Thematic project: Means of transport
A month of sensory exploration and concrete discoveries
In November, the children from the Aramis and Athos groups at the Les Mousquetaires nursery in Leudelange embarked on a major thematic project: means of transport.
A full month of workshops, sensory experiences and artistic creations to discover, understand and experience the world of movement in all its forms on land, in the air and soon… in real life!
The goal of this project was clear: to allow children to explore the world through real and symbolic situations, by manipulating, observing and experimenting.
Each activity has been designed to enrich vocabulary (in French and Luxembourgish), stimulate motor skills, promote autonomy and develop understanding of the world around them.
Flying transport: “Mini world – I fly”
The first week of the project immersed the children in the world of air transport: airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons and hang gliders.
From a large sensory tray, the children created their own miniature airport: painting the landing strip, cutting and gluing the roads, adding planes and helicopters made during previous workshops.
The space gradually transformed into an immersive mini world, where each child could take off, fly and land their planes while freely manipulating the elements.
The educators accompanied this free play with guided verbalization: up, down, take off, fly, land
An activity that develops fine motor skills, spatial representation and scientific curiosity: observing a moving object, formulating initial hypotheses, understanding the concept of trajectory.
Moving vehicles: painting, collage and imagination
The children paint with sponges: the first “trains” take shape on the white paper, each wagon a different color.
Proud of their works, they exhibit “Charlotte’s Little Train”, “Raphael’s Train”, “Islem’s Train”.
The second phase of the project focused on land transport: cars, trucks, trains, buses… The children experimented with sponge painting to create colorful trains, made up of wagons and locomotives made from stamps.
Each work has been personalized, wonderfully illustrating the richness of free explorations: a mixture of spontaneous gestures, textures, colors and sensory pleasure.
Association games followed: “transportation bingo” cards, picture books, discussions and readings of stories about travel.
These moments helped to enrich vocabulary in French and Luxembourgish, while consolidating the understanding of transport categories: those that roll, those that fly, those that float.
Floating transport: experiments and observation
The third week of November will open the door to maritime and river transport.
Through flotation experiments, children will observe the difference between objects that sink and those that float, while discovering boats, sailboats, and submarines. The approach will remain true to the nursery's philosophy: learning through direct experimentation, allowing children to manipulate, test, adjust, and draw their own conclusions.
Free creation and imagination: hot air balloons
On the artistic side, the children made their own colorful hot air balloons.
Using cut paper, feathers, pompoms, flowers and sensory materials, each balloon became a unique creation, suspended between art and discovery.
This workshop stimulated creativity and hand-eye coordination, while introducing the concepts of air and lightness. A perfect transition between the world of play and that of physics experienced from a child's perspective.
Homemade vehicles: imagine, build, experiment
After observing and naming the different means of transport, the children took action! With cardboard, paint and recycled materials, they built their own full-size bus in which they could climb, drive and “travel” together.
Taking turns, they became drivers, passengers, or mechanics in a collective game full of energy and imagination. This construction project allowed them to explore the concepts of shape, space, collaboration, and motor skills in a concrete way.
But the adventure didn't end there: a miniature airplane was also created for the nursery's mascot, extending the exploration of air travel. And to experience movement "for real," the children participated in a motor skills course with vehicles, tricycles, and obstacles. A moment of pure fun, combining balance, coordination, and independence.
A real experience: bus and train trip
The highlight of the project will be the outing using public transport, which will transform the theory into a lived experience.
On Wednesday, November 12, the children from the Aramis and Athos groups will take the bus from the Schleiwenhaff stop, heading towards Leudelange station, before boarding a train to Luxembourg City.
Beyond the enjoyment of the journey, this outing will be a true learning experience:
observe the actual functioning of public transport,
understanding respect for rules and collective safety
to experience a first citizen-led, autonomous transportation experience.
The children will be able to connect their sensory and symbolic learning to the reality of the world around them: the vehicles they had painted, manipulated and named finally came to life before their eyes.
A coherent and committed pedagogy
This project fully embodies the educational approach of the Musketeers:
Awaken curiosity through manipulation and play,
Learning through direct experience,
To value creativity and personal expression,
Encourage verbalization and observation,
Connecting the imaginary and the real.
By combining sensory workshops, symbolic games, and hands-on experiences, the educational team offers children a rich, coherent, and stimulating month. They leave with an expanded vocabulary, a better understanding of the world, and above all, the pride of having "traveled" together.
In summary
The "Means of Transport" project will allow the children of the Les Mousquetaires nursery in Leudelange:
to discover the world through action,
to understand the concepts of displacement and movement,
to develop their creativity and autonomy,
and to live a complete educational experience, from symbolic play to the real discovery of public transport.
Follow our next adventures
The "Means of Transport" project is far from finished!
Our young explorers continue their journey through new sensory and artistic discoveries. The next step will take them onto the water, to meet boats, sailboats, and submarines; something to further nurture their curiosity and imagination.
Follow us on our upcoming articles and publications to discover the rest of this wonderful adventure!
The Musketeers will continue to share the highlights, creations and experiences of the children over the weeks.
Because learning to understand the world also means exploring it… together. 🌍