Your Healthy School Route
Objective: This worksheet aims to encourage students to reflect on their daily school commute, evaluate different transportation methods based on health and environmental factors, compare school transportation trends in different countries, and propose ways to make their own school route healthier.
Content and methods: The worksheet starts with an interactive activity where students gather data from classmates about their commute methods and times, followed by a class discussion on the observed trends. Subsequently, students are prompted to brainstorm and list advantages and disadvantages of various transportation means (walking, bicycle, school bus, car, public transit, scooter), focusing on health implications for students. A detailed "Additional information for teachers" section provides a pre-filled table with advantages and disadvantages for each mode of transport, emphasizing health and environmental aspects. The worksheet then presents texts detailing school transportation statistics and factors in two countries. Students are asked to identify differences and reasons for them between the two countries. Finally, they compare the healthiness of school commutes in the countries by referencing the earlier table and propose ideas to make their own school route healthier.
Competencies:
- Data collection and analysis
- Critical thinking and evaluation of transportation methods
- Comparative analysis of international trends
- Understanding of health and environmental impacts of transportation
- Problem-solving and proposing solutions
- Communication and discussion
Target group: 5th-7th grade
51 other teachers use this template
Target group and level
5th-7th grade
Subjects
Your Healthy School Route
My way to school
Walk around the classroom and ask 10 of your classmates. Write down their names, whether they come to school by bike / bus / on foot, etc., and how long it takes them to get to school.
Means of transportation for the school route
Think about which advantages and disadvantages there are for different means of transportation. Focus mainly on how healthy the means of transportation are for students.
Additional information for teachers
Think about which advantages and disadvantages there are for different means of transportation. Focus mainly on how healthy the means of transportation are for students.
School routes in different countries
Take a look at how students in different countries get to school.
USA
In the United States, how students get to school varies greatly depending on factors such as location and age. According to the National Household Travel Survey, approximately 54% of students are driven to school by their parents or guardians. This trend is more common in suburban and rural areas where public transportation options are limited. Around 25% of students take the school bus, which remains a critical mode of transportation in many districts. Walking to school accounts for about 13% of students, especially those who live within a mile of their school. Biking is less prevalent, with only about 2% of students opting to ride their bikes. The remaining 6% use a mixture of other methods, including carpooling with friends, using public transportation like city buses or subways, or even skateboarding. The diversity of transportation methods reflects the vast geographical and infrastructural differences across the country.
Mexico
In Mexico, the ways students commute to school also vary widely, influenced by urbanization and socioeconomic factors. According to a study by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), about 40% of students are driven to school by their parents, a common practice in both urban and suburban settings. Walking is prevalent, especially in urban areas, accounting for approximately 35% of students. Public transportation, including city buses and metros, is used by about 15% of students, particularly in larger cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara. Cycling is relatively rare, with only about 3% of students using bikes to get to school. The remaining 7% use other methods, such as carpooling with classmates' families or using motorcycles. The transportation choices reflect various factors, including proximity to schools, safety concerns, and the availability of public transport.
