1.3 BusReady Program Structure

How will the BusReady School Program work?

Once you are a BusReady Ambassador, you will be available to be booked to visit schools. The requests from schools will come in via our online form and will go straight to the Youth Program team.

You will receive a form with all your information you will need for this school visit. This will include: date of the school trip, a map of the school, a schedule with class grades and numbers of children. We will also give you a contact name and phone number for the school and for the youth program team in case you have any additional questions about the booking.

Why BusReady? How does the programming impact children in BC?

The BusReady program is divided into three sections: Big Ideas, How to Ride the Bus, and On the Bus. Each section is designed to directly align with the BC Education’s Core Competency curriculum. In the upcoming sections, we will delve deeper into each section of the program and consider its significance and why it is crucial for us to engage in this initiative. We encourage you to reflect on the program’s value and importance.

Part 1: The Big Ideas

Community, Sustainability

5-10 Minutes

Core Compentency: Personal and Social

Personal and social competency encompasses a range of social-emotional skills and attitudes, including the ability to build positive relationships, demonstrate empathy, and contribute to the well-being of the community.

Within this competency, there are several key aspects that relate to community and sustainability, including:

1. Positive personal and cultural identity: This means understanding and valuing your own culture and identity, as well as respecting the diversity of others in your community. It also involves recognizing how environmental, social, and economic systems are connected.
2. Personal awareness and responsibility: This means taking responsibility for your own actions and well-being, and being committed to contributing positively to your community. It includes understanding how your personal choices affect the environment, and taking steps to reduce your impact.
3. Social responsibility: This means understanding your role and responsibilities as a member of a community, and taking action to promote the well-being of the community as a whole. It involves recognizing the impact of human activity on the environment, and working to promote sustainability within your community and beyond.

Main goal:

BC Transit’s goal in these parts of the program is to educate how public transit integrates into our community and promotes sustainability.

The following videos are shown during the BusReady “Big Ideas” section. Please watch both videos before continuing.

Part 2: How to Ride the Bus

Trip Planning (Grade 5+ only), Accessibility, Etiquette & ‘The Bus is a Safe Place’

15-20 Minutes

Core Competency: Thinking

The thinking competency is one of the core competencies identified in the BC curriculum, which aims to develop students’ ability to think critically, creatively, and reflectively.

Teaching public transit etiquette can support the development of the thinking competency in three ways:

1. Critical thinking: Public transit etiquette involves understanding and following a set of rules and norms that govern behaviour in a public space. By teaching students about these rules and the reasons behind them, we can encourage critical thinking about social norms and expectations. Students can explore questions such as: Why is it important to give up your seat for someone who needs it more? What do I do if I ever feel unsafe?
2. Creative thinking: Public transit etiquette can also involve finding creative solutions to problems that arise on transit. For example, if a bus is crowded, students may need to think creatively about how to make space for others. By teaching students to be courteous and adaptable, we can encourage creative thinking and problem-solving.
3. Reflective thinking: Finally, teaching public transit etiquette can encourage reflective thinking about personal behaviour and the impact it has on others. By reflecting on their own actions and considering the perspectives of others, students can develop empathy and a sense of social responsibility.

Main goal:

BC Transit’s goal in these parts of the program is to educate how to use public transit respectfully. It’s through this education that we can help the next generation treat Transit Operators, the bus itself, and other community members with respect.

The following videos are shown during the BusReady “How to Ride the Bus” section. Please watch all videos before continuing.

Part 3: On The Bus

Bike Rack Demo, Showing Bus Features, Questions & Answers

20-25 Minutes

Core Competency: Communication

Giving a tour of a public transit bus to children can be linked to the communication competency in British Columbia’s elementary education curriculum in several ways. The communication competency is one of the core competencies identified in the BC curriculum, which aims to develop students’ ability to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts.

1. Active Listening: During the tour, the children can practice active listening skills by paying attention to the guide’s instructions and explanations. Active listening involves giving full attention to the speaker, asking questions, and making connections between different ideas.
2. Asking Questions: Attending a tour of a public transit bus can also involve practicing questioning skills. The children can ask the guide questions to clarify information, seek further details, or express their curiosity about a particular feature of the bus. This can help them to develop their ability to ask thoughtful questions that deepen their understanding of the topic.
3. Interpreting: The tour can provide an opportunity for children to practice interpreting skills by making connections between different pieces of information. For example, they can interpret the significance of certain features of the bus, such as its size or layout, and understand how they relate to its purpose and use.
4. Social Interaction: Attending a tour of a public transit bus can involve social interaction with the Transit Operator and other children. This can help children to develop their ability to engage in social communication, such as greeting others, taking turns, and sharing their thoughts and ideas.

There will be a lesson on the Bus Tour itself later into the course.

Total BusReady Program time: 45-60 Minutes, including transitions, per class.