Railroad Jobs and Careers
Investigate and explain the different jobs related to rail travel.
Big Idea: Rail travel involves many people with different jobs requiring many skills.
Materials:
- Scrap paper
- Hole punchers
- Vests/props for imaginative role play (railroad)
- Markers, crayons
Illinois Learning Standards:
1.A Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.
1.B Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.
1.C Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.
4.A Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
4.B Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
15.A Describe some people’s jobs and what is required to perform them.
22.A Identify dangerous situations and safety methods to reduce risks.
24.A Demonstrate procedures for communicating in positive ways, resolving differences and preventing conflict.
24.C Demonstrate skills essential for avoiding dangerous situations.
31.A Develop a positive self-concept.
1.B Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.
1.C Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.
4.A Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
4.B Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
15.A Describe some people’s jobs and what is required to perform them.
22.A Identify dangerous situations and safety methods to reduce risks.
24.A Demonstrate procedures for communicating in positive ways, resolving differences and preventing conflict.
24.C Demonstrate skills essential for avoiding dangerous situations.
31.A Develop a positive self-concept.
Vocabulary:
Conductor: an employee on a bus, train, or other public conveyance, who is in charge of the conveyance and its passengers, collects fares or tickets, etc.
Locomotive Engineer: a person who operates or is in charge of a locomotive.
Locomotive: a self-propelled, vehicular engine, powered by steam, a diesel, or electricity, for pulling or, sometimes, pushing a train or individual railroad cars.
Customer Service Representative: interacts with a company's customers to provide them with information to address inquiries regarding products and services
Station Master: is in charge of running the station, and making sure things are running smoothly and all in order.
Locomotive Engineer: a person who operates or is in charge of a locomotive.
Locomotive: a self-propelled, vehicular engine, powered by steam, a diesel, or electricity, for pulling or, sometimes, pushing a train or individual railroad cars.
Customer Service Representative: interacts with a company's customers to provide them with information to address inquiries regarding products and services
Station Master: is in charge of running the station, and making sure things are running smoothly and all in order.
Activity Directions:
The imaginative play should be extended further by talking about the jobs of the people who work with trains.
- As a group, talk about and brainstorm possible jobs on a train and at a station and the need for each job. i.e.: engineer, conductor (collector of tickets), ticket agent, station master (allows passengers to board and notifies when the train is fully loaded and ready to safely leave the station), passengers, etc.
- Once a list of jobs is created discuss some of the real jobs railroad workers have with the children (listed above).
- Designate an area in the room for pretend play. Encourage children to use or create props to explore the various jobs related to trains.
- An extension to the activity is to create charade cards of the different jobs and have children choose a card and act out the role of the person to the rest of the group and the other children guess the job.
- Take the children on a field trip or walk to a train station or railroad track to explore railroad travel and trains further.
Exhibit:
Workshop:
