Discuss with children what they see on the road on their way to school in the morning.
How many saw a bus, a car, and a lorry? Show them pictures and models of each
type of vehicle.

• Why do we need vehicles?
• Why do we need these different types of vehicle?
• Are they all the same colour? Identify the colour of each vehicle.
• How many wheels on the car, the lorry and the bus?
• How many windows? How many doors?
• How do we know which is the front and which is the back?
• Where is the steering wheel. Why do we need steering wheels?
• Identify different parts of each vehicle, e.g. headlights
• Why do we need headlights?
• What else does a car need to have? e.g. brakes. Why?
• What makes a car or bus or lorry go? What do they all need?
• If you could be a vehicle which vehicle would your choose? Paint your Tabard
  or Top very carefully so that people will know that you are a car, bus or lorry.
  When your Tabard or Top is dry, wear it and be a car, bus or lorry.
  

This activity could be extended by discussing road safety with the children. They could mark out a simple road system in
the playground and use it to practise their ‘driving’ skills.

• With some friends can you make a plan of a road on the playground? Will you need a roundabout, zebra crossing,
  traffic lights. Very carefully drive along the ‘road’. Be careful not to knock anything or bump into anybody!
  Remember to indicate if you are turning right or left. You should use your arms as indicators. Don’t forget to fill up
  with petrol first! If you are a bus you will need to stop at the bus stop and pick up some passengers. Did you pass
  the simple driving test? If so, the examiner will give you a certificate.

This could be extended into further role-play with the children arranging seats on a bus. The child who is the bus could
be the driver. Where will they go on their journey? What might they see? Will they take anything with them? The children
could also set up their own ‘garage’

Meeting curriculum requirements:

This activity uses dressing up and role-play to stimulate language development and knowledge and understanding
of the world. It requires observation, recollection, mark-making, painting and the ability to recognise the similarities
and differences in vehicles. It may be extended to include story telling and writing.

Tips for Painting:

Tabards and Tops must be kept flat when they are being painted
Have different brush sizes available
Encourage the children to paint boldly
Keep one set of brushes for each colour
If things go wrong, wipe out with a damp cloth

Useful Reference:

Pictures and models of vehicles. Your community policeman or woman or school crossing keeper could be involved
in this activity.

What you will need:

Tabards, Tops, paints, paint trays, water jars, paper towels, rags and brushes.

Activity 0018 Road signs
Activity 0019 Play trains