History · Year 1

Active learning ideas

Local Transport: Then and Now

Active learning helps Year 1 students grasp changes in local transport by letting them touch, see, and talk about real differences. Hands-on sorting, role-playing, and mapping make abstract ideas about ‘then and now’ concrete and memorable.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: History - Changes within living memory
• KS1: History - Local history

• 30–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Stations Rotation
• 45 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Transport Evidence

Prepare four stations: old photos, toy past vehicles, modern transport models, and blank timelines. Small groups spend 8 minutes at each, noting differences and drawing one item. Finish with a class discussion to sequence changes on a shared timeline.

How did people get around our local area in the past?

Facilitation Tip

During Station Rotation, set up clear photo sets with labels so students focus on comparing old and new transport methods, not just guessing.

What to look for

Provide students with a drawing of a horse-drawn cart and a modern car. Ask them to draw one line connecting the two and write one word describing how they are different. Collect these to check understanding of change.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Role Play
• 40 min · Small Groups

Role Play: Past and Present Journeys

Split class into two groups: one acts out a past school trip by walking with props like baskets, the other uses toy buses and cars for now. Switch roles after 10 minutes. Groups compare speed and ease in plenary.

How is travelling around our area today different from how it was a long time ago?

Facilitation Tip

In Role Play, provide simple props like hats or toy vehicles to help students physically act out past and present journeys.

What to look for

Show students a series of pictures: a person walking, a horse-drawn cart, an early bus, a modern car, a train. Ask students to point to the picture that shows how people traveled 'a long time ago' and then point to how they travel 'today'.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Stations Rotation
• 30 min · Whole Class

Family Story Circle: Interview Shares

Children ask family one question about past local travel, draw a picture of the answer. In class, sit in a circle to share drawings and add to a wall timeline. Teacher notes common changes.

How do you think changes in transport have helped people in our area?

Facilitation Tip

For Family Story Circle, model good listening by showing interest in students’ family tales and asking follow-up questions during sharing.

What to look for

Ask students: 'Imagine you wanted to visit your friend across town 100 years ago. What would you use to travel? Now, imagine you want to visit them today. How would you travel differently? Why is travelling today easier for some people?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Stations Rotation
• 35 min · Pairs

Local Map Pairs: Spot the Changes

Pairs draw a simple map of the school area. Add stickers for past transport from stories and present ones observed on a walk. Discuss how changes help people get to school or shops.

How did people get around our local area in the past?

Facilitation Tip

Use Local Map Pairs with high-contrast colors for old and new routes to help students spot changes quickly.

What to look for

Provide students with a drawing of a horse-drawn cart and a modern car. Ask them to draw one line connecting the two and write one word describing how they are different. Collect these to check understanding of change.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should anchor discussions in students’ lived experiences by connecting ‘then’ to family stories and familiar places. Avoid vague comparisons by using timelines that show changes within living memory. Research shows that role-playing concrete tasks helps young learners grasp abstract concepts like ‘change over time.’

Students will recognize key changes in transport over time, explain at least one way travel has improved, and use evidence like photos or family stories to support their ideas. They will demonstrate this through sorting, discussions, and simple mapping tasks.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Station Rotation: Transport Evidence, watch for students grouping all old photos together without noticing differences in transport types.

  Guide students to sort photos into categories first, then ask them to order each category by how old or new the transport looks, using visual clues like tire size or vehicle shape.

• During Role Play: Past and Present Journeys, watch for students acting out journeys as if the past and present are identical except for the vehicle used.

  Prompt students to describe the roads, distances, or time it took by acting it out slowly, then ask them to compare it to their modern journey with speed and comfort.

• During Family Story Circle: Interview Shares, watch for students assuming all past travel was walking because no one mentioned cars.

  Ask students to share any family stories about buses or bikes, and if none are shared, show a simple timeline of when different vehicles became common in your area.

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Methods used in this brief

• Stations Rotation
• Role Play