Travel & Culture - Spotting Your Bus

Activity 1: Let's Get Started! 🤔 (Warm-up)

Let's talk about finding the right bus!

How do you know which bus is yours when many buses arrive at a stop?
What information is usually written on the front or side of a bus?
What should you do if you're not sure if it's the right bus?

Activity 2: New Words & Phrases 🗣️ (Vocabulary)

Here are some important words for spotting your bus!

1. Bus Number: A number displayed on the bus to identify its route.

Example: "I'm waiting for Bus Number 10."

2. Destination: The final place the bus is going to.

Example: "The Destination on the front of the bus says 'City Center'."

3. Route: The specific path a bus takes.

Example: "Does this Route go past the museum?"

4. Signal the driver: To raise your hand or make a clear sign to show the bus driver you want to board.

Example: "Make sure to Signal the driver so they know to stop for you."

5. Check with the driver: To ask the bus driver if the bus goes to your stop or destination.

Example: "If you're unsure, it's always good to Check with the driver."

Activity 3: Reading - Catching the Right Bus 📖

Read this story about Mia trying to spot her bus.

Mia was waiting at a busy bus stop. She needed to catch Bus Number 22 to go to the library. She looked at her watch; the bus was due any minute. Several buses approached, but none of them were hers. One bus showed "City Loop" as its Route, and another had "Airport Express" as its Destination. Mia knew those weren't for her.

Finally, she saw a bus approaching that looked promising. She looked carefully at the front. Yes! It clearly displayed Bus Number 22. The Destination also said "Library District." To make sure the driver saw her, Mia decided to Signal the driver by raising her hand slightly. The bus pulled over to the stop. Before getting on, Mia decided to quickly Check with the driver. "Excuse me, does this bus go to the main library on Elm Street?" she asked. The driver smiled and said, "Yes, it does! Hop on." Mia felt relieved and happy she had spotted the correct bus and confirmed it.

Questions about the Story:

Answer these questions:

What Bus Number was Mia waiting for?
What Destination was Mia looking for on the bus?
How did Mia Signal the driver?
What did Mia do before getting on the bus, even after seeing the number and destination?
What did the driver say to Mia?

Activity 4: Role Play - Is This My Bus? 🎭

Let's pretend! One person is Leo (Passenger), and the other is a Bus Driver.

Leo (Passenger): (Sees a bus approaching and Signals the driver)

Bus Driver: (Pulls over and opens the door) Good morning!

Leo (Passenger): Good morning! I want to Check with the driver. Is this Bus Number 15A?

Bus Driver: No, this is Bus Number 12. The Destination for this bus is the North Mall.

Leo (Passenger): Oh, I see. I'm looking for the one that goes to Parkside. Do you know that Route?

Bus Driver: The Parkside bus is usually Route 15A, yes. It should be along in about 10 minutes. It will show "Parkside" as its Destination.

Leo (Passenger): Okay, so I need to look for Bus Number 15A and the Destination "Parkside."

Bus Driver: That's correct. Just make sure to Signal the driver clearly when you see it.

Leo (Passenger): I will. Thank you very much for your help!

Bus Driver: You're welcome! Have a good day.

Let's Talk About It:

After you read, talk about this:

What Bus Number was Leo actually looking for?
What advice did the driver give Leo about the correct bus?

Activity 5: Let's Practice - Bus Stop Watch ✍️

Help Sam (Passenger) complete his part of the dialogue with the Bus Driver. Use words from Activity 2!

Bus Driver: (Pulls up to the stop, Sam signals) Hello! Going my way?

Sam (Passenger): I hope so! I need to find 4B. Is this it?

Bus Driver: Yes, this is the 4B. What's your destination?

Sam (Passenger): I'm going to Grand Station. So, this is the correct for Grand Station?

Bus Driver: It certainly is. This route goes directly there. Grand Station is our last stop.

Sam (Passenger): Perfect! I made sure to so you wouldn't pass me by. The on the front said "Grand Station" too.

Bus Driver: Appreciate that! Some people forget to signal. And yes, the destination is clearly marked.

Sam (Passenger): I always like to just to be absolutely sure before I get on.

Bus Driver: Smart thinking. Alright, come on board.

Sam (Passenger): Thanks!

Show Answers! (Activity 5) ✨