GLEN BURNIE, MD (March 1, 2021) – Safety, safety, safety! That’s the message the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) is hoping to share with the state’s youngest learners in honor of Read Across America Day on Tuesday, March 2, through a series of virtual story time readings paired with discussion questions to help cultivate conversations about road safety.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the outreach team from MDOT MVA’s Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO) routinely visited classrooms and events to teach students of all ages about the importance of traffic safety. The team is now offering these resources online as a distance learning opportunity. Teachers, parents and caregivers can now download virtual readings – and supplemental resources – for the following traffic safety-focused books:
- “Peppa Pig Safety First,” by Courtney Carbone read by Julie Kwedar
- “How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe?” by Jane Yolen read by Mike Bomgardner
- “Look Left, Look Right, Look Left Again,” by Ginger Pate read by Administrator Nizer
- “Robocar Poli: My Essential Guide to Traffic Safety,” by Corrine Delporte read by Tina Williams
“It’s important to start teaching and reinforcing these potentially life-saving messages for children at a young age,” said MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer, who also serves as Governor Larry Hogan’s Highway Safety Representative and is featured in one of the virtual readings. “By offering these resources in a virtual setting, it allows our team to safely connect with students and have these conversations about road safety in ways that make learning fun.”
The books and discussion questions focus on common scenarios a child may find themselves in – such as riding bikes and crossing the street – and how to safely navigate them. To view the virtual readings and download the related questions, click here. Teachers are also encouraged to reach out to Christina Utz, MHSO Outreach Section Chief, at cutz@mdot.maryland.gov for future virtual opportunities. To learn more about highway safety, visit ZeroDeathsMD.gov or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @ZeroDeathsMD.
Read Across America Day is part of National Reading Month, observed every March to encourage Americans of all ages to read every day. For more information on this day and other observances during the month, visit the National Education Association website.
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