Things That Go picture–word match
Draw a line from each picture to its word — 8 illustrated theme words.
Things That Go
Zoom, soar, and sail into reading adventure! Explore exciting stories and games about cars, planes, trains, and boats to discover how people and things travel all around the world.
Reading passages
A hand-picked selection for every level — each with questions, a quiz, and a printable worksheet.
Things That Go reading collections
Ready-to-teach sets of passages on this topic.
Word games
Play with things that go words — easy, medium and tricky, with stars and streaks.
Story puzzleRebuild a story's picture from shuffled pieces, then read it.
Ages 5+
Word rescueGuess the theme word letter by letter and save the melting snowman.Ages 6+
Word snakeSteer the snake and collect the letters of each word in order.Ages 6+
Word searchFind the hidden theme words in a letter grid.Ages 6+
Word scrambleUnscramble the letters using a kid-friendly clue.Ages 6+
Memory matchFlip the cards and match each word to its meaning.Ages 6+
CrosswordFill the crossing words using kid-friendly clues.Ages 8+
Word guessGuess the secret theme word letter by letter.Ages 8+
Things That Go printables & worksheets
Free printable activity sheets, ready for the classroom or the kitchen table.
The whole pack in one go
The Things That Go workbook
One PDF with everything: reading passages with questions and answer keys, all 14 worksheets, the word-game puzzles at the right difficulty and the coloring pages — cover page and table of contents included. Start from a level, then add or drop whatever you like.
Things That Go picture flashcards
Eight fold-in-half cards — picture on the front, its word on the back. Cut, fold, practice.
Things That Go sort & classify
Cut out the picture cards and glue each one in the right group.
Things That Go picture memory
Cut out 16 cards — match every picture to its word.
Coloring pages
A selection of our free printable things that go coloring pages — each comes with a short reading passage.
Lower Elementary
Big School Bus Coloring PageLower Elementary
Cute Tow Truck Coloring PageUpper Elementary
Ambulance Coloring PageUpper Elementary
Electric Car Coloring PageUpper Elementary
Race Car Coloring PageUpper Elementary
Sports Car Coloring PageUpper Elementary
Supercar Coloring PageUpper Elementary
Vikings History and Longship Coloring Page
Big School Bus Coloring PageLower ElementaryCute Tow Truck Coloring PageUpper ElementaryAmbulance Coloring PageUpper ElementaryElectric Car Coloring PageUpper ElementaryRace Car Coloring PageUpper ElementarySports Car Coloring PageUpper ElementarySupercar Coloring PageUpper ElementaryVikings History and Longship Coloring Page
Want them all?
This is just a taste — browse every Things That Go coloring page, ready to print.
Connect Literacy and Motion
Children are naturally fascinated by vehicles that fly, roll, and float. By tapping into this high-interest topic, you can help kids build critical vocabulary and reading comprehension skills without the struggle. Learning about transportation bridges the gap between science and daily life, allowing young readers to explore concepts like gravity, engines, and geography through engaging stories.
Multi-Sensory Activities for Every Learner
To make the most of this theme at home or in the classroom, try blending different types of media:
- Read and Discuss: Start with reading passages about airplanes or boats, tailoring the selection to your child's reading level. Use the included comprehension questions to spark a discussion about how they travel.
- Play and Reinforce: Use themed word games to solidify new vocabulary terms like propeller, locomotive, or navigation.
- Create and Connect: Let kids wind down with printable coloring pages while they listen to a read-aloud book from our curated transportation reading lists.
This multi-sensory approach keeps kids engaged while strengthening their literacy foundation.
Frequently asked questions
What age group is this theme designed for?
This theme features reading passages and activities that span multiple grade levels, from lower elementary through middle school, making it easy to find matching content for any reader.
How do transportation themes help with reading comprehension?
Real-world topics like planes, trains, and boats build background knowledge. When kids understand how things work in real life, they can more easily comprehend new vocabulary and complex texts.
Can I use these resources for classroom lesson planning?
Yes. Teachers can pair the reading passages and comprehension worksheets with the themed word games to build a complete, cohesive unit on transportation or basic physical science.
How can parents support spelling and vocabulary at home using this theme?
You can encourage your child to play the themed word games after reading a passage. This reinforces the spelling and meaning of new words they just encountered in the text.