accordingly. Compare their results.

Color by number-Cars

(Open color by number-Cars) Print for each child. Have children color the picture per the color code.

I am learning to count-With cars

(Open I am learning to count-With cars) Print for each child. Children take turns rolling a die. They must add a certain number of cars, per the number of dots shown on the die. The first child who fills his parking lot wins.

Cars

Encourage children to notice the cars in the street. Point to them and name their color. Have fun counting them. If possible, photograph a few cars each day. Print the pictures and use them to create a fun picture book.

Educ-trace-Cars

(Open educ-trace-Cars) Print for each child. Children must trace each line using a crayon of the corresponding color and then color the item at the end of the line.

 Educ-colors-Cars

(Open educ-colors-Cars) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use or print for each child if you prefer. Children must associate the items to the correct color and draw a line between corresponding items using the same color.

Puzzles-Cars

(Open puzzles-Cars) Print, laminate, and cut out. Children must place the pieces to complete the scenes.

Dominoes-Transportation

(Open dominoes-Transportation) Print and laminate the dominoes. Children pick five dominoes each. Arrange the other dominoes in a pile, except for one that is placed in the centre of the table. Children take turns trying to match an item to an item on the end of the available dominoes. If they cannot play a domino they already have, they must pick another one. If they cannot play it either, their turn is over.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Seat belts

Discuss the importance of wearing a seat belt with your group. Next, invite children to arrange chairs in rows to represent car seats. Have them set a doll on each seat. Provide long pieces of wide ribbon that children can use to represent seat belts. They can drape them diagonally in front of the dolls. Help younger children.

My means of transportation to get around

Invite children to bring something representing a means of transportation from home. Encourage them to talk about their item. You can compare the items, discussing their size, use, color, etc. Sort them per various criteria. Identify differences.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Take-out meal

For lunch, prepare a sandwich for each child and wrap them in parchment paper. Fill a small cardboard box with long crackers (to represent fries) for each child. Insert children’s sandwich and fries in a brown paper lunch bag. Add a muffin, a juice box or a carton of milk, a napkin, and a drinking straw. Have them pretend to drive up to a drive-through window and hand them their meal.

Banana car

Give each child a banana, grapes, and a strawberry. They can use toothpicks to add wheels (grapes) to their car (banana). The strawberry can represent the driver.

Minivan taste test

Transform an egg carton to represent a minivan. Insert different types of fruit and vegetables in each egg carton section. Have children drive the minivan around the table. At each stop (child), a passenger (food item) gets out of the minivan (the child eats it).

My sandwich on wheels

Give children sandwich halves, plastic knives, and vegetables, fruit, and cheese cut into pieces. Have them use the items to represent a means of transportation on wheels.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Rock cars

When you go for a walk with your group, encourage children to collect rocks. Later in the day, they can paint and decorate them to make them look like cars. For the wheels, they can glue two soft drink bottle caps or pompoms on either side of the rocks. Let children play with their rock cars.

Cars

(Open models-Cars) Print the models and use them for various activities and projects throughout the theme.

My little car

Give each child a cardboard box that is big enough for them to sit inside. They can decorate it to represent a car, a truck, a taxi, or even a bus using paint, paper, and recycled materials.

Tiny painted cars

Set a large piece of paper in front of each child. Have children press toy cars in paint and then roll them across their paper to paint designs.

My traffic sign

Display traffic signs on a wall and ask children to reproduce them or invent their own. This activity can be done with paper and crayons or easels and paint.

Let’s drive!

Encourage children to use sponges to paint a red circle, a yellow circle, and a green circle. Assemble the circles to represent a traffic light.

COLORING PAGES THEME

(Open coloring pages theme-Cars) Print for each child.

I am learning to draw-A car

(Open I am learning to draw-A car) Print and laminate. Invite children to practice their drawing technique on the sheet before trying to draw a car on their own.

Have fun!

The educatall team