3.1 Road transport and its early development

History

Grade 4

How transport has served mankind

Module 10

Road transport and its early development

This learning unit tells the incredible history of the development of road transport.

Activity 1

To understand chronological time [lo 3.3]

A)work with a partner to see whether you are able to arrange the illustrations of vehicles used through the ages in their correct chronological sequence.

1

2

3

4

5

B)which similarities and differences do you notice when you compare the remarkable formula one racing car and the first car that had gears?

First motorcar with gears

Formula One racing car

We'll be doing more exercises that involve time later in the module.

Activity 2

To use your sources [lo 1.2]

The San, Khoina and Bantu-speaking peoples lived in our country many years ago.

The San walked to find water for drinking, plants for eating and animals to hunt. They therefore usually carried their possessions with them.

The Khoina and the Bantu-speaking peoples kept cattle. Sometimes they used the animals for transportation. They also used the cattle for trading.

Investigate these groups and write notes for a class discussion on how they contributed to making transport easier.

c)1. Name the different kinds of transportation shown in (a), (b) and (c). Decide on a caption for each picture.

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2. What is carried or transported by the people in each of the pictures?

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3. How do you think each of these groups would cross a river?

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4. Who is able to transport:

• more goods during a single day?……………………………………….
• fewer goods during a single day?………………………………………

5. What was used to make the means of transport that is illustrated in (c)?

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6. Which of these means of transport are still in use?……………………….

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Activity 3

To recreate the past [lo 3.3]

People from the Netherlands who came to our country later brought very different means of transport with them. Horses, carts, wagons and slaves were common in the villages of the time. Cattle farmers in particular also used ox wagons.

D)examine this sketch drawn by granny as a group and answer the questions that follow:

The town square in Dogsville towards 1800.

1. What led to the invention of the wheel and what were the results of this invention?
2. How many means of transportation can you identify in this picture?
3. Which of these kinds of transport are in use in your town?
4. So why are some of the people in the picture walking?
5. Why is the slave carrying goods from a pole balanced across his shoulders?
6. What do you notice concerning the window of the sedan chair? What is the reason behind this design?
7. How have we adapted the handcart and wheelbarrow for contemporary use?
8. Why do the wagons have such large wheels?
9. What is the most prominent difference between the two kinds of ox wagon?
10. Can you see how Granny has confused the present and the past?
11. Which means of transport would you prefer to use?

Assessment

LEARNING OUTCOME 1: HISTORICAL ENQUIRY The learner will be able to use enquiry skills to investigate the past and present.

Assessment standard

We know this when the learner:

1.2 answers questions: uses information from sources to answer questions.

Learning outcome 3: interpreting history

The learner will be able to interpret aspects of history.

Assessment standard

We know this when the learner:

• reconstructs the past: able to write, draw and present a narrative about the historical stories that they have heard.

Memorandum

1. 5 3 2 1 4
2. Similarities: has wheels.

needs a driver, etc.

Differences: streamlining, speed, power, etc.

c) 1. ox walk/carry sleigh of branches

2. Own answers.

3. Own answers.

4. Most: c Least: b

5. Wood.

6. Probably all three.

d) 1. Causes: comfort, speed.

Results: Buses, cars, bicycles, roller skates, gears, occupations, roads, etc.

1. 10 (Ox-wagon, hooded cart, bicycle, motor car, horse, horse-cart, sedan chair, bearers, coach, pushcart).
2. Own answers.
3. Own answers.
4. Balance better than when carried by hand.
5. Curtain – could be opened (more privacy, especially for ?
6. Wheelbarrow.
7. Get into motion faster.
8. One has a canopy, the other is open.
9. Motorcar and bicycle do not fit.
10. Own answers.

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