Motor vehicles have a huge effect on the environment, such as encroachment of roads/motorways on land, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, and contamination of waterways through oil and fuel leaks.

But, hey, we do need to get from A to B. So how can we ‘transport ourselves’ in a more sustainable way? Catching a bus, walking and biking are all excellent alternative transport options that have fewer negative effects on the environment.

What we offer

Billy Bus: a resource for year 1-3 students and teachers. 'From a to b' centres on bus awareness and safety. This free programme is fully facilitated and includes student and teacher booklets, CD-ROM, song and bus visit.
Check out Billy Bus!

Bill's Day Out (New in 2013!)

This short unit can either complement a larger unit on transport or stand alone as a fun learning experience. It has been designed with Years 5-8 in mind and requires them to work in pairs to determine where they would take visiting exchange students in Christchurch using only public and active transport. During the unit students will need to use our  MetroInfo online tools and will develop a number of key competencies.

Passenger transport - Bills Day Out (pdf  1.8MB)

Out & About: Plan a day out using the bus (New in 2013!)

This is a one lesson activity suitable for Years 4-8. It could be an activity easily picked up by a reliever or a task to complement a larger unit on transport or planning.

Passenger transport - Plan a day out on the bus (pdf  71kB)

Metro Magic Mission (New in 2013!)

This inquiry learning programme for Years 9-11 is based on the popular TV series 'The Amazing Race', and makes use of public and active transport modes. The students have to work in teams to design a 'mission' other students could be challenged by. Each 'mission' involves them learning more about the work of Environment Canterbury, using public and active transport modes as well as undertaking various challenges. This fun unit could be used by teachers of Health and Physical Education, English, Maths and Social Studies.

Passenger transport - Metro Magic Mission (pdf 342 kB)

Coming soon in 2013 ... Urban Patterns: Transport

This unit of learning is currently in the planning stages. It is designed to meet the Level 7 achievement objectives in Geography with supporting assessment material for Achievement Standard 91241: Demonstrate geographic understanding of an urban pattern.

Move It!!

This free inquiry learning programme Level 4/5 of the NZ Curriculum is designed to engage your students with local transport issues while placing them within a wider global context of peak oil, climate change and sustainability. During this unit the students design an active transport plan for their school and in doing so recognise how their actions can make a difference. A great learning unit for developing a number of key competencies in your students!
The programme includes teacher guide and activity templates. Should you wish to involve an Environment Canterbury educator we can facilitate between 2 to 6 lessons during the unit. This larger unit is complemented by the CCC's School Travel Planning process.

Beat the Rush

A free, interactive programme for Year 7/8 students and teachers. This programme focuses on alternative energy sources with a specific link to public transport.  The programme includes student and teacher booklets, CD-ROM and song.
Check out Beat the Rush!

Your Environment, Canterbury (E-box): On the move

Embark on a journey about transportation – its impact on the natural environment, energy sources, the different ways we travel or could travel and potential actions we could all take to be more active and sustainable when it comes to getting ourselves from A to B.

On the move (pdf 1.67MB)

On the move - references (pdf 62kB) 

Wow! More time, less money

Clare Burgess believes she has found the secret of creating time.

Once a week she made a trip on the car to take her seven year old daughter to gymnastic classes at QE2.

“I had a friend who was also doing the same trip with her daughter and it was quite nice to have a natter while we waited” said Clare.

But after participating in Environment Canterbury’s travel planning programme, Clare realised she and her friend really did not need to make separate trips, they could share the trips.

“Its fantastic. We take week-about turns at getting the two girls over to QE2 now. It means I have a whole afternoon after school to spend time once a fortnight with my younger son and I can do some decent cooking for dinner as well.”

The other big benefit for Clare is that she doesn’t need to fuel up the car quite so much now.

The travel planning programme has been offered to parents at three schools in Christchurch which have undertaken the Environment Canterbury classroom travel programmes Billy Bus or Move It.