Hands-on science, persuasive writing and mapping local routes as students investigate changes to speed limits around schools.
Published 2023
Speed limits are changing on the roads around school and kura. Your students will see new speed signs and other features, prompting a real-world opportunity to understand how they themselves contribute to a safer, thriving community. The change is part of New Zealand’s road safety plan, Road to Zero.
The Safe speeds around schools lesson plans bring this context to your classroom. It includes adaptations for Years 1-3, 4-6 and 7-8.
Students will:
Safe speeds enable more kids to get around safely in ways that are good for their health and the environment. Plus, there’s reduced risk to tamariki and whānau of being killed or seriously injured on the way to and from school.
Resource writer: Matt Boucher is deputy principal of an intermediate school and has extensive science education experience.
Case study and video featuring Matt and his students:
Safe speeds around schools: curriculum resource gets its first run
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Everything as Word [ZIP, 9 MB] Everything as PDF [ZIP, 2.3 MB]
Get everything in a te reo Māori translation.
Everything as Word (Māori) [ZIP, 8.9 MB] Everything as PDF (Māori) [ZIP, 2.5 MB]
An overview of the purpose and structure of the resource, with curriculum connections.
Outline Safe speeds around schools [DOCX, 1.1 MB]
Students learn the big picture of New Zealand’s road safety plan, identify local safety features and produce a piece of persuasive writing about can be done to improve safety.
Lesson 1 Safe speeds around schools [DOCX, 3.4 MB]
Includes 2 science experiments. First, the marble launcher, to learn about speed and force. Second, stopping distances.
Lesson 2 Safe speeds around schools [DOCX, 3.2 MB]
Handy guide to making a marble launcher for lesson 2.
Marble launcher instructions [PDF, 366 KB]
Students map hazards on their routes to school and present their findings.
Lesson 3 Safe speeds around schools [DOCX, 1.1 MB]
Lesson 2 includes links to these videos at the relevant step in the activities.