What do race cars, hot air balloons, tractors, and sailboats all have in common? They each help people or objects travel from one place to another – but they do it in very different ways! From wheels rolling across the ground to helicopter blades spinning through the air, transportation is filled with fascinating science, clever engineering, and plenty of opportunities for hands-on fun.
I’m so excited to share our All About Transportation Family Unit Study with you! Across ten topics, you’ll learn how different modes of transportation move by land, air, and water, take a closer look at how transportation has changed over time, and imagine what the vehicles of the future might look like.
Along the way, you’ll paint with wheels, race toy cars down ramps, build a custom sailboat and an egg carton helicopter, create colorful hot air balloon art, design a future vehicle, and so much more!
Below, I’m sharing all 10 topics included in the unit study, along with a peek at the hands-on activities you’ll enjoy together. Let’s get this learning adventure rolling!
What is a Family Unit Study?
But first… what exactly is a Family Unit Study?
The All About Transportation Unit Study, like all of our ever-growing library of unit studies, takes one big theme—Transportation—and breaks it down into ten manageable, bite-sized learning topics. This format gives you the freedom to dive into learning at a pace that works for your family. Perhaps you do one topic per day, perhaps one per week. Whatever suits your fancy! You can learn and explore topics from start to finish in about 1-2 hours each.
Dive in and watch the sparks of wonder ignite. Watch the child-led learning take off. Watch what happens when children are engaged in what they are learning!
Each of the 10 topics includes:
- an interesting fact,
- a discussion question,
- informative information,
- a curated YouTube video,
- a recommended book,
- a math or literacy enrichment question (with three difficulty levels),
- and an ultimate-can’t-be-beat hands-on activity!
Plus, all subjects are covered across the 10 topics! Geography, History, Science, Social Studies, Music, Art, Health, Literacy, and Math.
When everything connects across subjects, learning just makes more sense. Kids remember more, understand better, and actually enjoy the process. It’s the kind of learning that really sticks. 🙌
Before we get this transportation unit study rolling, I’d love to share a little something to make your homeschool days just a bit easier (because we all need that, right?).
Our Mini Homeschool Toolbox is a simple, go-to resource filled with helpful printables – like math charts, number lines, and writing supports – to keep your days organized and your lessons running smoothly.
It’s completely free and so handy to have on hand as you move through your homeschool routine. Simply enter your email address below, and a copy will be instantly delivered to your inbox.
All About Transportation
Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect with the All About Transportation Unit Study. Below are the 10 topics, along with some examples of the hands-on activities you will enjoy together.
Topic #1: What is Transportation?
What do cars, boats, planes, and bicycles all have in common? Learn how different modes of transportation carry people and objects from place to place – whether traveling across town, across an ocean, or high in the sky. Put your knowledge into motion with a Transportation Sorting activity as you identify different vehicles and sort them by land, air, or water.
Topic #2: The Wonderful Wheel
Where would we be without the wonderful wheel? Find out how wheels and axles work together as a simple machine to reduce the force needed to move people and objects. Then, combine science and creativity with Painting with Wheels, using toy vehicles and colorful paint to create one-of-a-kind artwork.
Topic #3: Tractors
How did farmers tackle difficult jobs before tractors came along? Find out how tractors make farm work faster and more efficient, from digging and harvesting to transporting heavy loads. Take a trip into the past with a Transportation of the Past activity, using a Venn diagram to compare today’s tractors with the early horse and plow.
Topic #4: Race Cars
What does it take to build a car made for maximum speed? Learn how powerful engines, specialized tires, and aerodynamic designs help race cars push the limits of speed and precision. Put gravity to the test with Racing Ramps! Build ramps with different slopes and measure how far your toy car travels.
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