Local Traffic: An Environmental Issue
Step-up geography Series
What’s inside...
Step-Up Geography is a series of books tailored for Key Stage 2 students to enhance their understanding of the Geography Curriculum. These books are richly illustrated and cover various topics with clear text, key word highlights, and activity suggestions. They include material for teachers and parents to help guide children's learning, making them a comprehensive resource for geographic education. Following the success of Start-Up Geography, Step-Up Geography offers more advanced content, providing activities and advice for educational engagement, with enough material to be a lasting resource.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do the cars and buses in the book affect the environment around them?
What are some ways the characters in the story try to solve the traffic problem?
If you were a character in the book, what ideas would you have to help reduce traffic?
Why do you think it's important for us to think about how traffic impacts our air and streets?
Can you think of any changes we could make in our daily routines to help our local environment?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use visual aids from the book to point out specific environmental issues and solutions discussed in the story.
Relate the traffic scenarios to real-life situations in your community to make the discussion more relevant.
Encourage your child to imagine they're a part of the story, asking them what actions they would take.
Praise creative solutions or thoughts your child shares about improving traffic and the environment.
Discuss personal feelings and experiences related to traffic and environmental changes to deepen the connection to the book's themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Environmental Awareness
Explanation: Through the narrative, children learn about the impacts of local traffic on the environment, highlighting issues like pollution and noise.
Real-World Application: Children can become more conscious of their family's transportation choices, fostering discussions about walking, cycling, or using public transit to reduce their carbon footprint.
Example Lesson: Community Engagement
Explanation: The story encourages children to think about how they can be involved in community efforts to improve local traffic conditions.
Real-World Application: Kids can be motivated to participate in local clean-up efforts or community planning meetings, understanding that their voices can contribute to communal well-being.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Julia Roche illustrates how characters in the book come together to propose solutions to reduce traffic in their neighborhood.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to think creatively and collaboratively to solve problems they observe in their own surroundings, like organizing carpooling among their peers.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Characters in the book learn to take responsibility for their actions regarding environmental conservation.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to adopt responsible behaviors, such as turning off lights when not in use or recycling, to actively participate in environmental preservation.
Example Lesson: Civic Awareness
Explanation: The story exposes children to the role of local government in managing environmental issues, and how policy decisions impact their daily lives.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to learn more about local government and perhaps attend a city council meeting with their parents to see decision-making in action.